WOODSTOCK FILM FESTIVAL 2016 FAVORITES PART 2

Woodstock Film Festival 2016 is showcasing a stellar collection of documentary, feature and short films. Here’s are some of the BN team’s picks for most beautiful.

1. THE LAST DALAI LAMA?

“The Last Dalai Lama?” directed by Mickey Lemle, looks at the life of the Dalai Lama and asks, “Will he be the last Dalai Lama?” The Dalai Lama, now living in exile in Dharamsala, India, has stated that if and when Tibet is free, he would step down as a leader to become a simple Buddhist monk. He also vowed not to reincarnate.

2. LOVING

“Loving,” directed by Jeff Nichols celebrates love and courage as Richard and Mildred Loving, an interracial couple, battle the monsters of racism which loomed large in the late 1950’s. Jailed just for being married, their civil rights case, Loving v. Virginia, went all the way to the Supreme Court, where finally, in 1967 they won the right to love and be with each other.

3. MY FERAL HEART

“My Feral Heart,” directed by Jane Gull, tells the story of Luke, a young man with Downs Syndrome, who cast adrift by the loss of his parents, finds anchor by finding a young woman who needs his help. This is a beautiful film about limitless love.

4. DISTURBING THE PEACE

“Disturbing the Peace,” directed by Stephen Apkon and Andrew Young, follows former enemy combatants – Israeli soldiers from elite units and Palestinian fighters,who have joined together to challenge the status quo of war. We see them transform from soldiers to peace activists, eventually creating Combatants for Peace.

5. FREEDOM RUNNERS

“Freedom Runners,” directed by David Wachsmann is the story of young African refugees living in Israel as non-citizens. Teacher Rotem Genossar founds a running group to help the students socialize and blow off steam was they plodded down the rocky road to citizenship.

While the group racks up wins, the student still struggle to become bona fide Israelis. Their spirit carries them through.

6. THE ISLANDS AND THE WHALES

“The Island and the Whales,” directed by Mike Day, tells the story of the the Faroese people, living on Denmark’s Faroe Islands, who have a long tradition of hunting pilot whales, which are both a food source and big part of their cultural identity. They continue to hunt, despite mounting pressures to end their whaling practices.

The film’s beautiful cinematography and score add power to this moving portrait.