By Gregory Crofton Director Matthew Heineman has made his own sweet symphony bringing to the screen the love story of musician and singer John Batiste and his wife Suleika Jaouad, a writer living with leukemia. Heineman is devoted to observational…
‘The Deepest Breath’ Finds True Romance Where Hollywood Never Could
By Gregory Crofton Humans can be strange. Whether they’re on a deadly path to reach the peak of Earth’s tallest mountain, or diving deep into the ocean on a single breath, some people need danger to get by. Director Laura…
‘MOTHERLAND’ Takes Top Prize at Copenhagen Doc Fest
By Gregory Crofton What does it feel like to live in a fascist state ruled by a dictator named Alexander Lukashenko? Directors Alexander Mihalkovich and Hanna Badziaka show in their 92-minute film “Motherland” that it makes life painful and confusing,…
‘Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence’ is a Devastating Look at Mind Control
By Gregory Crofton Director Zachary Heinzerling (Cutie and the Boxer) assembled this three-part documentary is one of the best I’ve seen. I watched it in one sitting despite being bored with the over-done “cult documentary.” It is a devastating look…
Total Grunge: Love and Depression Glow in Beautiful ‘How to Save a Dead Friend’
By Gregory Crofton Marusya Syroechkovskaya first picked up a camera as a teen to capture her disaffected life in Butovo, Russia, just south of Moscow. As a 16-year-old she wanted to die on a daily basis. She smoked Pall Malls…
Poet and People Connector Rose Styron Savors Each Summer on Martha’s Vineyard
By Gregory Crofton Rose Styron has a natural elegance about her. While she describes herself as maybe a little “pollyannaish,” others just call it being “In the Company of Rose.” That’s the name of a new documentary on her life…