Blog

April, 6, 2004

Every Child Is Born a Poet: The Life and Work of Piri Thomas

Independent Lens

Combining poetry, documentary, and drama, Every Child is Born a Poet explores the life and work of Piri Thomas, the 75-year-old Afro-Cuban-Puerto Rican poet and author of Down These Mean Streets. A landmark of modern American literature, this 1967 autobiographical…
Family photo of Latino immigrants.
March, 29, 2004

The New Americans

Independent Lens

What does the “American dream” look like through the eyes of today's immigrants and refugees? The New Americans shows from Nigeria, India, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and the Israeli-occupied West Bank, they come with different dreams.
February, 24, 2004

Jimmy Scott: If You Only Knew

Independent Lens

Overcoming Kallman's Syndrome, prejudice, self-destruction and powerful enemies in the music industry, rediscovered jazz legend Jimmy Scott recounts his rise and fall and rise again as one of the most distinctive vocalists of our time.
February, 17, 2004

A Place of Our Own

Independent Lens

Each summer, affluent and successful African Americans like filmmaker Stanley Nelson return to Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard, an upper middle class resort community that has historically provided an oasis for black professionals.
A man in chains and collar
February, 10, 2004

Nat Turner: A Troublesome Property

Independent Lens

The historical search for the mysterious Nat Turner, leader of the legendary 1831 slave rebellion, has inspired academics, novelists, dramatists, and others in a fierce battle over who he was and what he means to America.
October, 28, 2003

Shaolin Ulysses: Kungfu Monks in America

Independent Lens

The famous fighting monks of the Shaolin Temple have seen a resurgence throughout the world, aided in part by the popularity of kungfu movies starring Jet Li and the Academy Award-winning Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Narrated by Beau Bridges, Shaolin…
October, 21, 2003

Foto-Novelas 2

Independent Lens

In 1997, Filmmaker Carlos Avila introduced television audiences to the world of foto-novelas through four original dramas inspired by the fantastic elements of the Mexican and Latin American pulp novel tradition. Avila returns with two new exhilarating stories inspired by…
May, 13, 2003

Guns & Mothers

Independent Lens

The Million Moms and the Second Amendment Sisters are two advocacy groups diametrically opposed on gun control, but they agree on one point: mothers will and should have a voice in determining gun control policy in America. Guns & Mothers…
May, 6, 2003

Heart of the Sea: Kapolioka’ehukai

Independent Lens

A portrait of Hawaiian surf legend and community activist Rell Kapolioka'ehukai Sunn, who died of breast cancer at age 47. Rell achieved the stature of an icon for her leadership in a community that loved her as much as she…
Billie Holiday sings on stage.
April, 8, 2003

Strange Fruit

Independent Lens

Strange Fruit explores the history and legacy of a song unique in the annals of American music. Best-known from Billie Holiday's haunting 1939 rendition, the song "Strange Fruit" is a harrowing portrayal of the lynching of a black man in…
April, 1, 2003

Chiefs

Independent Lens

Every November for the last 18 years, Al Redman has unlocked the cage for Wyoming Indian High School's first day of boys' basketball practice. And every year so far, he's found a way to win. The silver-haired Redman has chalked…
March, 25, 2003

The Workers

Independent Lens

It's 1999, and the booming city of Austin, Texas keeps on growing — thanks largely to men like Ramon and Juan, who work some of the hardest jobs in an America that doesn't want them. Through their lives and a…