A seemingly simple taxi ride across Paris evolves into a profound meditation on the realities of the driver, whose personal life is in shambles, and his fare, an elderly woman whose warmth belies her shocking past.
In the poignant and thought-provoking short film, a distressed mother, Velda, takes center stage as she recounts the tragic tale of her son, Michael, who battles inner demons after being sent to war. As she navigates through the gut-wrenching chronology of his enlistment on the eve of 9/11, his traumatizing experiences in combat, and his futile attempts at readjustment after returning home, the narrative unravels to reveal the silent and insidious toll of war on the mental health of soldiers. Compelled by her son's devastating suicide, Velda transforms her grief into a call for action, articulating her concerns about the military's approach to mental health issues in a letter to the president. This heart-rending short film underscores the often overlooked consequences of war, giving voice to those left in its devastating wake.
Gunars Taurins has become a dad-sitter in Latvia. He wants to return to France as soon as possible once he has found a caregiver for his father. But it's not that easy and Gunars has to stay in Riga whether he likes it or not.
The story of professional musician Mark Barden, whose story of his life changed dramatically when his son Daniel was killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
Elis & Tom is considered one of the most important albums in the history of Brazilian music. The recording took place in Los Angeles, in early 1974, and it was all captured by the team of filmmakers led by director Roberto de Oliveira, who arranjed for the duo to meet. The original footage was kept for 45 years until they were restored and remastered in 2018. The film is also an exciting reunion of the director with the artists and the material he filmed nearly five decades ago.
Mayan culture still thrives among the Tzotzil people of San Andrés Larrainzar, a town in southeastern Mexico. Each inhabitant shares responsibility for the collective well-being but only a few are called upon to serve the gods—often in a dream.
Director Helke Sander is cleaning house. As she roams through her home and archive, she looks back on her life and work. Her stay in Finland during her marriage to Finnish writer Markku Lahtela opened her eyes to the possibility of more equal relationships between women and men. On her return to Berlin she initiated the New German Women’s Movement and began making films. The selected film clips offer a fascinating glimpse into post-War German society and Sander’s position in it as a woman, mother, artist and activist.
The film tells about the first steps of Evgenia Medvedeva on the ice, about working with Eteri Tutberidze, about everything that the world champion had to give up for the sake of sports, and what to gain. And also - about overcoming, about sincere and complex emotions and real partings. And also - about plans, prospects and about who to be after the sport.