Documentary Edge Festival NZ preview

Documentary Edge NZ Festival preview

Somewhat under-represented when it comes to bums on seats and outside major festivals, the documentary scene is one which is thriving and certainly worthy of your time as the dark nights draw in.

Running from the 10th to the 21st of April in Auckland and from 8th to 19th May in Wellington, the festival's certainly giving it a good shot in terms of diversity as ever. And it's definitely getting the international support with some of the film makers and even some of the subjects coming to New Zealand in support of their product.

Variety is definitely the spice of life - a selection of screeners from the festival shows the documentary genre is as strong as ever with every single one of the films provoking some kind of reaction from initial viewing.

Following the relative success of Whip It, comes Pretty Brutal. A NZ doco, this takes a look at the world of roller derby and the women who inhabit it. From their short skirts and fishnet stockings, they're certainly likely to catch your attention but with names like Kid Vile, and Pieces of Hate, it ain't what you'd expect. It tracks the creation of a roller derby league and offers an intriguing peek into those who live within that world. It's a world premiere which shows personality clashes, ideological conflicts and a chance to really understand why the energy of the sport is infectious.

Last year's film, The Sessions was a life affirming peek at the world of the sex worker and the disabled. John Hawkes criminally missed out on an Oscar nod for this film - but now a doco, Scarlet Road, takes a look at a similar kind of thread. Concentrating on Rachel Wotton (who will be over for the festival), an Aussie sex worker whose clientele includes the disabled, it starts off jauntily but soon becomes an intimate, yet sensitively handled open piece about the needs of all human beings. Warm and moving, it's likely to be a Q&A session which will be interesting and insightful.

The Invisible War is a doco which will outrage many as it gives voice to the issue of rape within the US military and the continual silence when it comes to dealing with its implications as well as insight into the ongoing legal cases. With 1 in 5 being sexually assaulted within the military, it's a topic which doesn't shy away from giving voices and screen time to the victims. It's a difficult watch in places but it's also an important one as many of those who've suffered in silence and in continual frustration are given chance to tell their story - and make you realise the full horror of the systematic failure of the military to do anything about it. Ultimately frustrating and likely to anger you, because of the lack of progression from the military, The Invisible War is an incendiary piece of film-making. A reminder of the power of the documentary genre as the movement to garner change is gaining momentum and that's got to be a good thing after the harrowing revelations from this doco.

How To Survive a Plague was an Oscar nominated doco about AIDS activism and survival in the USA. Using archival footage, it's your classic tale of empowerment and shows how standing upto the situation can make a real difference. Granted, it's somewhat of a call to arms but it's still a film which is incendiary and a fascinating insight into how movements come and stand the test of time.

First Comes Love is an HBO doco which focuses on Nina Davenport, a NYC based film-maker who, at 41, decides she wants a child on her own. So, she sets out to navigate the highs and lows of the solo parenting scene. Redefining family and shining a wide ranging light on her own life as well as everyone around her, it's an engaging and frequently interesting look at how lives change when a child comes into it and even more when you're a single parent - and will appeal to those who believe there is a man drought. Her relationship with her father provides the most intriguing glimpses into familial life and occasionally stuns with its frank honesty.

Other programme treats include (an unseen) Her Master's Voice as UK ventriloquist Nina Conti looks into the world of ventriloquism...My advice is to get out, go and see something and if you're fortunate enough to be at a screening where the film-maker or subject are attending, be prepared to get closer to the stories than you'd ever have expected to do so.

You can find out more about The Documentary Edge Festival at their site.