Dad's in Heaven with Nixon (2010) 86 min

Screaming Queens (2005 )57 min

Screaming Queens - The Riot at Comptons Cafeteria
Very few are aware of the historical event that occurred at the Comptons Cafeteria in August of 1966. Comptons was a part of a chain of cafeterias in the west that was open all night and this particular location served transgender people who were not allowed to enter most gay bars since cross dressing was against the law - (having a transexual on site was the cause of many gay bars being raided).  Comptons was in  the Tenderloin district of San Fransisco and became the site of one of the first known riots against police brutality, three years before the Stonewall Riots.  This documentary manages to track down some of the original rioters and captures an important part of history not only for the LBGTQ community but for all Equal Rights Enthusiasts at large.

You're Looking At Me Like I Live Here and I Don't (2011) 54 min

After watching this documentary I felt that the title should have been called: "Alzheimer's Raw".  The film shows clips of Lee Gorewitz's day inside an assisted living facility where she dances to Frank Sinatra, sings with staff and shows some of the other clients what is to live as this disease slowly progresses inside her body.  Lee refuses to lye down.  Every moment is an opportunity to dance or have fun.  It matters not that she can barely form a coherent sentence, in her mind she is making sense.  Lee does not seem to suffer the frustration that some patients with Alzheimer's do upon realizing their memory is failing them. It may not seem an depiction of this disease because Lee was not shown to express sadness as many others rightfully do when their in the stages of this disease.   I hope to have the "fun" Lee appears to have if I ever find myself in the grips of Alzheimer's. 

Through A Dog's Eyes (2010) 57 minutes

PBS has put together this insightful documentary that spotlights an agency outside of Atlanta, Georgia called Canine Assistants which raises these wonderful pups from birth right up until they are 18 months old at which time they are paired up with a partner for life.  The magic has very little to do with the numerous tasks these canines are capable of but more to do with the love that is almost instantaneous between dog and human.  It is evident that these dogs desire nothing more than to please humans and to have someone to be proud of them.  The hour long story left me wanting more.

The Universe of Keith Haring (2008) 90 min

An insightful biography on Keith Haring, the New York art communities prince of the 1980's.  Keith rubbed elbows with the likes of Warhol and Madonna while working all in his NYC studio and eventually over the world.  Haring contributed over 2000 works of art before his untimely death in 1990.  This documentary includes rare footage from his early life before he left his home state of Pennsylvania, as well as showing the carefree life of the artist tagging up subway stations and exploring drugs and bath houses which may have unfortunately contributed to his demise.

The Radiant Child (2010) 88 min

Jean-Michel Basquiat in the Radiant Child.
20 years after stuffing away this footage in a drawer Director Tamra Davis compiles a beautiful tribute to her friend in this unique documentary about one of the most influential black artists of the 20th century. The artist who left his Brooklyn home at 17 started tagging New York city with the wisdom of "Samo"and people were taking notice. Jean Michel rose to fame in an era that seemed to admire a group of Soho artists who were all friends and all who seemed to have something significant to contribute. It delves into the personal struggles he had with addiction and the paranoia of being exploited by those around him after his rise to the top.  You do not have to be an art fan to enjoy this biography of a true artistic genius.