Independent Film Recommendations

As you know, I have a deep appreciation for indie films, especially documentaries with very poignant and distinct messages. Here are 3 that are on my list to view this year. At least two of these were featured at the Tribeca Film Festival….another reason why I plan on attending next year.

Trailers for all three films can be viewed at Apple Trailers. Take a look!

The Lottery
The documentary follows four families from Harlem and the Bronx in the months leading up to the lottery for Harlem Success Academy, one of the most successful charter schools in New York City. The film explores the debate surrounding the education reform movement. Politicians and educators are interviewed about the crisis and how they believe it can be fixed. The film highlights the opposition from the teachers' unions to charter schools (as they are usually not unionized), and the contest between charter and public schools for building space
(Synopsis from wikipedia)

Beautiful Islands
The documentary movie looks at three beautiful islands, shaken by climate change - Tuvalu in the South Pacific, Venice in Italy and Shishmaref in Alaska. They have different climates and cultures but the people all love their islands. The filming, which took three years, focused on their lives, including festivals and traditional crafts. When the people lose their homelands, their cultures and histories face death. By being close to them, we can feel the present state of the earth. The movie has no narration. It is a voyage around the world, listening to the sounds of waters and winds.
(Synopsis from IMDB)


Entre Nos
A film, based on a true story, which offers a fresh take on the issue of new immigrants in the United States. Mariana totes her two children from Colombia to reunite with her husband in Queens, New York. Her life is devastatingly turned around when her husband abandons the family. The woman and her kids have to fend for themselves in a foreign country. Mariana desperately searches for work. In the end, she resourcefully navigates a surprising avenue for making some money, the city's recycling.
(Synopsis from IMDB)