Tonight: Foreign films are the majority in Oscar's Documentary Feature Category

This documentary about the AIDS crisis focuses on ACT UP and TAG (Treatment Action Group).  The activism of these groups was critical to ensuring research and treatment for AIDS, taking away (in the United States at least) the presumption of death one used to have when one received this diagnosis.  In the early 1980s, when fears and distrust dominated, protests to highlight the need for research on the virus led ultimately to the ability to manage AIDS. Shin Bet, Israel's counterterrorism agency, and highly secretive, has been  engaged in intelligence, security, and anti-terrorist activities for decades.  In this revealing documentary, six former heads of Shin Bet talk about the policies and actions during the many years of violence and hostilities between  Israelis and Palestinians.Palestinian peasant Emad Burnat purchases a camcorder to celebrate a family joy, the birth of fourth son Gibreel. Documenting the conflict between Palestinians and Israelis is the last thing on Emad's mind. One day, Emad sees olive trees being ripped from the ground. He films this action. He gradually becomes the documentarian of the villagers' peaceful protests against the loss of their land and the resulting gunfire, tear gas dispersion, and arrests.  With  Israeli filmmaker Guy David, he documents family and political events in his village of Bil'in during which, in fact, five of his cameras end up destroyed.View the list »
Academy Awards

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In this evening's show of glitz and glamour, the Documentary Features are an antidote of sorts. Not fancy or bejeweled, they will be acknowledged briefly. It is interesting that most are foreign. One, "Searching for Sugar Man," (Sweden, UK) has helped continue the late-in-life relaunch of a Detroit musician's career. Another, "Five Broken Cameras" (Palestine, Israel) is a tribute to how one man can begin a project which eventually sheds light on the human beings affected by the continuing encroachment of settlements where Palestinians lived for countless years. All are worthy of viewing, and their status as nominees at the least brings them opportunities for larger audiences.

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To look at the trailers for each of these documentarys, go to the Academy Awards website and select the Documentary Feature category.

View the list
  • Palestinian peasant Emad Burnat purchases a camcorder to celebrate a family joy, the birth of fourth son Gibreel. Documenting the conflict between Palestinians and Israelis is the last thing on Emad's mind. One day, Emad sees olive trees being ripped from the ground. He films this action. He gradually becomes the documentarian of the villagers' peaceful protests against the loss of their land and the resulting gunfire, tear gas dispersion, and arrests.  With  Israeli filmmaker Guy David, he documents family and political events in his village of Bil'in during which, in fact, five of his cameras end up destroyed.
  •  Shin Bet, Israel's counterterrorism agency, and highly secretive, has been  engaged in intelligence, security, and anti-terrorist activities for decades.  In this revealing documentary, six former heads of Shin Bet talk about the policies and actions during the many years of violence and hostilities between  Israelis and Palestinians.
  • This documentary about the AIDS crisis focuses on ACT UP and TAG (Treatment Action Group).  The activism of these groups was critical to ensuring research and treatment for AIDS, taking away (in the United States at least) the presumption of death one used to have when one received this diagnosis.  In the early 1980s, when fears and distrust dominated, protests to highlight the need for research on the virus led ultimately to the ability to manage AIDS.
  • This documentary was put together by Swedish filmmaker Malik Bendjelloul in the style of a mystery. It follows the search of two South Africans, fan Stephen 'Sugar' Segerman and journalist Craig Bartholomew-Strydom, who want to sort out the rumors of the death of Detroir musician Rodriguez, since there were several versions (fire? gunshot?). They find very little information about him. So, they decide to study his lyrics. A reference to a girl in Dearborn (right outside Detroit) is a clue they follow-up. Step by step, their detective work begins to shed more light on this singer-songwriter, who reminds some of Bob Dylan because of his creative intriguing lyrics and unique voice.
  • In the U.S. military, statistics indicate that women are sexually assaulted at twice the rate of women in the civilian population.  In 2010, there were over 19,300 sexual assaults.  The pressure to remain silent and blame exists for these victims.  This eye-opening documentary is truly disturbing and a black eye on the military. To date, this has brought some changes in the military after it was viewed by Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta.   
View the list
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, Portland Foreign Films Examiner

Lindsay Waite is a photographer (lindsaywaite.zenfolio.com), videographer, and former attorney. She received a Master's in 2004, writing her thesis on Todd Haynes as auteur including the influences on his works of the French New Wave and German Expressionism. Her video shorts have been featured...

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