2/13/2017 - Oscar Documentary Shorts

My Pick: White Helmets

Oscar Winner: White Helmets

The White Helmets (2016) – 8-/10 – Profound. Vivid. Gripping and real. Instills hope in the face of slaughter and destruction. An amazing piece with true heroes.

Watani: My Homeland (2016) - 7/10 - Touching, personal, and in depth. Giving a human and approachable face to Syrian refugees and their involved lives. The idiosyncratic injections of humor and harrow truly brought it to life.

Joe's Violin (2016) - 7/10 - Tender with a thoughtful whimsy. Well told and dusty, though slender in its ambition.

4.1 Miles (2016) - 6+/10 - Impactful and grounded, intensely exposing one view of a refugee crisis. Heartfelt but could have been a more fully rounded & realized vision.

Extremis (2016) - 6/10 - Hard to the watch as we see the excruciating end of life decisions. Good, but only just.