All Films

Raï Story: From Cheikha Rimitti to Cheba Djenet

2004 • 55 min • Denmark, Egypt, France, Lebanon

Raï Story is a musical journey in search of the Raï legend, Cheikha Remitti, in Oran, Algeria, where the Raï musical tradition began. In 1923, the first Raï singers performed behind screens during ceremonies to protect their identity. It was only when the music of singer Cheikha Remitti began to gain popularity among the general public that Raï music was made public, in the 1940s. Cheikha Remitti, who lives between Paris and Oran, is nowhere to be found, the filmmakers then decide to meet producers, musicians, singers like Cheba Dalila or Cheba Djenet, for whom Remitti created a wake. The opportunity, through these unique stories, illustrated with archive images, to retrace the important place of women in this musical tradition and the transformation of Raï music from the 1960s to 2000.

The Senior SEX

2004 • 60 min • Japan

Rika, who works at the Silver Welfare Volunteer Shirayuri Association office, has a boyfriend, Kaname, but recently they have been keeping their distance because he is too unreliable. One day, her co-worker Sachie, who is dating a man 40 years older than her, encourages her, saying, "Grandpas are nice. Why don't you find one for Rika at our place?" One day, when Rika is about to be attacked by Kaname, she is saved by Owada, who she was taking care of. Rika gradually begins to be attracted to Owada...

Sadness Beautiful Face

2004 • 17 min • France

Where we learn how Orpheus seduced Eurydice.

Daffy Duck for President

2004 • 4 min • United States of America

Daffy Duck tries to go into the government to make a law stating that Rabbit Season shall be a minimum of 12 months, while Bugs tries to stop him by means of the U.S. constitution.

Iver

2004 • 9 min • Norway

Iver's favorite thing to do is swim, but today the swimming lesson is cancelled. He sneaks by the receptionist to do some swimming anyway. No matter what Iver does in the swimming pool, the strict sound of the lifeguard’s whistle is heard. Eventually he gets thrown out. He is sulking in the reception area. People are leaving the swimming pool, and Iver gets an idea! He sneaks back in to do some more swimming. But suddenly somebody is coming – it´s that scary lifeguard…

Snail Dance

2004 • 9 min

Short by Yo Ota.

Extremely Beautiful Landscapes

2004 • 43 min • Japan

In the late 1960s, photographer Takuma Nakahira published the legendary photography magazine Provoke with Daido Moriyama. With this edgy writings and photographs, Nakahira rejected preexisting photographic expression. In 1977, an alcohol-induced coma resulted in a permanent partial memory loss. In the following years, with gradual recovery, Nakahira started photographing stray cats, homeless, and thatched roofs in the neighborhood near his home in a monomaniac manner. This is documentary is a portrait of the Nakahira's daily life. Directed by photographer Takashi Homma.

Remember the Alamo

2004 • 54 min

In the early 1830s Texas was about to explode. Although ruled by Mexico, the region was home to more than 20,000 U.S. settlers agitated by what they saw as restrictive Mexican policies. Mexican officials, concerned with illegal trading and immigration, were prepared to fight hard to keep the province under their control. Caught in the middle were the area's 4,000 Mexican Texans or Tejanos. With war on the horizon, the Tejanos had to pick a side. Many chose to fight with their Anglo neighbors against an army sent by Mexico City. The conflict pitted brother against brother and devastated the community. The Tejano gamble for a more prosperous future in an independent Texas proved tragic. Following the revolution, the Tejanos were overwhelmed by a surge of Anglo immigration -- leaving them foreigners in a land they had fought to defend.

The Making of Grace

2004 • 26 min • United States of America

A newly expanded version of the original Grace documentary, featuring new interviews with band members and producer Andy Wallace as well as unseen footage of Jeff and the band at Bearsville Studio recording Grace. Included in Grace (Legacy Edition), a newly remastered version of the album.

the deadly spawn: breed of war

2004 • 7 min

somewhere at the outer limits of the known universe, a billion years ago, a brutal war-loving race is prepared to strike another innocent planet... (special feature on the synapse films DVD release of THE DEADLY SPAWN)

Global Conspiracy?

