What to Watch: 8 Sundance Films to Watch on National Biographers Day
17/05/2022
By Stephanie Ornelas
Pictured: Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work (2010)
Biographical films give us the opportunity to learn about lives different from our own, with all the tragedy, triumph, and tears that accompany them. The people who tell those stories provide us with a unique lens. Today is National Biographers Day, the day Samuel Johnson - famous poet, essayist, literary critic, and editor - met his biographer James Boswell, who authored the beloved book The Life of Samuel Johnson.
Like Boswell's piece on Johnson, these projects are a powerful reminder that sometimes, when you're given a small window into someone's life through a film or a book, you can learn more than you thought possible. They help us understand the lives (or segments thereof) of past and present prominent people - both famous and infamous.
Johnson once wrote, It matters not how a man dies, but how he lives. So, to honor this day, here are eight Sundance films available to stream right now that tell the incredible stories of the lives (and some, the deaths) of a few notable public figures.
RBG (2018)
In this Oscar-nominated film, filmmakers Betsy West and Julie Cohen gain unprecedented access to explore the life and career of United States Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg - and examine how her legacy propelled the battle for gender equality. (Available to stream on Tubi and Vudu.)
Lucy & Desi (2022)
Director Amy Poehler explores the unlikely partnership and enduring gift of one of the most prolific power couples in entertainment history. With special access to family archives, Poehler takes a look at the life of the '50s comedy trailblazers Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. (Available to stream on Amazon Prime.)
Grizzly Man (2005)
Werner Herzog's remarkable film chronicles the life and death of bear enthusiast Timothy Treadwell and what drove him to live among grizzly bears on an Alaskan reserve. A devoted conservationist, Treadwell believed he had finally bridged the gap between human and beast. But when one of the bears he loved and protected turns on him, his footage serves as a window into our understanding of nature's grim realities. (Available to stream on YouTube.)
NAVALNY (2022)
In this jaw-dropping film, creator Daniel Roher was given unprecedented access to Russian opposition leader and former presidential candidate Alexei Navalny. NAVALNY details the 2020 assassination attempt of Navalny, in which he was poisoned with a military-grade nerve agent. (Available to stream on Hulu Premium.)
Biggie & Tupac (2002)
Formerly known as LA Story, the feature-length film centers around two murdered American rappers, Biggie Smalls and Tupac Shakur. In the film, creator Nick Broomfield suggests the two murders were planned by Suge Knight, head of Death Row Records. (Available to stream on Amazon Prime.)
jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy (2022)
Sometimes the best stories are told by our friends who were there in the beginning. The film jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy documents the life of rapper, record producer, and fashion designer Kanye West. Directors Coodie and Chike were given front-row seats to the early stages of Kanye's music career, giving fans and viewers not just a peek inside West's triumphs, but also his struggles. (Available to stream on Netflix.)
Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It (2021)
Director Mariem P rez Riera tells the story of Rita Moreno, a girl born into poverty on a Puerto Rican farm who overcomes relentless racism to become an award-winning singer, actor, and dancer. In addition to looking closely at her personal life, including romances and personal struggles, the film also addresses the extremely limited ideas Hollywood has of Latin actors and actors of color, a problem that persists in the present day. (Available to stream on Netflix.)
Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work (2010)
Following the life and career of veteran comedian Joan Rivers, directors Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg explore her early years in the comedy industry and touch on her longtime professional relationships with celebrities like Johnny Carson, George Carlin, Phyllis Diller, Kathy Griffin, and her own daughter, Melissa Rivers. (Available to stream on Roku Channel.)
LINK: | https://www.sundance.org/blogs/what-to-watch-8-sundance-films-to-watch... |
See more stories from sundance |
More from Sundance Institute
25/04/2024
Inside the Archives: Highlighting the Importance of Preservation for the Festival's 40th Edition
Sundance Institute Founder Robert Redford during a press conference at the 1996 ...
23/04/2024
SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL: LONDON 2024 REVEALS FULL PROGRAMME LINE-UP BURSTING WITH BOLD CINEMATIC VOICES FOR 11TH EDITION
IN ADDITION TO FICTION AND DOCUMENTARY FEATURES, THE SELECTION INCLUDES: PRO...
19/04/2024
Stress Positions Mines Health Anxieties for Comedy
PARK CITY, UTAH - JANUARY 18: (L-R) John Early and Theda Hammel attend the 2024 Sundance Film Festival Stress Positions premiere at Library Center Theatre on ...
19/04/2024
Give Me the Backstory: Get to Know Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie, the Filmmakers Behind Sugarcane
By Lucy Spicer One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Festival...
