I saw three great documentaries this weekend.
Dior and I follows designer Raf Simons joining the House of Dior and creating a haute couture collection in just eight weeks (after John Galliano got canned). The best part is that it focuses attention on the work of the atelier (sewing) artists and not just the designer. It also made me excited to check out the Yves Saint Laurent biopic coming May 30-31.
Dior and I plays again Thurs May 22 at 4:30 at SIFF Cinema Uptown.
Awake: the Life of Yogananda tells the story of the Indian yogi who brought yoga philosophy to the West. He had an extraordinary life, but the film was definitely skewed toward reverence/admiration for the man with little critical examination.
Awake plays again Mon May 19 at 7 pm at Lincoln Square.
From the director of The Heart of the Game comes Song of the New Earth, about internationally renowned spiritual singer Tom Kenyon and his work in brain science and mysticism and psychotherapy and sound and getting messages from aliens. I was skeptical at first, but this film was really far out, and Kenyon has an incredible singing style all his own. It’s over at SIFF for now, but could show up again later.