New Books, Films, Databases, and other Resources: July 2011

Mike Church, an L.A. gumshoe with a knack for wisecracks and tracing missing persons, doesn't have a clue when he's hired to help a beautiful amnesia victim tormented by nightmares. Then an eccentric antiques dealer and hypnotist leads Church to believe the source of the nightmares may lie in a past-life connection to Margaret Strauss, a world-famous pianist allegedly murdered by her composer husband in 1948.

Frank Elgin is an alcoholic actor and singer who gets a second change at stardom. His long suffering wife, Georgie, and their marriage is put to the test. Frank is desperate to make a come back and Bernie Dodd is the hotshot Broadway director in need of a "name" star for his new stage production. Georgie is both weary of her husband's weaknesses and Dodd's motives. When Georgie appears to be dragging Frank down, Bernie tries to force her to leave

This program takes a close and critical look at the world Disney films create and reaches disturbing conclusions about the values propagated under the guise of innocence and fun.

In pre-Revolutionary France, a young aristocratic woman left penniless by the political unrest in the country, must avenge her family's fall from grace by scheming to steal a priceless necklace.

Wilhelmina is a Chinese-American lesbian and a young surgeon who has kept her sexual orientation secret from her conservative Chinese community in New York. But when her widowed mother becomes pregnant and is kicked out by her own parents, Wil suddenly has to juggle her mother's secrets with her own.

When a young Amish woman and her son get caught up in the murder of an undercover narcotics agent, their savior turns out to be the hardened Philadelphia detective John Book, who runs head-on into the non-violent world of a Pennsylvania Amish community.

Contains the only six surviving episodes from the classic BBC series and this is the first time they are available in North America.

Wallace Beery plays a washed-up prizefighter making a ring comeback to provide for his son.

Harvey Milk is a middle-aged New Yorker who, after moving to San Francisco, becomes a Gay Rights activist and city politician. On his third attempt, he is elected to San Francisco's Board of Supervisors in 1977, the first openly-gay man to be elected to public office in the United States. The following year, both he and the city's mayor, George Moscone, are shot to death by former city supervisor, Dan White, who blames his former colleagues for denying White's attempt to rescind his resignation from the board. Based on the true story of Harvey Milk.

Sam buys (and steals) fashionable dress designs for a New York department store. When the store sends her to Paris for fashion week, she meets a newspaper columnist who takes no interest in her until she pretends to be the worldly call girl, "Mimi."

On December 1, 1955, one black woman refused to give up her seat in a "white's only" section of a public bus. The bus stops. Montgomery, Alabama stopped. In a time when resentment gave birth to rebellion and a gesture has the power to bring about change, Rosa Parks, by her single act, inspired the will to make history and helped make a leader out of Martin Luther King, Jr. This single act is considered the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement

The legend of Orpheus and Eurydice set in Rio de Janeiro at Carnival time.

ose, an alluring young woman, is hired by a Southern family to care for their children, and changes their lives forever. She is an innocent who relates to everyone she meets in the only way she knows how-- with sexuality she cannot restrain. The mother of the family takes Rose under her wing, offering love and protection, while the teenaged son finds Rose both his fantasy and a profound mystery.

Based on the life of boxer Jack Johnson, this fictional account of his rise to fame chronicles the battles that the flamboyant champion fought in and out of the ring. Refusing to live within the boundaries deemed acceptable by society, this renowned hero and the woman he loved chose to live their lives the way they wanted-- something which evoked great fury from a narrow-minded world.

Welles' ambitious film project in Brazil for the United States' anti-Nazi "Good Neighbor Policy" was shelved by RKO. This documentary features the story of the film's making and unmaking and features undiscovered footage.

Love story about an idealistic special education teacher and a headstrong deaf girl named Sarah.

An unhappily married socialite woman is trying to get through to a recently divorced doctor, who in his own words just wants to feel something.

Even though their families are feuding, Romeo and Juliet fall in love and secretly marry. Romeo gets in a fight and kills Juliet's cousin Tybalt, resulting in his banishment from Verona. When her parents insist that she marry Paris, Juliet and the friar devise a plan that she hopes will make things right.

