THE AMBASSADOR

In THE AMBASSADOR, director Mads Brugger exposes the corruption of government officials in the Central African Republic (CAR) and Liberia, along with the diplomatic-credentials-for-sale business. The most important revelation, however is the ease with which the restrictions on the export of “blood diamonds” can be circumvented.
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THE LAW IN THESE PARTS Sundance synopsis.
Official film site.
Facebook fan page.

An excellent film that won the World Documentary Jury Prize.

Below are the tweets I sent out about the film, most during or immediately after the Q&A.

THE LAW IN THESE PARTS shows the invisible people who laid the enabling legal foundations of Israel’s occupation. #hollow #Sundance

THE LAW IN THESE PARTS is the best doc so far at #Sundance. It changes–or should change–the entire Israel/Palestine conversation.

Dir. of THE LAW IN THESE PARTS sees “something in audience’s eyes that says, ‘I wish I hadn’t seen this. I wish I hadn’t come.’” #Sundance

THE LAW IN THESE PARTS brilliantly conceived, it incorporates the filmmaking process as visual meta-commentary on the topic. #Sundance

The film has been reviewed extensively online. Here’s an interesting review from the Jerusalem Post. From the article:

The Law in These Parts, a documentary film made by Ra’anan Alexandrowicz, was subject to criticism in Israel for its perceived negative portrayal of the country.

Critics who are worried about Israel’s reputation would do better to criticize Israel’s discriminatory and unjust laws and practices than criticize filmmakers who expose them. I have yet to read a critique of the film that claims any dishonesty on the part of the filmmakers.
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BIG BOYS GONE BANANAS!*
Official film site

(The asterisk is part of the title, if you were wondering.)

This is a fun, David vs. Goliath story. Or in this case, almost a meta-story, since it is the story of the filmmaker fighting for his rights to show and distribute his previous film BANANAS!*, which is itself a David vs. Goliath story—namely of Latin American banana plantation workers and their attorney against the global fruit behemoth Dole.
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1/2 REVOLUTION
(I have another review of this film, with extensive commentary, below.)
On January 25th, 2011, as thousands marched below their window near Tahrir Square, the filmmakers picked up their small cameras and started shooting from their balcony. They had no specific purpose except to document what was happening. As they said during the Q&A after the screening, it was “an accidental film,” one they had not specifically set out to make. Joining the throngs below, they kept filming as police and paramilitary thugs beat and gassed them, shooting and killing others nearby.
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