19/04/2024
Mexico City Watchlist: 7 Documentaries About Working in CDMX
Pictured: Midnight Family By Stephanie Ornelas A great way to get to know a city as culturally unique and rich as Mexico City is to listen to the stories tol...
17/04/2024
Sundance Institute Launches RFI and RFP Process to Explore Host Locations for the Sundance Film Festival in 2027 and Beyond
Opening today, the exploration is aimed at selecting a location that will preser...
16/04/2024
Give Me the Backstory: Get to Know Silje Evensmo Jacobsen, the Filmmaker Behind A New Kind of Wilderness
By Lucy Spicer One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Festival...
15/04/2024
The Rise and Fall of The Synanon Fix: Like Frogs Boiling Slowly in Water
(Robin Marshall/Shutterstock for Sundance Film Festival)...
12/04/2024
Mexico City Watchlist: 7 Sundance Festival Films Written by Women
[Pictured: A still from Sujo] By Stephanie Ornelas There are so many stories and layers to be told within Ciudad de M xico, Paloma Riojas says over Zoom. T...
10/04/2024
Give Me the Backstory: Get to Know David and Nathan Zellner, the Filmmakers Behind Sasquatch Sunset
By Bailey Pennick One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Festi...
09/04/2024
It's Only Life After All, but Indigo Girls Bring It to Life in New Documentary
By Peter Jones Amy Ray shuffles through a rack of clothing to find an unusual s...
08/04/2024
Choose Your Partners Wisely: Highlights From a Discussion With Mira Nair, Director of Mississippi Masala and Monsoon Wedding
By Stephanie Ornelas Mira Nair first aspired to be an actor, but working as a ...
05/04/2024
A Love of Movies Is the Real Star of Kim's Video
Kim's Video premiere at 2023 Sundance Film Festival. Photo by Becca Haydu By Peter Jones What goes around comes around, or at least rewinds back to the be...
04/04/2024
SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL: LONDON 2024 ANNOUNCES OPENING AND CLOSING NIGHT FILMS
KNEECAP WILL OPEN THE 11TH EDITION OF THE FESTIVAL, D DI ( ) SELECTED AS CLOSING NIGHT FILM...
04/04/2024
Go, Sugar, and More Celebrate Anniversaries in April
Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck were inspired to make Sugar after reading about the rising number of Dominican athletes who go to the U.S. to play baseball....
03/04/2024
From the Collection: SLAM Reunion Is a Celebration of Freedom
Richard Stratton, Marc Levin, and Henri Kessler attend the 2023 Sundance Film Festival SLAM Premiere at Egyptian Theatre on January 22, 2023, in Park City, Ut...
02/04/2024
Sundance Film Festival CDMX 2024 by Cinpolis announces the official program for its first edition
The Sundance Film Festival CDMX 2024 will take place from April 25th to 28th at ...
01/04/2024
Release Rundown: Docs on Indigo Girls, Synanon, and Girls State Among Sundance Titles Reaching Wider Audiences in April
2023 Sundance Film Festival documentary Indigo Girls: It's Only Life After ...
29/03/2024
Give Me the Backstory: Get to Know Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss, the Filmmakers Behind Girls State
By Lucy Spicer One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Festival...
28/03/2024
Give Me the Backstory: Get to Know 8 Women Filmmakers With Shorts at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival
A still from Jasmin Baumgartner's Bye Bye, Bowser, which screened as part ...
27/03/2024
Inside the Archives: It's Lights, Curtains, Action When Sundance Films Become Stage Productions
By Jen Scott It's time to unwrap those noisy candies and put your phone on ...
26/03/2024
CHOOSE CHICAGO, CITY OF CHICAGO ANNOUNCE SUNDANCE INSTITUTE X CHICAGO 2024 COMING THIS SUMMER
New event championing creative independence will feature three days of screening...
25/03/2024
Give Me the Backstory: Get to Know Mel Eslyn, the Filmmaker Behind Penelope
By Bailey Pennick One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Festival is having a front-row seat for the bright future of independent filmmaking. ...
21/03/2024
Give Me the Backstory: Get to Know Brett Story, the Co-Director of Union
By Lucy Spicer One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Festival is having a front-row seat for the bright future of independent filmmaking. Whi...
19/03/2024
2025 Sundance Film Festival Taking Place January 23-February 2
PARK CITY, UTAH, March 19, 2024 - Save the date to be the first to see next year's independent films and projects that entertain, spark cultural conversatio...
13/03/2024
Give Me the Backstory: Get to Know Klaudia Reynicke, the Filmmaker Behind Reinas
By Bailey Pennick One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Festival is having a front-row seat for the bright future of independent filmmaking. ...
