This episode goes behind the scenes of the 1995 documentary; new mixes of “Free as a Bird” and “Real Love” are coming out; and an updated book is due.
Category: Documentary Films and Programs
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Joel DeMott, Whose Documentary Was Rejected by PBS, Dies at 78
Her “Seventeen,” a study of teenagers later recognized as a major work of cinéma vérité, was pulled from a public TV series in 1982 under pressure from its sponsor.
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‘Checkpoint Zoo’ Review: Operation Animal Rescue
This documentary retraces the heart-rending evacuation of animals from an outdoor zoo near the front lines of the Russia-Ukraine War.
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‘My Undesirable Friends: Part I — Last Air in Moscow’ Review: Strangling Democracy
One of the year’s most towering achievements is a documentary about Russian independent journalism being wiped out in real time.
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Netflix Signs New, Looser Deal With Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
The streaming giant signed a new deal with the production company for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex that is much less extensive than an earlier arrangement.
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‘Sudan, Remember Us’: An Intimate Portrait of Activists in an Uprising
Hind Meddeb followed young people in Khartoum, focusing on their hopes and fears to create a kind of living record of history.
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‘It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley’ Review: A Singer’s Soul
This largely by-the-book documentary about the musician Jeff Buckley is most memorable for highlighting the earnest, sensitive soul behind the music.
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Joseph Lovett, TV Producer Who Shed an Early Light on AIDS, Dies at 80
At CBS and ABC, he pursued news segments aimed at destigmatizing gay life and drawing attention to an epidemic that at the time was largely overlooked.
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‘Kerouac’s Road: The Beat of a Nation’: Scratching the Surface of a Deep Legacy
Ebs Burnough’s movie covers the novel as well as its influence on generations of readers, including many artists.
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‘Architecton’ Review: A Lesson Among Ruins
A documentary about concrete is as gorgeous as it is grave.
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True Crime to Stream: The Best of 2025, So Far
Across television, film and podcast, here are four highlights of the year.
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Joan Anderson, Unsung Heroine of Hula Hoop History, Dies at 101
Because of a deal made on a handshake in a parking lot, she was long left out of a famous toy’s story. When she was 94, a documentary changed that.