The Ark of Lights and Shadows

An Honest Liar

April 2014 •English

An Honest Liar tells the incredible story of the world-famous magician, escape artist, and world-renowned enemy of deception, James 'The Amazing' Randi. The film brings to life Randi's intricate investigations that publicly exposed psychics, faith healers, and con-artists with quasi-religious fervor. A master deceiver who came out of the closet at the age of 81, Randi created fictional characters, fake psychics, and even turned his partner of 25 years, Jose Alvarez, into a sham guru named Carlos.

Grizzly Man

July 2005 •English

Werner Herzog's documentary film about the "Grizzly Man" Timothy Treadwell and what the thirteen summers in a National Park in Alaska were like in one man's attempt to protect the grizzly bears. The film is full of unique images and a look into the spirit of a man who sacrificed himself for nature.

Pukaskwa National Park

January 1983 •English

This short documentary by Bill Mason explores Pukaskwa National Park on Lake Superior, providing a background of the park's geological past and plant life. The film also shows scenes of hiking, canoeing and camping. The result is to put us back in touch with the natural elements that our ancestors both fought and enjoyed.

Alexej Čepička – Z vojína generálem

May 2009 •Czech

Queen Elizabeth II: Her Glorious Reign

October 2022 •English

Queen Elizabeth II is the longest-reigning monarch in the history of Great Britain and the Commonwealth. While her service to her country is legendary, she has become a figure of strength, endurance, and dignity the world over and indeed we all feel connected to her. Through triumph, loss, scandal, and celebration, witness the story of how a young Princess became Queen to the people of the world.

Jiří Suchý - Tackling Life with Ease

September 2019 •Czech

Theatre personality, musician, poet, writer, graphic artist, collector, self-professed clown, eternally young in spirit – all this is Jiří Suchý, one of the key figures of the domestic cultural scene over the last six decades. He has put on 97 plays at the Semafor theatre and has written the lyrics for 1,400 songs and the music for 500. Today, in an era beset by an onslaught of images that are often of questionable worth, this legendary figure’s tireless efforts to enrich the Czech language and its poetic nuances have been of inestimable value. Olga Sommerová lays before us Suchý’s prolific creative and civic journey through life with the subtle distinctiveness we have come to expect; she also demonstrates her singular flair for capturing exceptional moments.

Stelvio: Crossroads of Peace

April 2014 •Italian

El Ouafi Boughera, The marathon runner of history

November 2018 •

On August 5, 1928, after 2 hours and 32 minutes of racing, the 71st rooster wearing the bib entered the Olympic stadium in Amsterdam. Ahmed El Ouafi Bouguéra wins the gold medal and becomes the first Olympic champion from the African continent. He achieved his feat under the tricolor flag. The start of his real marathon is underway. The history of sport extends to the history of Algeria and France. This documentary retraces the different stages of the life of this great champion, not only the history of sport but also the great story. Archival photographs and interviews mingle with the painted paintings. The series thus once again gives voice to this forgotten hero, one of the great heroes of immigration who defended France for more than a century.

Fritz Lang, le cercle du destin - Les films allemands

April 2004 •French

To Be Frank: Sinatra at 100

December 2015 •English

The life of Frank Sinatra, as an actor and singer and the steps along the way that led him to become such an icon.

Lobo Mexicano

April 2020 •Spanish

About the mexican wolf in northwest Chihuahua, the search for its conservation among local communities, landowners, and the Livestock Assurance Fund.

Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired

January 2008 •English

Examines the public scandal and private tragedy which led to legendary director Roman Polanski's sudden flight from the United States.

André: The Voice of Wine

February 2017 •English

André - The Voice of Wine takes us on a cinematic journey from Russia through Europe to America as we embrace the story of André Tchelistcheff, who devoted his life to the ancient craft of winemaking. André was a Russian aristocrat who spent his early years working and studying all around Europe before going to Napa Valley, California, where his life was filled with both tragedy and success as he helped to move the Californian wine industry from a virtually moribund state after the repeal of Prohibition. He had a direct impact on the 1976 Paris blind tasting, known as the ‘Judgement of Paris’, staged by Steven Spurrier which turned the world of wine upside down. André was not a businessman, but an artist and scientist whose heart and soul were devoted to wine. His philosophy about life and his love for wine continues to influence generations of wine makers throughout the world.

Who was Hitler

November 2017 •German

Hitler's biography told like never before. Besides brief historical localizations by a narrator, only contemporaries and Hitler himself speak: no interviews, no reenactment, no illustrative graphics and no technical gadgets. The testimonies from diaries, letters, speeches and autobiographies are assembled with new, often unpublished archive material. Hitler's life and work are thus reflected in a unique way in interaction with the image of the society in the years 1889 to 1945.

Ashkenazy Observed

January 1987 •English

Documentary about Soviet-born pianist Vladimir Ashkenazy.

Itzhak Perlman: Virtuoso Violinist

January 1978 •English

Documentary on the life and career of violinist Itzhak Perlman, including interviews, archival footage, and concert performances.

Bears

December 2004 •English

From polar bears in the arctic tundra to black bears in the Northern Rockies, you'll see some of the most spectacular footage ever shot of these enterprising omnivores. Catch salmon with a group of hungry grizzlies on the McNeil River in Alaska. Crawl inside a den with a mother black bear and her cubs. Learn about the challenges facing each of these species as their habitat diminishes.

Cinéastes de notre temps : Jean Vigo

October 2012 •French

Filmmakers of Our Time: François Truffaut or the Critical Spirit

December 1965 •French

Ingmar Bergman: The Magic Lantern

May 1988 •English

The first of two documentaries about Ingmar Bergman produced to mark his 70th birthday. Includes behind the scenes "home movies" from Bergman's personal archive, interviews with Bergman recorded over his 40 years in the film industry and passages from his autobiography read by Max von Sydow and Bergman himself.