11/03/2024
Give Me the Backstory: Get to Know India Donaldson, the Filmmaker Behind Good One
By Lucy Spicer One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Festival...
08/03/2024
Back to the '80s: Women Documentary Filmmakers Remember the Festival's First Decade
Paula de Koenigsberg and Lucy Winer in front of a porn shop while filming Rate I...
07/03/2024
Film Festival Watch: 23 Sundance-Supported Films to See at SXSW
[Pictured: Doppelg ngers ] By Stephanie Ornelas The sun is shining, the brisket is smoking, and cinephiles are making their way to Austin, Texas, for the 202...
05/03/2024
Four Weddings and a Funeral and Sin Nombre Among Films With March Anniversaries
dgar Flores stars in Cary Joji Fukunaga's feature debut, Sin nombre, which won two awards at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival....
04/03/2024
Sundance Film Festival Asia returns to Taiwan in 2024
Submissions Now Open for the 2024 Short Film Competition supporting local artists...
01/03/2024
Inside the Archives: One Degree of Sundance Institute at the 2024 Oscars
Director Mira Nair and cinematographer Edward Lachman on the set of Mississippi Masala. Photo by Mitch Epstein...
01/03/2024
Release Rundown: What to Watch This March, From Love Lies Bleeding to Shayda
(L-R) Katy O'Brian and Kristen Stewart star in Rose Glass' thriller Love Lies Bleeding, which premiered in the Midnight section at the 2024 Sundance F...
29/02/2024
Cinpolis and Sundance Institute partner to launch the first edition of the Sundance Film Festival CDMX
Sundance Film Festival CDMX 2024 will take place from April 25th to 28th in Cin ...
29/02/2024
Film Festival Watch: Catch These 10 Sundance-Supported Docs at True/False Film Fest
By Stephanie Ornelas One of the rewards of being part of a filmmaker's jou...
29/02/2024
Give Me the Backstory: Get to Know Angela Patton and Natalie Rae, the Co-Directors of Daughters
By Lucy Spicer One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Festival...
28/02/2024
Give Me the Backstory: Get to Know 6 Black Filmmakers With Shorts at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival
A still from Tajana Tokyo's Salone Love, which screened as part of Short F...
27/02/2024
Give Me the Backstory: Get to Know J.M. Harper, the Director of As We Speak
By Bailey Pennick One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Festival is having a front-row seat for the bright future of independent filmmaking. ...
26/02/2024
Past Lives Wins Big as Sundance Institute Projects Are Honored at the 2024 Spirit Awards
The vibe inside the big white tent of the 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards wa...
26/02/2024
More Life: An Appreciation of Steve Buscemi in Parting Glances
Parting Glances. 1986. USA. Written and Directed by Bill Sherwood. Courtesy First Run Features...
23/02/2024
5 Takeaways From a Sundance Collab Conversation With Alexander Payne, Director of The Holdovers
By Stephanie Ornelas Alexander Payne has deep roots with Sundance Institute, h...
22/02/2024
Sundance Institute Announces 2024 Momentum Fellows
PARK CITY, UTAH, February 22, 2024 - Today the nonprofit Sundance Institute announced eight storytellers selected for the 2024 Momentum Fellowship. Now in its s...
16/02/2024
Give Me the Backstory: Get to Know Nzingha Stewart and Keyonna Taylor, the Director and Co-Writer of Me/We
By Lucy Spicer One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Festival...
15/02/2024
Film Festival Watch: 12 Sundance-Supported Films Screening at the 2024 Berlin Film Festival
By Stephanie Ornelas If your film is ready for Sundance, that means you'r...
14/02/2024
Give Me the Backstory: Get to Know Titus Kaphar, the Filmmaker Behind Exhibiting Forgiveness
By Bailey Pennick One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Festi...
13/02/2024
Hard Eight, Velvet Buzzsaw, and More Celebrate Anniversaries in February
Rene Russo and Jake Gyllenhaal star in Dan Gilroy's darkly comic Velvet Buzzsaw....
12/02/2024
Give Me the Backstory: Get to Know Dawn Porter, the Filmmaker Behind Luther: Never Too Much
By Lucy Spicer One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Festival...
09/02/2024
Release Rundown: What to Watch in February, From Drift to God Save Texas
Cynthia Erivo is mesmerizing as Jacqueline, the lead character in Anthony Chen's film Drift....
08/02/2024
You Have to Feel Safe to Fail: Quotes From a Conversation With Emerald Fennell, the Writer-Director of Saltburn
By Lucy Spicer From what she jokingly describes as a hostile hotel room in Lo...