Movie Reviews

[Sundance ’21] Documentaries we are looking forward to most at the Sundance Film Festival

The most interesting documentaries coming to Sundance.

January 19, 2021

The Sundance Film Festival has an interesting slate of films scheduled for this year’s online event. Yesterday, we looked at some of the shorts that will be showing at the fest. Sundance is also known for many strong documentaries. Recent years have seen impressive docs about The Go-Gos, Mr. Rodgers, and the famous shower scene from Psycho. Here are some of the must sees for 2021.

At the Ready

A still from At the Ready by Maisie Crow, an official selection of the U.S. Documentary Competition at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute.

I am admittedly biased here. A movie about Horizon High School in my hometown of El Paso, Texas is going to interest me by default. Even without my Sun City ties, I would be interested. The documentary focuses on the criminal justice club. The film will follow Mexican American students who are interested in joining the Border Patrol and how their choices affect the lives.

Misha and the Wolves

A still from Misha and the Wolves by Sam Hobkinson, an official selection of the World Cinema Documentary Competition at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute.

The reason there are so many tales about World War II is because they tend to to so engrossing. Author Misha Defonseca’s incredible tale of surviving the Holocaust by living with wolves took the world by storm after it was published. A falling out with her publisher revealed that everything was not quite what it seemed. But what did they find out?

Rebel Hearts

[Sundance '21] Documentaries we are looking forward to most at the Sundance Film Festival

The 1960s saw some of the most sweeping changes in the country’s history. Social unrest due to the changing attitudes regarding race and gender was all over the news. Rebel Hearts is about a trio of nuns who stood up for the social change that swept the nation. Along the way, the incurred the wrath of the archbishop of Los Angeles.

Summer of Soul (…or When the Revolution Could Not be Televised)

A still from Summer Of Soul (Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised) by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, an official selection of the U.S. Documentary Competition at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Mass Distraction Media.

The summer of 1969 is known for the Woodstock music festival. That same year, more than 300,000 attended the Harlem Cultural Festival. Director Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson’s directorial debut is the first time the footage has ever been shown. Part concert film, part historical record, the documentary is an important part of Black culture, music, history, and fashion.

Writing with Fire

A still from Writing With Fire by Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Gosh, an official selection of the World Cinema Documentary Competition at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Black Ticket Films.

Khabar Lahariya is India’s only all female news outlet. In order to stay relevant, the team has decided to pivot from a print format to a digital one. The fearless reporters examine police incompetence, listen to stories of sexual violence, and redefine the traditional power structure they have long lived with as they challenge their country’s patriarchy.

The Sundance Film Festival is online January 28- February 3. Tickets can be purchased and a full lineup can be found here.

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