Two documentary filmmakers chronicle their time in Sonagchi, Calcutta and the relationships they developed with children of prostitutes who work the city's notorious red light district.
Filmmaker Davis Guggenheim follows Al Gore on the lecture circuit, as the former presidential candidate campaigns to raise public awareness of the dangers of global warming and calls for immediate action to curb its destructive effects on the environment.
The story of the life and career of the legendary rhythm and blues musician Ray Charles, from his humble beginnings in the South, where he went blind at age seven, to his meteoric rise to stardom during the 1950s and 1960s.
A look at tightrope walker Philippe Petit's daring, but illegal, high-wire routine performed between New York City's World Trade Center's twin towers in 1974, what some consider, "the artistic crime of the century".
Director:
James Marsh
Stars:
Philippe Petit,
Jean François Heckel,
Jean-Louis Blondeau
Two men reaching middle age with not much to show but disappointment embark on a week-long road trip through California's wine country, just as one is about to take a trip down the aisle.
Director:
Alexander Payne
Stars:
Paul Giamatti,
Thomas Haden Church,
Virginia Madsen
In 1959, Truman Capote learns of the murder of a Kansas family and decides to write a book about the case. While researching for his novel In Cold Blood, Capote forms a relationship with one of the killers, Perry Smith, who is on death row.
Director:
Bennett Miller
Stars:
Philip Seymour Hoffman,
Clifton Collins Jr.,
Catherine Keener
Biopic of the iconic French singer Édith Piaf. Raised by her grandmother in a brothel, she was discovered while singing on a street corner at the age of 19. Despite her success, Piaf's life was filled with tragedy.
Director:
Olivier Dahan
Stars:
Marion Cotillard,
Sylvie Testud,
Pascal Greggory
In New York City's Harlem circa 1987, an overweight, abused, illiterate teen who is pregnant with her second child is invited to enroll in an alternative school in hopes that her life can head in a new direction.
Documentary photographer Zana Briski journeyed into Calcutta's underworld to photograph the city's prostitutes. In return, she offered to teach the prostitutes' children the basics of photography so that the kids could document their own lives on the streets of one of the world's poorest cities. The resulting photographs, often astonishing, were exhibited around the world; many of them are seen in this film, which won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2005.Written by
Jwelch5742
There needs to be more uplifting movies like this one. Truly inspirational and enlightening. People have questioned the motives of the director or author - but all I can say is I don't even care if she did it all for the money. If she did, then capitalism is working here. Those who are complaining probably aren't doing anything to help those kids.
With the proliferation of internet porn and sex tourism, it is good thing for people to see a documentary such as this. It is just good material to put into people's heads compared to the nasty stuff that is out there. To me it shows that even in the depths of human degradation and despair there could be hope in a corrupt world. That one person, if they could change a few lives for the better, for whatever motivation, it is a good thing and should be an inspiration for us all.
Even in these worst human conditions these beautiful kids just shine out full of hope and potential. If you want to see a true-life story documentary where lives are changed for the better, than watch this one.
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There needs to be more uplifting movies like this one. Truly inspirational and enlightening. People have questioned the motives of the director or author - but all I can say is I don't even care if she did it all for the money. If she did, then capitalism is working here. Those who are complaining probably aren't doing anything to help those kids.
With the proliferation of internet porn and sex tourism, it is good thing for people to see a documentary such as this. It is just good material to put into people's heads compared to the nasty stuff that is out there. To me it shows that even in the depths of human degradation and despair there could be hope in a corrupt world. That one person, if they could change a few lives for the better, for whatever motivation, it is a good thing and should be an inspiration for us all.
Even in these worst human conditions these beautiful kids just shine out full of hope and potential. If you want to see a true-life story documentary where lives are changed for the better, than watch this one.