An archival biography film about the early career of Deborah Harry told entirely through press interviews where she endures superficial, tedious, and demeaning questions from journalists. Meghan Fredrich directs and edits “Deborah Harry Does Not Like Interviews,” a video essay collage of sorts, which charts Blondie’s upswings in popularity in the early 1980’s followed by periods of quiet, and into Harry’s solo records, acting roles, and comebacks. Rebelling against the simplistic narratives and casual sexism she encounters along the way, the defiant and ultra cool Harry battles back with clever and evasive retorts whenever she’s asked about her resemblance to Marilyn Monroe or her influence on Madonna. Near the end of the 80’s, her band begins resorting to a new tactic to deflect the attention away from the same old objectifications - bringing a stuffed animal named Minkie to every interview. (The leering creepiness from the mostly male interviewers is replaced with moments of awkward comic relief.) Harry survives the decade but not without her image and sexuality constantly framed as something risqué rather than something empowering, and it begs the question whether things have changed that much today. -KA. Written, Produced and Directed by Meghan Fredrich. Edited by Meghan Fredrich. Color & Sound: Brent Eveleth. Executive Producers: Meghan Fredrich and Brent Eveleth.
In a series of observational moments, a violist, barre instructor, and chemistry teacher grapple with the realities of working in quarantine. Lydia Cornett directs “Teaching in Quarantine,” a fly-on-the-wall doc portrait of virtual teaching post Covid-19. Requiring a good deal of adaptation, tech...
The documentary “Narmin’s Birthday” tells the story of 15-year-old Narmin and her 84-year-old grandmother Ismat, who share a bedroom in their family’s tiny Sheepshead Bay apartment. Though their nights are spent no more than four feet away from each other on parallel beds, the cultural identities...
A vérité portrait of Timothy Little, known as the Train Eater, a performer who has adopted the NYC subways as his preferred venue in speaking out against police brutality and Trump’s America. Beautifully captured and stunningly performed, the film is a poignant time capsule of dark days in our co...
