Agnes Varnum writes with such enthusiasm and insight about documentaries on her blog "
doc it out" that I asked her to identify the three
TIFF docs she's most eager to see. Her picks:
HOLLYWOOD CHINESE by Arthur Dong (pictured)
Dong reminds me of Les Blank in some ways--he's out there doing his own thing, and while he has lots of awards, his fabulous body of work isn't that well known. This subject sounds intriguing and perhaps this new work will touch off renewed interest in Dong.
OPERATION FILMMAKER by Nina Davenport
Davenport's last film, Parallel Lines, was insightful and moving. I
love her use of humor and this one sounds like it might have all of
these great qualities of her work.
IRON LADIES OF LIBERIA by Siatta Scott Johnson and Daniel Junge
The Why Democracy? project is amazing, and I'm very excited by its potential to engage audiences around the world. I saw a brief clip of Iron Ladies at Silverdocs and it looks like it will be a great addition to the collection, not to mention a call for women to become involved in the political process.
And, to slip in a fourth, PLEASE VOTE FOR ME by Weijun Chen is one of the most charming films I've seen in a long time!
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