Sociology
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ABRAHAM’S CHILDRENIslamic Studies Children & Young Adult American Studies Sociology 2011 Directed by Women
What does it mean to be young and Muslim in today's America? An invaluable and especially timely documentary, Abraham's Children takes us into the lives of 10 Muslim American adolescents, ranging in age from 10 to 17 years old, to share their experiences and hear their stories in their own words.
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PETITIONAsian Studies Criminal & Law Sociology 2010
A harrowing investigation into China's legal system, this documentary takes us inside the world of 'petitioners,' people who come to Beijing from all over the country to seek justice against corrupt local officials and courts, only to find themselves waiting months or years (in some cases more than 10 years) for a hearing.
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LANDSAnthropology Cultural Studies Environmental Studies Latin-American Studies Sociology 2010 Directed by Women
Deep in the Amazon rainforest, three cities form a unique triple border between three South American countries: Brazil, Colombia and Peru. Beautifully photographed, Lands examines the impact of borders, commerce and urbanization on the lives of the local and indigenous population as well as the surrounding ecology.
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BEYOND BABYLAND2010 Women's Studies Urban Studies Sociology Health Family Relations Economics Death & Dying American Studies African-American Studies Medicine
Beyond Babyland seeks to understand the causes behind the troubling rate of infant mortality in African-American communities while introducing us to the people and organizations working tirelessly to turn around this tide.
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THE FALL OF WOMENLANDAnthropology Asian Studies Women's Studies Human Sexuality Cultural Studies Sociology 2010 Directed by Women
A fascinating documentary on the unique sexual culture of the Mosuo people, a small minority situated in the southwest of China, and one of the last remaining matriarchal societies in the world. The Fall of Womenland explores their history and present reality as well as the dangers that threaten their inherited way of life.
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CODY: THE FIRST STEPDisabilities Health Women's Studies Science Sociology Political Science 2009
Narrated by actress Glenn Close, this heartfelt documentary follows Cody Unser, a remarkable young woman left paralyzed from a rare neurological disorder, as she learns to live with her disability while working to raise awareness, improve quality of life and find a cure for those afflicted with spinal cord related paralysis.
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ME BRONI BA (MY WHITE BABY)African Studies Women's Studies African-American Studies Anthropology Sociology 2009 Directed by Women
Weaving together sequences of hair-braiding salons in Ghana, voice-over of Oprah rhapsodizing brown-skinned dolls and animated clips of signature hairstyles, Me Broni Ba (My White Baby) is an artfully composed, thought-provoking work that investigates the fraught relationship between images of beauty and power.
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FIXER: THE TAKING OF AJMAL NAQSHBANDIMedia Studies Middle Eastern Studies Political Science Cultural Studies Peace & Conflict Islamic Studies Terrorism Studies Sociology 2009
A behind-the-scenes look at the dangerous world of wartime news gathering, this incisive documentary tells the story of 24-year-old Ajmal Naqshbandi, a 'fixer' - someone hired by foreign journalists to gain access for their stories - who was kidnapped, along with an Italian reporter, by the Taliban in 2007.
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O'ER THE LANDAmerican Studies Sociology Media Studies 2009 Directed by Women
Taking its title from the last line in the first stanza of the National Anthem, O'er The Land is a haunting meditation on the connection between patriotism and violence in American culture. It raises timely questions about the hallowed concept of freedom, including how its evolved since 1776 and what it means to Americans today.
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THE HILLSIDE CROWDAfrican Studies Sociology Anthropology 2009
When gold was discovered on a remote hillside in Burkina Faso, a bustling city quickly sprung up around it, replete with gold-diggers, prospectors, merchants, holy men, gamblers and prostitutes. The Hillside Crowd profiles the inhabitants of this improvised gold town and their efforts to escape the surrounding poverty.
