On this page: BEING THUNDER | THE CRIME OF THE CENTURY | HATING PETER TATCHELL

< < D O C S > >

Emerging beyond both expectations and bigotry, Sherente has had a hugely positive impact beyond his community. He's visited by people from other cultures who express how his approach has changed perceptions, opening minds to the true breadth of human sexuality. And his parents and siblings are amazing, notably in a scene in which they all cheer him on as he applies to top universities. Lamorre captures these moments with unobtrusive fly-on-the-wall camerawork and fluid editing, Lamorre weaves in terrific home movies from Sherente's childhood, footage of his tribal dance performances, family gatherings and other events.

With its compelling narrative and unfiltered documentary footage, this film is a rare look into a Native American culture, revealing a complex mixture of warm acceptance and prejudice within a group that has itself been cruelly marginalised for centuries. Sherente believes it's important to see "the spectrum that exists in all of creation", because unity is the source of strength. This is a vitally hopeful film about the importance of letting people be themselves so that they can become the leaders we need.

some themes

3.Jun.21

Pharmaceutical companies knew from the outset that opioids were inherently deadly, yet they aggressively turned them into a billion-dollar industry, blaming victims for a crisis they deliberately created. And when government agencies saw what they were doing, they used lobbying and bribery to get the laws changed and escape justice. Through all of this, they have lied blatantly about the dangers of pain-killers like oxycodone, which is literally heroin in tablet form, or the synthetic version fentanyl.

The film is expertly structured to continually deepen the story while exploring one shocking fact after another using a mix of interviews, archive footage and fly-on-the wall situations, including some tense police raids. It's a massively complex story, with layers, twists and revelations. Thankfully, the film also follows federal agents and journalists as they tenaciously take on the problem from various sides, fighting "the offence of greed". The truth is that pharmaceutical companies are great at getting people onto a drug regime, and they certainly don't care about helping people get clean.

themes, language, grisliness, drugs

10.May.21

As groundbreaking cabinet minister Smith says, Tatchell has often been an irritant, but that's a good thing. At every step, Tatchell has faced death threats and violent bigotry, but he has remained at the forefront of almost every major rights movement in the past half-century. The documentary rightfully centres on his work in the LGBT+ community, as he repeatedly wins battles to make the system fairer. And it grapples with the morality of how he self-righteously outed people he saw as hypocrites, as well as some of his more deliberately provocative activities.

Amos keeps the tone upbeat, focussing on Tatchell's bold, often heroically courageous approach to what he sees as a moral obligation. But it also taps into darker elements of his story, including emotional scenes with his family, physical attacks and times when Tatchell poured fuel onto controversy. It's inspiring to see his creative responses to the frustrating way prejudice and lies so often win out over tolerance and truth. And he's still going strong, unafraid to stand up to bullies and tyrants wherever he finds them.

themes, language, violence

20.May.21