Frank and April Wheeler live a life that appears to be perfect. They live in the Connecticut suburbs with two young children. Frank commutes to New York City where he works in an office job that he hates and has yet to figure out what his passion in life is. April is a housewife who forgoes her dream of being an actress. They are not happy. One day, April suggests that they move to Paris as a means to rejuvenate their life. Initially skeptical, Frank ultimately agrees to April's plan. When circumstances change around the Wheelers, April decides she will do whatever she has to to get herself out of her unhappy existence

During World War II and the Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia, a couple, Josef and Marie, decide to hide a young Jewish neighbor in their small apartment. They keep getting a visit from their neighbor, Horst, who is a German sympathizer and has his eye on Marie. When she rejects his advances he seeks revenge by trying to move a Nazi clerk into their home, forcing the couple to tell a lie that will change their lives forever.

Chronicles the life of Patsy Mink, the first Asian American woman and the first woman of color elected to the United States Congress. She played a seminal role in the enactment of Title IX which helped level the playing field for women in higher education and athletics. Her run for the presidency is also covered.

In this revealing documentary five extraordinary women talk about their occupations, aspirations, and the rights and status of women in their Muslim countries.

"In a hip-hop and r&b world dominated by men and noted for misogyny, the unstoppable female lyricists of SAY MY NAME speak candidly about class, race, and gender in pursuing their passions as female emcees. This worldwide documentary takes viewers on [a] vibrant tour of urban culture[s] and musical movement[s], from hip hop's birthplace in the Bronx, to grime on London's Eastside and all points Philly, Detroit, Chicago, Atlanta, and L.A. in between ... Delves into the amazing personal stories of women balancing professional dreams with the stark realities of poor urban communities, race, sexism, and motherhood, as the more than 18 artist featured in [the film] battle for a place in a society that creates few chances for women.

In this documentary, former Elite International fashion model, Nicole Clark, calls for a necessary change, integrity and responsible media for our youth. This is an examination of how advertising and the cult of celebrity have deeply and negatively impacted teens and young women. The film juxtaposes ads and interviews with editors from top fashion magazines with revealing interviews of parents, teachers, psychologists, body image experts, and the girls themselves.

"Rebecca Lee returns home to South Dakota in 2006 on the brink of a historic state vote: House Bill 1215 could make South Dakota the first state to outlaw most abortions since Roe v. Wade passed almost 30 years earlier. When 1215 fails to pass, Lee sets out to uncover what would make a self-proclaimed pro-life state vote against the very measure that would end most legal abortions. In The Middle of Everywhere, Lee discovers the debate to be complex, with both sides claiming compassion for women and the same desire to stop the need for abortion."

"Fearless, feisty and resolute, the 'Rough Aunties' are a remarkable group of women unwavering in their stand to protect and care for the abused, neglected and forgotten children of Durban, South Africa. This...documentary follows the outspoken, multiracial cadre of Thuli, Mildred, Sdudla, Eureka and Jackie, as they wage a daily battle against systemic apathy, corruption and greed to help the most vulnerable and disenfranchised of their communities. Neither politics, nor social or racial divisions stand a chance against the united force of the women. [A]n intimate portrait of change from Africa, this time from the new post-apartheid South Africa, a nation being transformed with hope and energy into a new democracy "--

This film illustrates how the new constitution in post-apartheid South Africa partially lived up to its goals of promoting justice and human rights. Essential to keeping these promises, indeed mandated by the constitution, is a diverse judiciary -- one that includes women. By 2008, 18 percent of the superior court judges were women. This film is their story.

After fourteen years of civil war, Liberia is a nation ready for change. On January 16, 2006, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was inaugurated President, following a hotly contested election in which she won 59% of the vote. She is the first elected female head of state in Africa. Since taking office, she has appointed other women to leadership positions in all areas of government, including the Police Chief and the ministers of Justice, Commerce, Finance and Gender. Can the first female Liberian president, backed by other powerful women, bring sustainable democracy and peace to such a devastated country

"In the days before movies could talk, silent films spoke clearly of sexual politics. This rare and wonderful assemblage of silent era footage opens a historic window on how filmmakers on both sides of the women's suffrage issue used the exciting new medium to create powerful propaganda and images about women. Through clips from films like 'A lively affair' (1912), 'A busy day' (1914), and 'What 80 million women want' (1913), the film raises key issues about the struggle for gender equality and the portrayal of women in the media, which remain as fascinating, engaging, and relevant today as yesterday"

Peace Anyiam-Fiberesima of Lagos, Nigeria is an impresario of showbiz and an impassioned spokeswoman for the thriving and innovative African film industry. She is "Nollywood Lady," an ex-lawyer, producer, filmmaker, and the founder and CEO of the influential African Academy of Motion Pictures. And she is reshaping the way Africans see themselves--and how the world sees Africans. Sharing her vision for transforming preconceptions about Africa and African images with filmmaker Dorothee Wenner, Anyiam-Fiberesima takes viewers on an all-access tour to film locations, markets, and sit-downs with Nollywood professionals in the vibrant production hub of Lagos

This documentary follows the 1972 campaign waged by Shirley Chisholm, the first African-American woman to run for a major party's nomination for United States President. Chisholm first made her mark on American political history when, in 1968, she became the first African-American woman elected to Congress, representing New York.

