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If I had to pick my favorite category of the Oscars, I think it has to be the documentary shorts. There are always two or three (or more) that are so well done, inspiring, heartbreaking, enlightening, that I practically bully people to go see them (I like to think of it as 'encouraging', but I suppose it depends on your perspective). This year, I was crying pretty much from the first 10 minutes of the first film until the end of the last film. I think that's why I like going alone; I don't need anyone to see me sobbing like the Cleveland Indians just lost the seventh game of the World Series in the last inning of the game. Human beings are incredibly resilient, and given the chance, I think most of them do the right or good thing, and that is so evident in the following films.
Joe's Violin - Joseph Feingold survived a Soviet prison camp in Siberia during the Second World War and afterward, while in a refugee camp in Germany awaiting transport to the United States, he bought a violin with a carton of cigarettes. Little did he know that over sixty years later the violin would be bringing joy to a whole new generation. Through an instrument donation program in New York City, Joseph donated his violin and it wound up at the Bronx Global Learning Institute for Girls Charter School and with Brianna Perez, a 12 year old student chosen because of her passion for playing. There are three segments to the movie: Joseph's story, Brianna's story and the story of them together. Brianna and her fellow students are all eager to meet Joseph because to them he is a hero. When Brianna and Joseph meet, it was the most beautiful moment; she played a piece by Grieg that Joseph's mother sent to him while he was at the Russian camp; his mother and youngest brother died in Treblinka. Beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time. Looking at Joseph and the young girls at the school, many of whom come from immigrant or refugee families, that is the best of America. The movie can be viewed online here: http://www.joesviolin.com/watch-now. PBS will also be showing it at some time.
Extremis - End of life discussions are incredibly difficult when people are healthy; who thinks of extreme measures like life extending tracheotomies when you're running around and enjoying life? This Netflix production looks at those very moments that are so important and can be so painful for a family to make, especially when they don't know what the patient wants to do. The movie was filmed in the Intensive Care Unit of Highland Hospital in Oakland, California, and we look over the shoulder of Doctor Jessica Zitter who has to have those conversations several times a day. Dr. Zitter meets with patients and their families to lay out the treatment options, if any, and what the expected prognosis is; unfortunately, the prognosis may only be another month or two. She does this with care and kindness, trying not to impose her own beliefs on to the families, like when she really doesn't think that extra intervention will add to a quality of life, and yield no cure. She has several moments where she looks utterly exhausted and defeated, but she keeps going. It probably sounds weird to say this is a great documentary; but it is, and a powerful one. It certainly points out the importance of creating a health care directive, if for no other reason than to ease the burden on family members who may be wracked with guilt about making the wrong decision. This is available on Netflix streaming.
4.1 Miles - This collection of documentaries contains more 'heroes' than I recall seeing in previous collections. In 4.1 Miles, the heroes are the captain and his crew who run a Coast Guard boat in the waters around the Island of Lesbos, rescuing refugees fleeing from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan through Turkey. The waters can be rough, the boats overfull of panicking and frightened people, and the ship's crew is stressed and overworked. It would be easy for the captain (I apologize I cannot remember his name and I cannot find it) and his crew to be angry or resentful of these people who endanger their lives, but they're not. They do get scared because they are responsible for all of these people, including very young children; they get angry because it seems the Greek government and the rest of the world don't care and aren't providing enough assistance; they get sad and upset because some that they are trying to rescue, die. But they don't give up; you see the whole island pulling together.
Watani: My Homeland - I cried, I laughed, I cried and I cheered. This is another documentary about the Civil War in Syria, this time focusing on a family whose father is a Commander in the Free Syrian Army. Abu Ali and his wife, Hala, are devoted to each other and their four children, Hammoudi, Helen, Farah and Sarah, and they are likewise devoted to their parents. They live in Aleppo, or rather survive there as they hope the bombs miss their current apartment and that Abu Ali comes back from his missions. One day Abu Ali is betrayed by his men to ISIL, and the family waits anxiously for his return, now less safe without Abu Ali. Hala doesn't want to leave, but the attacks are getting worse, and the children are more frightened. When Germany announces they will take 20,000 refugees, Hala decides they need to apply; they know nothing about Germany except it's not getting bombed. The film follows them as they journey from Syria to Turkey to Germany, landing in a small, medieval village (according to an informational video they watched, population is dwindling at a rapid rate as old people die every day - this was one of the lighter moments as we, the audience knew the video was mild propaganda, but the children did not). Their new world is 180 degrees different than their old lives, and the children get acclimated fairly quickly, learning German and making new friends. Hala carries this great sadness, as well as a load of guilt for leaving Syria in case Abu Ali is alive, and for leaving her homeland. She denounces ISIL for their perversion of Islam and destruction of her country. In a way she reminded me of my mom, a person who has suffered tremendously, but yet has a strength and fortitude that is unexpected, all for her children and her husband. The two youngest children provide the laughs, speaking their minds and seeing the world through their young perspective. I think everyone should watch this movie, especially if you have a fear of the refugees, or if you don't believe how perilous the situation is or you think these people are a threat. I suppose you might not change your mind, but I hope you do. They didn't want to leave 'their Syria', Hammoudi talks about returning to Syria one day to rebuild his country. They just want a chance to live and be safe. I hope the family is thriving in Germany.
The White Helmets - This is another Netflix production, and another film with a cast of heroes. The White Helmets are civilians who act as first responders throughout Syria, attempting to rescue their friends, neighbors and families who may be buried under rubble after the bombings. A few of the White Helmets give us their stories and why they have joined; they come from all walks of life, have young children and could be staying at home with them, but they all this incredible sense of devotion to this very dangerous task. We see them on various rescue missions, with mixed successes. The men are sent to a training facility in Turkey to learn new rescue techniques, using different types of equipment and getting a brief respite from the bombardments, but not from the stress and worry about their families. Even as the men strengthen their bonds with each other, after their exercises, they watch television coverage of the destruction from the Russians, the Syrian Army and ISIL; one of the men's brothers is killed while he's away. You feel their hopelessness at being so far away, but they also know they are learning techniques that may save lives. Like Halal and her family, the men in the White Helmets love their country and hope one day for peace.
I cannot even pick a winner. They all deserve to have their stories told.
International Rescue Committee: https://www.rescue.org/
The White Helmets: http://www.whitehelmets.org/en
Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation: http://www.mhopus.org/
The White Helmets - This is another Netflix production, and another film with a cast of heroes. The White Helmets are civilians who act as first responders throughout Syria, attempting to rescue their friends, neighbors and families who may be buried under rubble after the bombings. A few of the White Helmets give us their stories and why they have joined; they come from all walks of life, have young children and could be staying at home with them, but they all this incredible sense of devotion to this very dangerous task. We see them on various rescue missions, with mixed successes. The men are sent to a training facility in Turkey to learn new rescue techniques, using different types of equipment and getting a brief respite from the bombardments, but not from the stress and worry about their families. Even as the men strengthen their bonds with each other, after their exercises, they watch television coverage of the destruction from the Russians, the Syrian Army and ISIL; one of the men's brothers is killed while he's away. You feel their hopelessness at being so far away, but they also know they are learning techniques that may save lives. Like Halal and her family, the men in the White Helmets love their country and hope one day for peace.
I cannot even pick a winner. They all deserve to have their stories told.
International Rescue Committee: https://www.rescue.org/
The White Helmets: http://www.whitehelmets.org/en
Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation: http://www.mhopus.org/
