Reconquest of the Useless

In the Finnish forests was an unclimbed route called the Lappnor project. It was considered to be the hardest climbing route in the world and perhaps impossible for a human. Nalle Hukkataival, a strong Finnish climber took up the challenge. It required almost four years of total commitment and his efforts were followed by hundreds of thousands of climbers around the world. When Nalle finally succeeded, it blew away the whole climbing world like nothing before. The first 9A boulder was climbed! The documentary follows Nalle's journey from the very beginning, all the way to the first ascent almost half a decade later. It captures the incredible dedication that was needed to deal with all the variables and to take that last step to open the next level of climbing.

Klaus Kinski is one of the few German actors who has achieved international fame. He made headlines. And disappeared behind them. Kinski lived his parts 24/7. This film tells the story of a man who no longer could understand the difference or distinguish between fantasy and reality.

Footage shot in and around North Bergen, New Jersey presented in a minimalist series of fixed camera angles and long-takes accompanied by the ambient noise of city streets.

Two young documentarists travel around a forsaken island in the aftermath of a cataclysmic volcanic eruption. Their wanders lead them to the encounter of Professor Pereda, an acoustic geologist, conducting researches on geo-acoustics.

Through the Fondren Fellows program, the Rice Media Center Archive Project has spent the past few months sifting through material stored at the now-defunct Rice Media Center. The team has identified several films as especially notable and will be presenting them in conjunction with documentary footage the team shot of people involved with the films. From lectures featuring Roberto Rossellini and Werner Herzog to films from former Rice students and faculty, the film presentation will tell the narrative of the Rice Media Center through the films and filmmakers that passed through its corridors.

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With exclusive behind-the-scenes access into Herzog’s everyday life, rare archive material and in-depth interviews with celebrated collaborators – including Christian Bale, Nicole Kidman, and Robert Pattinson, we are given an exciting glimpse into the work and personal life of the iconic artist.

It seemed like a typically quiet night... but the most unexpected encounter leads Chris to a difficult choice.

Dream or Reality ! Two lost souls meet in strange ways through various fragments of dreamlike memories. As we delve into their complicated relationship and their story unfolds, their relationship seems to disintegrate, leaving us to wonder if it will survive this reality or dream.

A pre-fame Werner Herzog (Adam Ezagouri) is asked to share a flat with a strange new actor only known as Klaus Kinski. Herzog agrees but soon regrets his generous decision as Kinski proves to be one uncanny flatmate. Despite their disagreements, both decide to try and shoot Herzog's own version of Don Quixote, with disastrous consequences.

The raft man Manuel Jacaré was swallowed by the sea when Orson Welles was filming It's All True in 1942. The fact evokes memories of the dictatorship of the Estado Novo, of World War II, of Ceará fishermen's struggle for labor rights and housing in their traditional space - target of real estate speculation.

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Meet three men, who grew up in Vidsel, a small village in the north of Sweden. The men feel its hard to find a life partner, they have all found their love in Thailand.

Behind the scenes look at the cult comedy series about Kiwi folk musicians Bret and Jemaine trying to make it big in their adopted home of New York. It follows the duo in the United States before and after the release of the first series, as they speak candidly about the road to fame, and we meet the other personalities, cast and crew that helped make their show a smash hit in America, NZ and the rest of the world. As Bret McKenzie's long-term partner, director Hannah Clarke was in a unique position to gain access to the Conchords at their most relaxed, as well as their most frantic and exhausted, and was able to get an up-close-and-personal glimpse into this experience. Through her insider's eye we are granted an intimate look into the lives of this great comedy act and discover how they won the hearts of America.

A slice of life documentary featuring Marina Cole, a chainsaw carver who turns driftwood and other recycled materials into beautiful works of art.

FRONTLINE and NPR investigate the growing inequities in American healthcare exposed by COVID-19. The Healthcare Divide examines how pressure to increase profits and uneven government support are widening the divide between rich and poor hospitals, endangering care for low-income populations.

A father teaches his daughter the ancient art of hand pulled noodles

A documentary on the events of the Gama strike. A contractor operating in Ireland was paying its Turkish employees exploitative wages far below trade union rates. This is the story of how these workers fought back.

The film tells how in 1970 a group of Argentine filmmakers - including Alberto Fischerman, Rafael Filippelli, Julio Ludueña, Miguel Bejo, Jorge Cedrón, Dody Scheuer and Luis Zanger - decided to make a short film each in one night. The occasion is perfect to describe the atmosphere of the '70s, the fever in which militants and publicists lived, the clash between art and politics. Includes fragments of the films The Players vs. Ángeles Caídos (Fischerman, 1969), Shadows (John Cassavetes, 1959), Made in U.S.A. (Jean-Luc Godard, 1966), L'eclisse (Michelangelo Antonioni, 1962), The Hour of the Furnaces (Pino Solanas & Octavio Getino, 1968), Tire dié (Fernando Birri, 1960), Alianza para el progreso (Ludueña, 1971), La civilización está haciendo masa y no deja oír (Ludueña, 1974) and La pieza de Franz (Fischerman, 1974).

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