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| January 6 DVD & VOD Releases |
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  THE PLEASURES OF BEING OUT OF STEP
Notes on the Life of Nat Hentoff
A film by David L. Lewis
86 minutes, documentary, color, English, 2013
DVD Extras: Bonus & Extended Scenes: How Max Came to Candid • Critic to Fan • WWII • The New Yorker
Nat Hentoff is one of the enduring voices of the last 65 years, a writer who championed jazz as an art form and was present at the creation of 'alternative' journalism in America. This unique documentary wraps the themes of liberty, identity and free expression around a historical narrative that stretches from the Great Depression to the Patriot Act.
At the core of the film are three extraordinary, intimate conversations with Hentoff, plus additional interviews with such luminaries as Amiri Baraka, Stanley Crouch, Floyd Abrams, Aryeh Neier and Dan Morgenstern. Interwoven through it all is the sublime music of Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Charles Mingus and Bob Dylan, along with never-before-seen photographs and archival footage of these artists and other cultural figures at the height of their powers.
• 2014 Theatrical Release!
“This succinct documentary sticks smoothly to its beat. Thoughtfully edited, it also pays tribute to a faded era of alternative journalism and to a model for cultural bonds across racial lines.”
- The New York Times
“A brisk and engaging film... soaking a bit in the music of Mingus and Miles, it is a fine and lively précis, a celebration of a life well lived – and spectacularly written.” - The Village Voice
“Sharp-looking and enjoyable!” - The Hollywood Reporter
“Rich in the sounds and occasional sights of legendary cultural figures, from Lenny Bruce and Malcolm X to Bob Dylan and Coleman Hawkins. It is the vivid testimony of the artists he championed and hung out with that galvanizes the film.” - Variety
“Remarkably fluid and never less than compellingly watchable.” - RogerEbert.com
“Brilliant and thoroughly engaging!” - CineSource
UPC: 720229916332 | Catalog #: FRF916332D | $27.95 | Street: January 6
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 A WILL FOR THE WOODS
A film by Amy Brown, Jeremy Kaplan, Tony Hale & Brian Wilson
94 minutes, documentary, color, English, 2014
DVD Extras: Extended, Deleted & Follow-up Scenes
Determined that his final resting place will benefit the earth, musician, psychiatrist, and folk dancer Clark Wang prepares for his own green burial while battling lymphoma. The spirited Clark and his partner Jane, boldly facing his mortality, embrace the planning of a spiritually meaningful funeral and join with a compassionate local cemeterian to use green burial to save a North Carolina woods from being clear-cut.
With poignancy and unexpected humor, A Will for the Woods portrays the last days of a multifaceted advocate – and one community's role in the genesis of a revolutionary movement. As the film follows Clark's dream of leaving a legacy in harmony with timeless cycles, environmentalism takes on a profound intimacy.
“Moving and inspiring. The film is about a life of purpose and a death with meaning.”
- The Huffington Post
“ A beautiful rumination on life, death and burial choice.” - Nonfics
“Big-hearted and thought-provoking.” - Film Journal International
“This movie will open your eyes to a new way of thinking.” - San Francisco Chronicle
“An immersive, heartwarming tale.” - Film Threat
DVD Packaged in Certified Green Forestry Eco Pack
UPC: 720229916356 | Catalog #: FRF916356D | $24.95 | Street: January 6 |
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 PLAYING DEAD
A film by Jean-Paul Salomé
104 minutes, fiction, color, 2013
In French with English subtitles
Jean, a 40-year-old unemployed actor, has hit rock bottom. Insufferably clueless and egotistical, his over-the-top "method" acting and high-maintenance personality have gotten him fired from countless jobs. At the unemployment office, his counselor sets him up with a rather odd job: helping the police reconstruct crime scenes by standing in for the dead victim.
Jean's obsession for detail impresses the beautiful chief investigator, allowing him to take a leading role in a double-murder investigation at a ritzy ski resort.
“A witty, Agatha Christie-style whodunit...smart and frequently funny!” - The Hollywood Reporter
“A suspenseful whodunit rich with twists and turns. Filming the crime reenactment as though it were a movie shoot, Salomé slyly juxtaposes the worlds of forensics and filmmaking, and the result is a rare, uproarious murder mystery.” - Rendez-vous at the Film Society of Lincoln Center
DVD Packaged in Certified Green Forestry Eco Pack
UPC: 720229916349 | Catalog #: FRF916349D | $24.95 | Street: January 6 |
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| Visit our website for press materials including key art, stills and press kits |
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| Please send review links to michelle@firstrunfeatures.com |
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