Tags archives: film

10 documentaries to change how you see the world

What I love about documentaries is that they open a window onto new people, places and cultures. Film makers can take you to locations that it might otherwise be difficult, if not impossible, to access. And not only do documentaries give you the opportunity to learn about life in other places, but they also have the amazing capacity to change the way we see [...]

Fight for your Dreams: Speed Sisters

If you would have told me a few weeks ago, that one of my favourite films in 2016 would be a documentary about car racing, I would have shook my head in disbelief and told you to do your homework better. I'm not interested in racing sports whatsoever. And yet, I am a film buff and have signed up for the #52FilmsByWomen challenge this year, to see at least on[...]

The Propaganda Game - a documentary on North Korea

What do you know about North Korea? Let me help you with a few basics I know from the news. It owns nuclear weapons that could allegedly reach the west coast of the United States; there is an incredible food shortage causing the population to starve; their dictator managed to shut down the theatrical release of a US-American satirical film evolving around[...]

Reality Check: New York City on Screen vs. My Life in the City

"If I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere..." Everybody knows these famous lines about one of the most famous cities. I'm probably one of the few people though who moved to New York without having them on my mind. I didn't care much about 'making it', I just thought it sounded like a fun place and wouldn't it be cool to go to college there?! Still I arr[...]

Poverty in Guatemala: Living on $1 a Day

It is snowing outside in New York City as yet another blizzard swirls around outside my window. As the snow piles up and temperatures drop, I sit cozy indoors wrapped up in the warmth of my living room and indulging in Hello Panda cookies (a childhood throwback) purchased at the nearby bodega while I write this post. I am fed, warm, have a roof above my head[...]

Around the world in 365 docobites

I thought that when I saw a photo of the duo behind 365 docobites via the brilliant Humans of Amsterdam Facebook page (which of course is influenced by the mahoosively popular Humans of New York) that was the first time I'd heard of the project. With Debra from Humans of Amsterdam. But a quick navigation around their website and I realised I'd seen som[...]

The Act of Killing: The Dark Past of Indonesia

With the Oscars coming up, our thoughts tend to evolve around whether Leonardo DiCaprio will finally be awarded for his great performances, or if rom-com sweetheart turned serious actor Matthew McConaughey will win the race. Does Gravity really deserve Best Film? And can Cate Blanchett's outstanding performance compensate for an otherwise mediocre film? And [...]

The Arctic Cowboys of Finland

Picture a wide open landscape of an endless white carpet of snow; patches of old growth forest with trees covered in lichen. Suddenly a flock of reindeer appears from between the white hills: with massive antlers on their heads, and tiny white fur-balls aka. fluffy reindeer calves roaming between their legs. The herd grows bigger, thousands of animals emerge[...]

Travelette of the Month: Eva Stotz, documentary filmmaker

On trips to far-away countries and different cultures I often feel a little lost. Advice by friends and guidebooks might help, but what I would actually need is the inside perspective of a local. Just, how to get to them? It's not like I can just walk into their house, sit down at their kitchen table and ask them what to do in their town or country.. but wai[...]

The HUSH Project: Travelling the World in the Name of Love

Let me tell you about a guy from New York City. He is a singer/songwriter and self-proclaimed hopeless romantic – a species of which there are quite few among the city's 8 million souls. Like most people, this guy once went through a crazy love story which would drastically change his life. And, like some other inspired artists, this guy used music as an out[...]

