Your Favorite Documentaries

[Kelt]

Jake Shimabukuro: Life on Four Strings

Freaking Amazing!

"Jake Shimabukuro opens up about his virtuoso skills on the ukulele, which have transformed all previous notions of the instrument's potential."

Streaming on Netflix, probably others.

[Kelt]

Independent lens: Muscle Shoals

Currently airing on many PBS stations and streaming online this documents the history of an american recording studio.

"Located on the banks of the Tennessee River, Muscle Shoals, Alabama is the unlikely breeding ground for some of the most creative and defiant music in American history.
Under the spiritual influence of the "Singing River" as Native Americans called it, the music of Muscle Shoals is some of the most important and resonant of all time. "I'll Take You There", "Brown Sugar", "When a Man Loves a Woman", "I Never Loved A Man the Way That I Loved You", "Mustang Sally", "Tell Mama", "Kodachrome", and "Freebird" are just a few of the tens of thousands of tracks created there.

At its heart is Rick Hall who founded FAME Studios. Overcoming crushing poverty and staggering tragedies, he brought black and white musicians together to create music that would last for generations while also giving birth to the unique 'Muscle Shoals sound' and the rhythm section 'The Swampers'.

In this movie legendary artists including Aretha Franklin, Greg Allman, Bono, Clarence Carter, Jimmy Cliff, Mick Jagger, Etta James, Alicia Keys, Wilson Pickett, Keith Richards, Percy Sledge, Steve Winwood and others bear witness to the magnetism and mystery of Muscle Shoals and why it remains a global influence today."

[kittygrrl]

[Candelion]

If you've ever wondered about the origin of one of the most beautiful Christmas carols, The Huron Carol, this documentary tells the story.

[Kobi]

The first serious documentary on boredom.

Director Albert Nerenberg asks why the subject of boredom has been so religiously avoided and shows that boredom isn't what one thinks it is. The film's breakthrough research suggests boredom is likely a state of stress. It may also be killing people. Perhaps the powers that be would rather people not know that, especially if one is inside some kind of educational institution or dead end job.

Note Bonus features: Revolutionary accelerated unboring version (48 min.) for the easily bored.


Informative, cute, funny, and based in neuroscience. Interesting stuff.

[homoe]

Public Speaking (2010 Documentary with Fran Liebowitz

[Kobi]

"A unique and essential 4.5-hour documentary series addressing the roots of gender inequality, the devastating impact of poverty and the ripple effects that follow, including: sex trafficking, teen-pregnancy, gender-based violence, child slavery and the effective solutions being forged to combat them."

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Intense and some segments were very difficult to watch. Major trigger warning.