Documentary Film Series: The Fog of War

Description

December 24: Searching for Sugarman, 2012, 87 minutes. This film tells the remarkable true story of Sixto Rodriguez, the greatest '70s rock icon who never was. Discovered in a Detroit bar in the late '60s by two producers struck by his soulful melodies and prophetic lyrics, they recorded an album which they believed would secure his reputation as the greatest recording artist of his generation. In fact, the album bombed and the singer disappeared into obscurity amid rumors of a gruesome on-stage suicide. But a bootleg recording found its way into apartheid South Africa and over the next two decades he became a phenomenon and his music became the soundtrack of a generation. The film follows the story of two South African fans that set out to find out what really happened to their hero. Their investigation leads them to a story more extraordinary than any of the existing myths about the artist. The story and the film’s soundtrack will haunt you long after you leave the theater. January 28, Inside Job, 2010, 108 minutes The first film to expose the shocking truth behind the economic crisis of 2008. The global financial meltdown, at a cost of over $20 trillion, resulted in millions of people losing their savings, their homes and their jobs. This is how it happened. Through extensive research and interviews with major financial insiders, politicians and journalists, INSIDE JOB traces the rise of a rogue industry and unveils the corrosive relationships which have corrupted politics, regulation and academia. A true crime story like none other. February 25, The Fog of War: Lessons from the Life of Robert McNamara, 2003, 107 minutes. This film draws an incisive portrait of Robert McNamara, Secretary of Defense during the Kennedy and Johnson Administrations, who subsequently became president of the World Bank. The documentary provides a candid and intimate journey through some of the most seminal events in contemporary American history and an up close look at one of the most powerful, controversial and influential political figures of the 20th century. Featuring an in depth interview, archival documents and footage and an original score by Philip Glass. March 11, The March of the Penguins, 2005, 85 minutes. Each winter, alone in the pitiless ice deserts of Antarctica, deep in the most inhospitable terrain on Earth, a truly remarkable journey takes place as it has done for millennia. Emperor penguins overcome daunting obstacles in order to return to their breeding grounds for mating season. This film tells the story of one year in the life of a flock -- focusing on one couple in particular -- as they trek across the Antarctic on an annual journey that invokes just about every major life experience: from birth to death, from dating to mating, from comedy to tragedy, and from love to fighting for survival. Magnificently filmed and absolutely fascinating! March 25, The Last Days, 1998, 87 minutes From Steven Spielberg and the Shoah Foundation. In Hungary, the last days of the Final Solution. This powerful documentary uses actual testimonials from five survivors to recreate the horrors and tragedies that occurred during the final days of Holocaust. For all the sufferings it recounts, the film is inspiring and heartwarming. All five of the subjects have built valuable, meaningful and creative lives. Their willingness to contemplate the unthinkable, to describe their horrifying experiences, attests to their hope that humanity can learn from the past. It is a film that must be seen. $10, A&L Gold Members: $8, A&L Platinum Members: Free