ALLEN V. FARROW
Co-directed by Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering, Allen v. Farrow goes behind the years of sensational headlines to reveal the private story of one of Hollywood’s most notorious and public scandals: the accusation of sexual abuse against four-time Oscar winner Woody Allen involving Dylan, his then seven-year-old daughter with Mia Farrow; their subsequent custody trial; the revelation of Allen’s relationship with Farrow’s daughter Soon-Yi; and the controversial aftermath in the years that followed.
Along with new investigative work — pieced together via intimate home movie footage, court documents, police evidence, revelatory videotapes, and never-before-heard audio tapes — HBO’s four-part documentary series includes exclusive interviews on the subject with Mia, Dylan and Ronan Farrow, family friend Carly Simon and prosecutor Frank Maco, among others.
Allen v. Farrow also examines the effects of trauma on a family, and features prominent cultural voices exploring Allen’s body of work in a broader context and reflecting on how public revelations about the personal lives of artists can lead to re-evaluations of their work.
Allen v. Farrow has an 82% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with The LA Times hailing it as “a comprehensive, convincing and ultimately devastating documentary … The story of the girl who spoke out against her dad, was silenced, lived in shame for decades and decided it was time to speak truth to power.”
CRAZY, NOT INSANE
What makes killers kill?
Crazy, Not Insane examines controversial forensic psychiatrist Dorothy Otnow Lewis’s research into the psychology of some of the world’s most notorious murderers. Drawing on chilling videotaped footage of death row interviews and case studies, from Arthur Shawcross to Ted Bundy, she challenges the notion that murderers are born and not made.
The HBO documentary is narrated by Laura Dern and written and directed by Oscar winner Alex Gibney.
Screened at Venice, Crazy, Not Insane has a 94% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes. As The Hollywood Reportersays: “An urgent film, it’s filled with chilling detail and propelled by clear-eyed compassion … As disturbing as the movie can be, there’s so much illuminating intelligence at work that it never feels oppressive.”
THE WEIGHT OF GOLD
In April 2017, documentary filmmaker Brett Rapkin conducted an emotional interview with Olympic bobsled captain Steven Holcomb. Only days later, Holcomb committed suicide, leaving Rapkin with the difficult decision of either scrapping his documentary entirely or broadening its subject matter. He chose the latter, honouring Holcomb’s memory and legacy by shining a light on the staggering number of Olympians struggling with mental health issues.
In The Weight of Gold, five-time Olympian Michael Phelps claims about 80% of Olympians experience post-Games depression. For elite athletes who have spent every moment of their lives preparing for their moment on the Olympic stage, what happens after the Olympic Village doors close is often unclear. As three-time speedskating Olympian Apolo Ohno puts it: “It’s gold and then what?”
The Weight Of Gold has a 94% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes, where the critics’ consensus says: “Anchored by a disarmingly frank Michael Phelps, The Weight of Gold provides a sobering testimonial to how the world’s most celebrated athletes are still vulnerable to mental health struggles.”
SHOWMAX PRO DOCCIES ON BRAD BINDER, JÜRGEN KLOPP AND KOBE BRYANT
Missing live sport and packed crowds? Sports fans can watch documentaries about sporting icons Brad Binder, Jürgen Klopp and Kobe Bryant. Brad Binder: Reflections 2.0 follows the first South African to win a MotoGP championship race and take home Rookie of the Year; Klopp – The Inside Story traces the extraordinary story of Liverpool’s beloved coach; while Kobe: Life of a Legend remembers Kobe Bryant, one of the greatest basketball players of all time.
