Chloe Zhao's The Rider was my top pick for 2017. Werner Herzog said it restored his faith in cinema. I agree. The Rider is docu-fiction, which means that the people in the film play versions of themselves and acting out scenes that are true to their real lives. Set in the Heartland of South Dakota, The Rider follows a young Lakota horse trainer and rodeo rider as he reconciles his life and limitations after a traumatic head injury that prevents him from continuing as a rodeo rider. This film is so beautiful! Do It! 5/5 |
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Unlocking the Cage is a new documentary that follows the group NonHuman Rights Project that has set about to save incarcerated Chimpanzees by filing a Writ under Habeas Corpus. The argument being that Chimps (and Elephants and Dolpins...) can indeed communicate, are self-determining and autonomous beings, and are capable of empathy therefore they should not be incarcerated for medical testing or in improper enclosures in which they are isolated and treated poorly. Obviously the problem is in legally assigning personhood to a nonhuman. The argument is that the personhood would be equivalent to that of a small child--no legal rights that go with adult personhood and none of the responsibilities that go along with that personhood. This doc is a bit hard to watch if you're sensitive to witnessing the poor treatment of animals. 4/5 |
LindseyHere is where I post new reviews as I see films throughout the year. Archives
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