2004 • 11 min • United Kingdom

Investigative reporter Terry Scanlon follows up the strange goings on in Llanfairfach, with interviews with people there at the time, including Professor Clifford Jones and mysterious boss, Stevens.

Vikings: Journey to New Worlds

2004 • 40 min • Canada

Filmmaker Marc Fafard examines the historical and cultural significance of the seafaring Vikings.

Demetri Martin: If I

2004 • 50 min • United States of America

If I is a Perrier Comedy Award-winning comedy one-man show written and performed by Demetri Martin at the 2003 Edinburgh Festival Fringe. It was also aired on British television as a special. The show is an autobiographical examination of Martin's life, as seen through various definitions of the word "if." The title of the special comes from a lengthy palindromic poem that Martin wrote; the words "if I" are at the center of the poem.

July '64

2004 • 54 min • United States of America

A historic three-day race riot erupted in two African American neighborhoods in the northern, mid-sized city of Rochester, New York. On the night of July 24, 1964, frustration and resentment brought on by institutional racism, overcrowding, lack of job opportunity and police dog attacks exploded in racial violence that brought Rochester to its knees. Combines historic archival footage, news reports, and interviews with witnesses and participants to dig deeply into the causes and effects of the historic disturbance.

A Place of Our Own

2004 • 54 min • United States of America

Filmmaker Stanley Nelson's look back at the 40 years he spent summering at Oak Bluffs, a black-oriented resort community on Martha's Vineyard.

Coffee

2004 • 11 min

Some people take their coffee straight, others take it with a little cream and sugar.

Darkness Minus Twelve

2004 • 12 min

A kidnap hostage in Colombia lives twelve minutes of fear as his family, a man in charge of delivering the ransom money, and a special ops team all rush to save him before it is too late.

Cannibalism: A New Taste in Style

2004 • 20 min

In the near future ceilings have been replaced by omnipresent TV's. In the mass media Cannibalism is being hyped as the latest trend in people's day to day lives. Ma, Pa and Wilberforce are your typical North American family. They are obese, over consuming and have a big screen TV on their kitchen ceiling. Life doesn't change much for this family unit, Pa goes to his job at the meat shop, Ma works her dead end job and lately Wilberforce has been staying at home because he is sick. However, when Wilberforce suggests eating Pa for dinner ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE.

Sting: The Journey & The Labyrinth: The Music of John Dowland

2004 • 54 min

Sting's interest in this Elizabethan composer is unflagging. In this fascinating new 80-minute DVD music-documentary, he tells us how this inspiring project all came about, from genesis to realization. The program, which will also be sold worldwide as a TV special, is directed by Jim Gable, Sting's long-time associate and the director of his previous DVDs (All this Time and Inside The Songs of Sacred Love). Sting invites us behind the scenes as he learns the music with his teacher Richard Levitt and rehearses with lutenist Edin Karamazov in the unique atmosphere of his Tuscan villa and at his Elizabethan home and gardens near London. The DVD features Sting's thrilling never-before-released live performances in London and New York. It also includes interviews with Dowland experts and a photo gallery. Plus a bonus CD of various recordings of live performances.

Brotherly Dance

2004 • 12 min • Serbia and Montenegro

Savo from Kikinda (Serbia) and his brother recall how they called communal service few years back to empty the septic tank in their backyard. As careless servicemen weren't coming for days, Savo staged his death by drowning in the hole. Communal service sent three trucks while Savo was looking at them from the attic. A story of a small man who fought the system and won, only to become a huge YouTube hero afterwards.

Ice Cube: The Making of a Don

2004 • 52 min • United States of America

A true-life tale of the Great American Dream, this movie showcases one man's rise from the streets of South Central L.A. to the hills of Hollywood. Features photos and videos of the man himself and his contemporaries.

From Kuleshov to Berlanga

2004 • 13 min • Spain

Spin the Bottle

2004 • 3 min • France

When almost thirty-year olds not knowing what to do with their afternoon but playing children's games.

Players in Pigtails

2004 • 11 min • United States of America

Katie Casey was baseball mad. Had the fever and had it bad. A story that celebrates a brave girl's love of the game as she works to become a player in the first-ever All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.