Sara Paretsky, creator of V.I. Warshawski, Sue Grafton, creator of Kinsey Millhone, and Marcia Muller, creator of Sharon McCone, discuss their characters in the locales of the novels: San Francisco, Santa Barbara and Chicago. Explores how they conduct research for their novels and the writing process.

"The Lord is Not on Trial Here Today tells the personal story behind one of the most important and landmark first amendment cases in U.S. history, the case that established the separation of church and state in public schools. The film recounts what plaintiff Vashti McCollum later described as "three years of headlines, headaches, and hatred", but which eventually led to a decision that still resonates in the church-state conflicts of today -- more than 60 years after the original decision in McCollum vs. Board of Education."

Examination of the U.S. law which permits visas to be denied for ideological reasons. Includes interviews with those who have been excluded, with critics and supporters, including Carlos Fuentes, Arthur Miller, William F. Buckley, Jr.

New Orleans filmmaker Rebecca Snedeker gives an unprecedented look at the secrets and inner workings of the old-line Carnival societies and debutante balls of Mardi Gras.

In Hardwood, the son of former Harlem Globetrotter Mel Davis explores his father's life. The film Ryan is an animated tribute to Canadian animator Ryan Larkin. Sunrise presents a personal perspective on the turbulent Chinese Cultural Revolution and the years that followed.

Discussion of Chief Illiniwek as the University of Illinois mascot, and the effect the mascot has on Native American peoples. Graduate student Charlene Teters shares the impact of the Chief on her family. Interviewees include members of the Board of Regents, students, alumni, current and former "Chiefs" and members of the community.

Raging Grannies is a lively and thought-provoking 30-minute documentary that tells the story of The Raging Grannies Action League of the San Francisco Bay Area Peninsula.

"In the nineteenth century women made quilts: to cover their beds, to create artistic vision, and to express their political sentiments. In this film we have pieced together the primary materials of women's lives - diaries, letters, photographs, and quilts - are to tell a new story of nineteenth century lives." - title screens. Looks at quilts, and the history of quilts, from New England, the South, the Midwest, and the Wes

Seven quilt makers tell about their art, its importance in their lives, and how it is influenced by their daily experiences.

Following the murder of her father by hired hand Tom Chaney, 14-year-old farm girl Mattie Ross sets out to capture the killer. To aid her, she hires the toughest U.S. marshal she can find, a man with "true grit," Reuben J. "Rooster" Cogburn. Mattie insists on accompanying Cogburn, whose drinking, sloth, and generally reprobate character do not augment her faith in him. Against his wishes, she joins him in his trek into the Indian Nations in search of Chaney. They are joined by Texas Ranger LaBoeuf, who wants Chaney for his own purposes. The unlikely trio find danger and surprises on the journey, and each has his or her "grit" tested.

"Storytellers Gene Roddenberry, Irwin Allen, and Rod Serling created the storylines and characters behind the best-loved futuristic television of their time."

They were the stars of the small screen in the early years of television, and much of the nation came to a halt whenever their shows aired. They strolled, sprinted, fought, laughed, cried and loved through worlds that took viewers to places past, present and future. As the originators of these innovative television formats, they provided an essential escape for millions of viewers who eagerly waited to watch them each week.

Groundbreaking actors Bill Cosby and Angie Dickinson reveal the methods behind their successes as the first African-American and breakthrough female lead characters in a television series. James Garner along with series creator Stephen J. Cannell, recount the success of The Rockford Files.

Victor Marswell runs a big game trapping company in Kenya. Eloise Kelly is ditched there, and an immediate attraction happens between them. Then Mr. and Mrs. Nordley show up for their gorilla documenting safari. Mrs. Nordley is not infatuated with her husband any more, and takes a liking to Marswell.