With cinemas and film festivals in Canada, Germany and across the world currently closed or postponing their live programming, we are discovering the virtues of streaming. Among the offerings, one of the best is
Kanopy. The platform is an award-winning video streaming service providing access to more than 30,000 independent and documentary films ─ titles of unique social and cultural value from The Criterion Collection, The Great Courses, Media Education Foundation, and thousands of independent filmmakers.
You can use it for free for example through the Toronto Public Library. Download the Kanopy app, log in with your (also free) library account, and a portal of high-quality global content awaits.
To sift through the catalogue, I will curate a little series of my personal film recommendations here and on social media #MyKanopyKanon. #Docs #features #shorts #femalefilmmakers #arthouse #mainstream ... Let me know your favourites and film viewing experiences and let's turn social distancing into social connecting.
☆ If you like @BabylonBerlin, please watch
Walther Ruttmann’s 1927 day-in-the-life-of Weimar Berlin ode SYMPHONY OF A GREAT CITY. And put on some music by my friend Robert Lippok, who creates a fantastic soundtrack to this classic hometown homage.
☆ @goethetoronto & @insideoutfest showed you COMING OUT last year as part of our Queer As German Folk program cluster. The first queer East German film, just as the Wall was coming down, it remains a radical must-see.
☆ There, I said it: If I had to choose one German film to take to a deserted island (oh wait, we are on one right now), it would be KEBAB CONNECTION, written by Fatih Akin & starring one of my favourite actors, Dennis Moschitto. Kung-fu action, comedy, romance. Witty, warm, human. Plus yummy kebab. Just what the doctor ordered.
☆ Everything you ever wanted to know about Joseph BEUYS, this recent art doc completely rearranged my perspective on the eccentric & often misunderstood Düsseldorf artist & teacher, with never-seen-before international footage & research.
☆ I really wish it wasn’t so, but Germany also has to take (some) responsibility for Donald T***p. Trace his family roots to understand where he comes from in the documentary KINGS OF KALLSTADT.
☆ Hands down one of the most gripping European refugee dramas of the past decade, following one woman’s journey. 3 dozen awards & great @Berlinale reviews for STYX plus #MyKanopyKanon film recommendation.
More recommendations coming, stay safe & keep watching!
by
Jutta Brendemühl
