Docs, 3/21.

"The unearthing of Emile De Antonio's ever-more-relevant work continues with In the Year of the Pig (1968), one of the most devastating anti-imperialist films of its era," writes Travis Miles at Stop Smiling, following a rave for Point of Order!: "Working with stock footage for the first time, de Antonio is clearly interested less in its latent polemical effect than in its sheer power to fascinate and entertain."

Sudhir Muralidhar for the American Prospect: "If the Iraq War has demonstrated the futility of exporting American-style democracy across the world by force, Our Brand Is Crisis suggests that fancy political messaging, sophisticated polling, and technocratic policies ain't gonna cut it either." Much more from Chuck Tryon.

Daniel Nemet-Nejat interviews Liz Mermin, director of The Beauty Academy of Kabul. Jessica Winter reviews the film as well as Mardi Gras: Made in China for the Voice.

The Future of Food is "one of the most informative and practical documentaries I saw last year," writes Doug Cummings.

At Alternet, Audrey Bilger talks with Grace Lee about The Grace Lee Project.

At Flickhead, Ray Young reviews Caught in the Headlights.

"Is it just coincidence that three compelling documentaries about said fallen artists [Roky Erickson, Daniel Johnston and Townes Van Zandt] are floating around the ether right now?" asks Anthony Kaufman.

Aiming to make a doc yourself? Cyndi Greening compiles a proposal package.

Online viewing tip. Greg Allen points to a six-minute preview for Chinese Farmers in the Gamedom. Related: David Barboza's piece on the phenom for the New York Times.

Posted by dwhudson at March 21, 2006 1:28 PM