For the poor and deprived people like me, the Sundance Film Festival is an amazing thought. The idea of seeing tons of movies in two weeks, mixing with some of the greatest creative minds in the world, and generally living it up in ways that you just can’t do at home is something that seems incredibly peaceful to me. Sundance is a time for creative genius to be exposed and some of the best movies of the year will be unveiled.

Well, kiddies, Sundance has listed the movies that will be playing in the four main categories this coming year. Unless you’re incredibly lucky or have been saving all year, do not plan to get tickets. Rumor on the streets is that the only tickets available currently are the $2,500.00 tickets. Unfortunately, that leaves me out. However, I can tell you what I will be missing and give you a little thought or two about what I would have hoped to see while I was there.

So, without further ado…I present to you Sundance 2007

The Independent Film: Documentaries (16 chosen films out of 856 entries)

Banished is the story of three towns in the United States that forced entire populations of African Americans to leave the area in the early 20th century. This world premiere looks at what can be done to heal racial injustice. (I am looking forward to this one due to the current climate of the country and the over-obsessed racial inequality talk. I want to see the thoughts of the filmmaker on how to heal these issues.)
Director: Marco Williams

Everything’s Cool is all about messengers shouting the truth on global warming. These messengers are on a hunt to find the perfect image and the best points to ensure that people will see the problem and will look towards alternative energy. (Being a believer in global warming and the need to protect our planet I am willing to check this one out.)
Director(s): Judith Helfand and Daniel B. Gold

For the Bible Tells Me So looks at five families that are both Conservative and Christian. This film walks us through their lives and looks at how the religious right uses the bible to support the agenda of hurting the gay community and ending the separation between church and state. (So far, this is the one I am kicking myself for having to miss seeing it.)
Director: Daniel Karslake

Ghosts of Abu Ghraib tells about the abuses that had occurred in the infamous Iraqi prison during the fall of 2003. Witnesses, victim’s probes, and personal narratives are used to fuel this documentary. (This one is going to be a high powered, high emotion movie and I am looking forward to it)
Director: Rory Kennedy

Girl 27 takes us back to 1937 when an underage dancer, Patricia Douglas, is raped at an MGM stag party. After making headlines Douglas disappears. (Being a former CJ major and all-around crime buff…I’m in)
Director: David Stenn

Hear and Now involves the personal story of the director and her deaf parents. After 65 years of life they decide to have a surgery that could give them the ability to hear. (I could leave this one behind without being too upset.)
Director: Irene Taylor Brodsky

Manda Bala (Send a Bullet) follows a politician in Brazil who steals billions of dollars using a frog farm. Also looked at are a wealthy businessman who spends loads of money bulletproofing his cars, and a plastic surgeon who does reconstructive surgery for mutilated kidnapping victims. (I cannot deny how interesting this sounds.)
Director: Jason Kohn

My Kid Could Paint That is about a 4 year old who is able to paint with the magnificence and beauty that has been compared to the likes of Picasso. This documentary explores the child’s genius and raises the question as to whether she really is a genius or if her parents are exploiting her. (If only to see the child’s paintings, I am in)
Director: Amir Bar-Lev

Nanking deals with the historic atrocities that occurred during WWII involving the Japanese invasion of China. Over 200,000 Chinese were murdered, thousands were raped, and a few people were on hand to perform acts that were far more heroic than one would ever expect. (I am a huge WWII buff so I definitely am looking forward to this)
Director(s): Bill Guttentag and Dan Sturman

No End in Sight looks at the Bush Administrations handlings of the Iraq war. Key players offer interviews and the film is said to offer a clear picture of the decisions that lead to the problems occurring in Iraq. (Sounds like it could be enlightening although my eyes are already open to the mishaps of Dubya)
Director: Charles Ferguson

Protagonist deals with the stories of four different men. On the agenda for this documentary are a German terrorist, an ex-gay Evangelist, a martial arts student, and a bank robber. (Alright, I’m in. I am dying to know what, if anything, they have in common).
Director: Jessica Yu

War Dance deals with civil war in Uganda. Three young girls are the focus as they make a historic journey to the national music festival with their school. (Sounds heartwarming so I am looking forward to it)
Director(s): Sean Fine and Andrea Nix Fine

White Light/Black Rain: The Destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki is all about the topic of the cost human’s pay when dealing with atomic warfare. (Again, anything with topics of war usually draw me in)
Director: Steven Okazaki

Zoo looks at the strange death of a Seattle man who died after an odd encounter with a horse. (With a description like this who wouldn’t want to see it?)
Director: Robinson Devor

The other sections of the Sundance offerings will be posted in separate posts to keep the length to a decent size. Next on the Sundance agenda is the dramatic offerings.

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