Yamamoto Senji's Farewell Ceremony

The Red Elvis

2007

A documentary on the late American entertainer Dean Reed, who became a huge star in East Germany after settling there in 1973.

Sieben Mulden und eine Leiche

2007

Thomas Haemmerli is about to celebrate his fortieth birthday when he learns of his mother's death. A further shock follows when he and his brother Erik discover her apartment, which is filthy and full to bursting with junk. It takes the brothers an entire month to clean out the place. Among the chaos, they find films going back to the 1930s, photos and other memorabilia.

The Spectre of Marxism

1983

The impact of Marx on the 20th century has been all-pervasive and world-wide. This program looks at the man, at the roots of his philosophy, at the causes and explanations of his philosophical development, and at its most direct outcome: the failed Soviet Union.

Sick: The Life and Death of Bob Flanagan, Supermasochist

1997

The story of Robert Flanagan, a man who was born with cystic fibrosis and told he wouldn't live past 20, who through a unique odyssey of masochism, art and love found a way to live decades past his expiration date.

The Assassination of JFK

1992

A variety of experts, authors, and reporters discuss the murder of JFK. If one were to select the ten most significant events in American history, there would be no doubt that the death of President John F. Kennedy would be among the list. This is not only because of the fact that one of America’s most visionary presidents was cut down in the prime of his life, but because for almost 60 years later after the fact, his assassination continues to be shrouded with mystery and controversy. This documentary presents the facts surrounding the events before, and after that horrific moment in Dallas, and includes interviews of those who were on the scene not only at the tragic sight of the murder of JFK but also a number of individuals who possess firsthand knowledge of everything from the politics of the day to the actual autopsy performed on the president.

Andrew Jackson: Good, Evil & The Presidency

2007

A fascinating account of the presidency of Andrew Jackson, who was both one of America's great presidents and a borderline tyrant. The seventh president shook up the glossy world of Washington, DC with his "common-man" methods and ideals, but also oversaw one of the most controversial events in American history: the forced removal of Indian tribes, including the Cherokees, from their homes.

Fratricide in Burkina: The Assassination of Thomas Sankara and French Africa

Burkina Faso, West Africa. October 15, 1987. Automatic gunfire breaks the even night’s silence and kills President Thomas Sankara. Had the assassins been sent by his brother in arms, Blaise Compaoré, with whom he had launched the Marxist Burkina Revolution a few years before, and who took control of the country right after the assassination?

Murder at City Hall: The Assassination of Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk

2022

On November 27, 1978 San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk were killed by their colleague, Supervisor Dan White. The murder tore San Francisco's political scene apart and made people question whether junk food, Twinkies, could drive someone to murder.

Let in Those Who Weep - The Toraja of Sulawesi

1995

There is a special moment in the lives of the that can be described by a single word: Mabadong. Toraja funerals are as they were 500 years ago. The tradition of letting into the inner circle of mourners anyone weeping for the deceased, is a ritual which brings together every rank of society. It is a huge ceremony which reinforces the social hierarchy and keeps alive the spirit of the Toraja culture. But it is also a tradition that threatens to put this people into financial ruin. This is the story of a young man who puts his family in debt, sells his parents' house and gambles the lot on cockfights, to raise the money for his grandmother's funeral and thus preserve his family's rank in the tribe.

Going Alone

2022

Every year, five to ten percent of all deceased Berliners are buried by the authorities because no relatives are found. Most of them are put into the ground by mortician Bernd Simon going alone. But sometimes companions do turn up and say goodbye in their very own way. An observational documentary about an undertaker who actually wanted to become an entertainer, a bizarre city portrait and a mirror of how we deal with death, mourning and commemoration.

Capitalism Hits the Fan

2009

With breathtaking clarity, renowned University of Massachusetts Economics Professor Richard Wolff breaks down the root causes of today's economic crisis, showing how it was decades in the making and in fact reflects seismic failures within the structures of American-style capitalism itself. Wolff traces the source of the economic crisis to the 1970s, when wages began to stagnate and American workers were forced into a dysfunctional spiral of borrowing and debt that ultimately exploded in the mortgage meltdown. By placing the crisis within this larger historical and systemic frame, Wolff argues convincingly that the proposed government "bailouts," stimulus packages, and calls for increased market regulation will not be enough to address the real causes of the crisis, in the end suggesting that far more fundamental change will be necessary to avoid future catastrophes.

Matt Shepard Is a Friend of Mine

2014

An intimate portrait of Matthew Shepard, the gay young man murdered in one of the most notorious hate crimes in U.S. history. Framed through a personal lens, it's the story of loss, love, and courage in the face of unspeakable tragedy.