Screen Time is your curated weekly guide to excellent documentaries and nonfiction programs that you can watch at home.
Premiering February 24 on Independent Lens, Jacqueline Olive's Always in Season, an IDA Enterprise Documentary Fund grantee, follows the tragedy of African-American teenager Lennon Lacy, who in August 2014 was found hanging from a swing set in Bladenboro, North Carolina. His suspicious death was ruled a suicide by law enforcement, But Lennon's mother, Claudia, his family and many others believe he was lynched. Always in Season chronicles Claudia's quest to learn the truth and takes a closer look at the lingering impact of more than of century of lynching in America.
Premiering February 25 on American Masters, Stanley Nelson's Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool, tells the story of the visionary jazz giant, through his groundbreaking music and through the great artists with whom he worked. The film tracks the triumphs and trials of his brilliant career, giving us a full-bodied portrait of a complicated icon.
Now streaming on America ReFramed/World Channel, BaddDDD Sonia Sanchez, from Barbara Attie, Janet Goldwater and Sabrina Schmidt Gordon, celebrates the pioneering poet whom Maya Angelou called "a lion in literature's forest." A significant figure in the 1960s Black Arts Movement, often considered the artistic arm of the Black Power Movement, Sanches raised her voice in the name of black culture, civil rights, women's liberation and world peace. The documentary features readings and jazz-accompanied performances of her work, including special appearances by Questlove, Talib Kweli, Ursula Rucker, Amiri Baraka and many others.
DAFilms.com presents Iran: A Country Shrouded in Mystery, a curated program of Iranian documentaries that reflect a complicated political situation, as well as a unique culture, a rich history and a noteworthy cinematic tradition. The collection of films here addresses current events in Iranian society, revealing personal stories and cultural differences.
Premiering February 28 on Showtime is Lauren Greenfield's The Kingmaker, an examination into the controversial political career of Imelda Marcos, the former first lady of the Philippines. The film traces the Marcos family's long history of corruption, extravagance and brutality, revealing a cautionary take of power and national division.