Why Not Watch?
Influence Film Club’s Top 10 Documentaries of 2013 represent the stories that make up our lives, they remind us of what connects everyone and everything, and ultimately show that no matter where you are in the world many of us share common experiences, joys and struggles. These films are filled with stories of musical expression, family relationships, the pursuit of dreams, how our health transforms and impacts us, and the effect of how we treat the creatures we share our planet with, both human and animal, has on the world around us. So pick a film and discover power of the real life stories told in our top 10 documentaries of 2013. You might even see a piece of yourself reflected back from the screen.
Who is Dayani Cristal?
Arizona border police discover a male body, lifting a tattered t-shirt, they expose a tattoo that reads “Dayani Cristal”. WHO IS DAYANI CRISTAL? follows director Marc Silver as he embarks on a journey to give this anonymous man an identity.
Cutie and the Boxer
CUTIE AND THE BOXER is a candid love story exploring the chaotic 40-year marriage of famed “boxing” painter, Ushio Shinohara, and his artist wife, Noriko. Anxious to shed her role as her overbearing husband’s assistant, Noriko finds an identity of her own.
Blood Brother
Traveling India, American college graduate Rocky Braat met a group of HIV-positive orphans, an encounter that changed his life. BLOOD BROTHER is a tale of disease and abject poverty, of a life stripped down to its essence, and of love enduring in the face of death.
Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer
PUSSY RIOT: A PUNK PRAYER reveals the story of Pussy Riot, a punk band who performed a 40-second “punk prayer” against Putin’s government in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. Three members were charged with hooliganism and put on trial.
The Crash Reel
U.S. champion snowboarder Kevin Pearce takes a near-fatal crash. THE CRASH REEL is the story of his recovery, which exposes the irresistible but potentially fatal appeal of extreme sports.
Muscle Shoals
MUSCLE SHOALS, Alabama helped create some of the most important, resonant songs of all time. Meet Rick Hall, the Swampers, and many musicians who bear witness to Muscle Shoals’ magnetism, mystery, and undeniable influence.
Blackfish
BLACKFISH tells the story of Tilikum, a performing killer whale that killed several people while in captivity. The film shows just how nature can get revenge on man when pushed to its limits.
20 Feet From Stardom
20 FEET FROM STARDOM Shines a spotlight on the untold true stories of the backup singers behind some of the greatest musical legends of the 21st century. Millions know their voices, but no one knows their names.
The Genius of Marian
THE GENIUS OF MARIAN is a visually rich, emotionally complex story that follows Pam White in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease as her son documents her struggle to retain her sense of self and family members grapple with their new roles as caregivers.
Sepideh: Reaching for the Stars
Can a young Iranian woman become an astronaut? SEPIDEH: REACHING FOR THE STARS is the story of a remarkable teenage girl named Sepideh who defies societal expectations and courageously works to make her dream come true.