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WADE IN THE WATER, CHILDREN2009 Urban Studies Sociology Psychology & Psychiatry Media Studies Health Education Cinema Studies Anthropology American Studies African-American Studies Directed by Women
Through a passionate mixture of private videos, uncensored interviews and school-day adventures, the young children of Singleton Charter Middle School, the first school to open in New Orleans after Katrina, have created a revealing portrait of urban youth at the heart of an ongoing American crisis.
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THE SOLITARY LIFE OF CRANESArchitecture Urban Studies Sociology 2009 Directed by Women
Part city symphony, part visual poem, The Solitary Life of Cranes explores the invisible life of a city, its patterns and hidden secrets, seen through the eyes of crane drivers working high above its streets. Referencing both Ruttmann and Vertov as well as Jane Jacobs' "The Death and Life of Great American Cities," it's a beautiful meditation on how our existence is shaped by the spaces we inhabit.
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THE LAST DAYS OF SHISHMAREFEnvironmental Studies Anthropology Native American Studies Sociology 2009 Indigenous Studies
An astounding new documentary on the first victims of global warming, The Last Days of Shishmaref travels to a small village in northwest Alaska, home to an Inupiaq Eskimo community, where homes are literally falling into the sea. The entire village is expected to disappear within 10 years.
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LA AMERICANALatino Studies Latin-American Studies Political Science Sociology American Studies Criminal & Law Labor Studies New York City 2009 Immigration
The story of a single mother forced to leave her ailing daughter in Bolivia
in order to provide her with a better life is woven into the current debate
over amnesty for undocumented immigrants. Winner of multiple awards at Latino
film festivals, La Americana puts a human face on this timely and controversial issue.
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WITH A STROKE OF THE CHAVETALatin-American Studies Labor Studies Literature Sociology 2009 Directed by Women
Don Quixote, Les Misérables, One Hundred Years of Solitude. The practice of reading classic works of literature to workers at cigar factories dates back to the mid-1800s. With a Stroke of the Chaveta explores this rich tradition that continues to flourish in Cuba.
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LA CORONACriminal & Law LGBTQ Women's Studies Latin-American Studies Sociology Human Sexuality 2009 Academy Award Winners & Nominees Directed by Women
2008 Academy Award® nominee for Best Documentary Short Subject, La Corona (The Crown) explores the lives of female contestants in an unusual beauty pageant at a high security prison in Bogotá, Colombia. The film addresses issues of female identity, sexuality, crime and equality.
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THE AXE IN THE ATTICAfrican-American Studies Anthropology American Studies Political Science Cinema Studies Sociology 2008 Directed by Women
What does it mean to be exiled in your own country? In the aftermath of Katrina, two filmmakers embark on a road trip to meet displaced evacuees. An important American documentary, The Axe in the Attic tackles questions of race, class, and the breakdown of trust between a government and its citizens.
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MEN ON THE EDGE: fishermen’s diaryPolitical Science Cultural Studies Middle Eastern Studies Anthropology Sociology Religion & Spirituality Jewish Studies Islamic Studies 2008 Directed by Women
On an abandoned beach off the coast of Israel, against all odds, Israeli and Palestinian fishermen live and work together. Men on the Edge: Fishermen's Diary documents four years in their lives, an eclectic group of men brought together by a shared relationship with the sea.
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THE ORDER OF MYTHSAfrican-American Studies American Studies American History Sociology 2008 Directed by Women
The first Mardi Gras in America was celebrated in Mobile, Alabama in 1703. In 2008, it is still racially segregated. A fascinating investigation into our nation's history and traditions, this acclaimed, award-winning documentary illuminates the complexities of race relations in 21st century America.
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AFGHAN MUSCLESCultural Studies Anthropology LGBTQ Islamic Studies Sociology Middle Eastern Studies 2008
Afghan Muscles takes us inside the most popular sport in Afghanistan: body building. Suppressed by the Taliban, this thriving spectator sport now attracts thousands of young men across a country ravaged by war and poverty who dream of attaining a better life through muscles.
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