The Ozu Diaries

I Lived, But...

October 1983 •Japanese

An extremely lovely tribute to Ozu, on the 20th anniversary of his death. It uses a combination of footage from vintage films and new material (both interviews and Ozu-related locations) shot by Ozu's long-time camera-man (who came out of retirement to work on this). Surprisingly (or perhaps not), it focuses less on Ozu's accomplishments as a film-maker than on his impact on the lives of the people he worked with..

A Train Arrives at the Station

January 2016 •English

“This film was a gift to me. I make no claims for it, nor do I offer any apologies. It comes from work on The Thoughts That Once We Had. There was one shot we had to cut whose loss I particularly regretted. It was a shot of a train pulling into Tokyo Station from Ozu’s The Only Son (1936). So I decided to make a film around this shot, an anthology of train arrivals. It comprises 26 scenes or shots from movies, 1904-2015. It has a simple serial structure: each black & white sequence in the first half rhymes with a color sequence in the second half. Thus the first shot and the final shot show trains arriving at stations in Japan from a low camera height. In the first shot (The Only Son), the train moves toward the right; in the last shot, it moves toward the left. A bullet train has replaced a steam locomotive. So after all these years, I’ve made another structural film, although that was not my original intention.”

North Bergen, North Bergen

Invalid date •English

Footage shot in and around North Bergen, New Jersey presented in a minimalist series of fixed camera angles and long-takes accompanied by the ambient noise of city streets.

Hold on Tight

July 2011 •English

A short documentary exploring the ways LGBT couples show affection, and how small interactions like holding hands in public can carry, not only huge personal significance, but also the power to create social change.

Un volto tra la folla

January 2008 •Italian

My Name's Ben Folds – I Play Piano

October 2023 •English

A symphonic concert spectacle featuring rock maestro Ben Folds with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, combining the power of orchestral grandeur with the intimacy of close contact with the musicians. Audience participation peaks as Folds achieves the extraordinary feat of inducing the crowd to sing a choral refrain in three-part harmony. Interwoven with Folds’ personal narratives of the inspirations for his songs, the film transforms enthralling live performance into a unique portal revealing the creativity of the song writing process.

Queen of New York

October 2023 •English

Welcome to a different kind of drag race! As NYC emerges from the chaos of 2020, Marti Cummings (they/them), an audacious and big-hearted drag queen, goes all out in a historic bid to become a City Councilperson. It’s one of the most hotly contested Council races in years, and Marti’s strongest competitor is Shaun Abreu, a tenants’ lawyer with deep roots in the district’s Latinx community. As these first-timers race to do the most good for their Upper Manhattan neighbors, they offer very different visions for Democratic politics – one in a suit and tie, the other in combat boots and floral print. As this immersive documentary reveals, Marti’s passion inspires queer activists and allies to change the political system. Their campaign becomes a community of its own, especially for Marti’s non-binary peers who have never before seen themselves represented.

Franz Jagerstätter: A Man of Conscience

April 2009 •English

Knowing that he faced execution, Franz Jagerstatter refused to fight in Hitler’s army, saying no to war and working for peace.

La combattante

September 2022 •French

Mary-Jo receives daily visitors in her living room. An ethnologist specialized in Darfur, her guests aren't coming to have tea only. They need crucial help that only this 90-year-old woman can give.

Sid Waddell's Wacky World of Darts

September 2004 •English

Over the 21 years Sid Waddell has been commentating on this terrific sport, he has seen all the greatest matches, met the most amazing characters, and witnessed some unbelievable scenes. This movie is his ultimate collection of these hugely enjoyable moments, and makes for great family entertaiment.

Men Counting Their Beads

Invalid date •Turkish

An experimental documentary based on photographs of the director's grandfathers whom he never had the chance to meet, his grandmothers, and the stories they told.

Massimo Troisi: Somebody Down There Likes Me

February 2023 •Italian

The life of a dying young man at the short age of only forty-one after playing the lead in Il postino. He was a brilliant stage actor before becoming an astonishing film director.

Special Report – The Voice of Darts

December 2012 •English

Generations of sports fans loved listening to the lyricism and wit of the legendary Sid Waddell and on Christmas Day, Sky Sports News HD looked back at his extraordinary life in Special Report – The Voice of Darts.

A Little Bit of Fry and Waddell

May 2014 •English

Stephen Fry pays tribute to legendary darts commentator Sid Waddell. He discusses the time they spent together in the commentary box and also talks to Phil Taylor and Sid's son Dan.

Sweeney Todd: Scenes from the Making of a Musical

July 1980 •English

Opening with the first day of rehearsals of the London production of "Sweeney Todd", this ninety-minute documentary focuses on the rehearsal process with the musical's director, composer and actors.

Horror with a Twist

March 2020 •English

Fred Waltonspeaks about his upbringing, getting into filmmaking, shooting both The Sitter and When a Stranger Calls, his relationship with Frank Mancuso, Jr., and working with the April Fool’s Day cast and crew.

Mauritz Stiller

January 1987 •Swedish

Portrait of director Mauritz Stiller, with scenes from some of his best known movies.

Connecting the Dots: The Story of Feeling Through

June 2019 •English

'Connecting the Dots' follows the journey of making the groundbreaking film 'Feeling Through'.

Amelia: A Tale of Two Sisters

June 2017 •English

Eight decades after her disappearance, Amelia Earhart's incredible accomplishmenys are still celebrated, thanks in large part to her sister Muriel.

A Yiddish World Remembered

November 2004 •English

Elliott Gould narrates this affectionate look at life in the shtetls of Eastern Europe in the 19th and early 20th centuries. "It's unreal that all this could have just disappeared," says Polish native Mariem Adler Stok, one of the seniors whose memories of this "Yiddish world" give this documentary its life. The hour traces Jewish history in Europe and explores Jews' focus on education, their religious customs, clothing, food, music and theater.