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Film & Documentary
June 1, 2020

Letter from the editor:

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Our recent film and documentary coverage grapples with the images of several major figures. Kelli Weston writes about the Michelle Obama documentary, Seph Rodney muses on ESPN’s Michael Jordan series, and I assess the bombshell revelations in the FX/Hulu film on Norma McCorvey, the “Jane Roe” of Roe v. Wade. I also talked to the organizers of an exciting online screening series of rare Asian American films from the ‘90s, and looked back on the landmark anime Paranoia Agent.

Until we can see you at the movies again, stay safe.

How Asian American Representation in Film Has (and Hasn’t) Changed Over the Years

My Sight is Lined with Visions presents films from the Asian American indie/arthouse wave of the ’90s. Hyperallergic talked to programmers Keisha Knight and Abby Sun about complicating ideas of cultural celebration.

Dan Schindel

The Inspiring Story of Michelle Obama, and Its Limitations

Based on the former First Lady’s memoir, the documentary Becoming advances the Obama family’s skillfully crafted image, while unintentionally revealing some of its contradictions.

Kelli Weston

A Mind-Bending Cultural Critique From One of Anime’s Most Influential Directors

At turns disturbing, darkly humorous, and deeply heartfelt, Paranoia Agent exemplifies everything people love about Satoshi Kon’s work, and why fans still miss him nearly a decade after his death.

Dan Schindel

Minimalism Takes Flight

Within the many intersections between cinema and minimalism, there’s a fascinating thread of nonfiction filmmakers depicting air travel.

Dan Schindel

Michael Jordan’s Flawed Hero Narrative

One of the key lessons of ESPN’s series The Last Dance is that people learn to adore brutal tyrants, and will only fall further into that admiration as long as the tyrant is uniquely talented, powerful, and wins.

Seph Rodney

The Truth About Jane Roe

In the new documentary AKA Jane Roe, Roe v. Wade plaintiff Norma McCorvey reveals that her anti-abortion stance later in life was nothing but “an act.”