Documentary

In many ways, Oliver Stone’s latest documentary film South of the Border is a mirror image of the 2004 film adaptation of The Motorcycle Diaries. In this latter film, based on the journals of a young Ernesto “Che” Guevara, two young idealists strike out across the South American continent on a motorcycle in search of adventure, but instead find passion, resilience, and a Latin American identity that transcended all political borders.

This week I'm highlighting this cool documentary series I spotted on Sundance channel called Cities on Speed. Produced by the Danish Film Festival, the series focuses on the megacities of Mumbai, Cairo, Shanghai, and Bogota, and covers how rapid urbanization for better or worse has affected these growing epicenters.

Although I haven't seen all 4 of the films yet, my viewing of the Bogota film was extremlely capitivating, and it would've been an injustice if I didn't put the rest of you Mantlers on to this as well.

For all you poor students who can't afford Sundance, while I don't support pirating, do enough digital digging and I'm sure you'll find it worthwile.

Shout to Superfuture

Audio interview with Danny Schechter "The News Dissector," a man who has been offering a counter narrative to news and perspectives on global issues, politics and culture since l970 on radio, TV and, for the last decade, on his blog, NewsDissector.com. Danny edits MediaChannel.org, writes this daily blog as well as articles, commentaries, polemics, screeds, rants and books.

 "Sins of My Father" aka Pecados De Mi Padre, is a new documentary about the son of former Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar. The movie which was directed and produced by Argentinian filmmaker Nicolas Entel, tracks the life of the young Juan Pablo as he describes growing up in the shadow of his ominous father. Juan Pablo, who changed his name to Sebastian Marroquin, looks to atone for his family's sins by writing letters to the sons of his father's victims and then visiting them in prison. The film will screen at the Mar del Plata Film Festival from Nov. 7-15 and then at the IDFA festival in Amsterdam from Nov. 19-29. Check out more info about the flick at Variety.

UPDATED: Check out director Nicolas Entel talking about the movie on CNN.

Filmmaker Khalid Mohtaseb puts together a stunning visual on everyday life in Egypt and Lebanon. It only runs a little over two minutes, so if you have that time to burn, consider this something that deserves your attention.