Documentary Movies 2003 List

With Hugo Chavez • Kim Bartley • Donnacha O'Briain

On April 11th, 2002, Irish documentarians Kim Bartley and Donnacha O'Briain were in Venezuela, with the intention of making a movie about the nation's left-leaning (and Castro-inspired) democratic president, Hugo Chavez, whose support comes mostly from the country's impoverished, who make up 80% of the population (versus past leaders who were often supported by the country's big money minority, like the petroleum industry). Although they did accomplish that, the film took a seriously unexpected turn when the filmmakers found themselves in the heart of a coup d'etat, trapped in the president's palace as Chavez's right-wing oligarchic opposition overthrew the leader. Chavez was able to return to power within 48 hours, buoyed by public support, but this film captures those frightening moments and days in which a nation's political future was fought over using both bullets and manipulation of the media. Venezuela's television networks, all owned by oil companies except for the state channel which the coup brought down, reported distorted interpretations of the coup, as proven by this movie's footage, which was then picked up by international news organizations like CNN. This movie also addresses what the White House thought about this coup in the world's fifth largest producer of oil (providing 14% of the United States' petroleum).

With Shawn Barney Barron • Layne Beachley • Ken Bradshaw • Ken Collins • Brad Gerlach • Brian Keaulana • Brock Little • Josh Loya • Mike Parsons • Bill Sharp • Darryl Flea Virostko • Philip Boston

The most ambitious surfing movie ever undertaken — the "Billabong Odyssey", is based on a three-year global expedition to seek out and ride the biggest waves in the world. Shot primarily in 24-frames-per-second, progressive-scan 1080 HD format as well as 35mm, the film combines the talents of the world's best big-wave surfers, jet-powered watercraft tow vehicles, and cutting-edge weather-tracking technology to create an unprecedented cinematic experience. The Billabong Odyssey calls for three expeditions each year. Two, which will take place between October and March, will unfold in the Northern Hemisphere, including the entire West Coast of North America, the Hawaiian chain, Canada, and Mexico, as well as France and Spain. A third will occur in the Southern Hemisphere during its winter months of June through August. Although specific destinations remain secret, the maiden expedition took to the seas last October, focusing on key locations in the Pacific Northwest between San Francisco and Canada's Vancouver Island. Preparations are under way for future excursions to coastlines rich with high-surf potential, including Chile, South Africa, Ireland, New Zealand and the South Pacific isles.

With Louis I. Kahn • Nathaniel Kahn

In this documentary, Nathaniel Kahn examines the life and career of his father, Philadelphia architect Louis I. Kahn (1901-1974), whose work included the Salk Institute and the Parliament and Capitol Buildings in Dhaka, Bangladesh, before dying of a heart attack in a Penn Station bathroom in 1974, unidentified and broke despite having been one of the century's most influential architects. Louis Kahn also led three different personal lives, with three different families, fathering a daughter with his wife, and a child each by two other lovers (one of whom was the mother of Nathaniel, who was 11 when his father died).

With Tupac Shakur • Lauren Lazin

A documentary about the pivotal hip-hop artist Tupac Shakur that is narrated entirely in the words of the deceased artist himself. Through a variety of interviews, journal readings, poetry performances, private home movies, and never-before-seen concert footage, the film serves as a "self-portrait" of a cultural icon whose career and persona, both, continue to grow from beyond the grave.

With Bella Freud • Leigh Bowery • Boy George • Michael Clark • Cerith Wyn Evans • Damien Hirst • Rifat Ozbek • Norman Rosenthal • Charles Atlas

This documentary examines the short life of Australian-born Leigh Bowery (1961-1994) whose resume included being a famous fashion designer, a 1980s gay nightclub icon in London (as host of the Taboo nightclub), outrageous performance artist, lead singer of the art rock group Minty and the costume designer for the Michael Clarke Dance Company.