New Releases May 2009 - Learningemall.com

chronicle of recovery from traumatic braininjury. Beginning with treatmentsperformed at the renowned SpauldingRehabilitation Hospital in Massachusettsand continuing through the Crigler family'sown efforts at home, it intimatelydocuments the successes and failures ofrehabilitation. In the process, this achinglybeautiful documentary opens a windowinto the workings of the human mind.The film features interviews with NorahJones, Marshall Crenshaw, TeddyThompson and other New York musicianswho helped him along the way.Reviews• "A lyrical and emotional portrait of afamily dealing with a devastatingillness and subsequent recovery.Skillfully edited with remarkablerestraint, Life. Support. Music.transcends one's perceptions ofmedicine, music and evenmiracles." – Indiewire• "Phenomenal! A compellingdocumentary." - Boston Globe• "The film is a heart-wrenching yetuplifting look at one family'sdetermination in the face ofhopelessness and despair." –Washington City Paper• "Extraordinarily moving." – BostonPhoenix• "Professionals in the field ofrehabilitation will experience insightsthat will absolutely make them moreeffective in their work with patientsand families." - Cathie Percival,Toronto RehabilitationNotes• Official Selection, True/False FilmFestival, 2008• Official Selection, Hot DocsInternational Documentary FilmFestival, 2008• Official Selection, Silverdocs:AFI/Discovery Channel DocumentaryFestival, 2008Awards• World Premiere, Full FrameDocumentary Film Festival, 2008• Winner, Audience Choice Award,Boston Independent Film Festival,2008Item no. : EH05970697Format : DVDDuration : 79 minutesCopyright : 2008Price : USD 350.00TRINIDADDirected by PJ Raval and Jay HodgesTiny Trinidad, Colorado (pop. 6,500) is oneof the world's leading centers for genderreassignment surgery.In 1969, Dr. Stanley Biber beganconducting genital-reassignment surgeriesthere. Since then, thousands of patientshave passed through Trinidad, and theonce prosperous coal-mining andranching town is now fondly known as the"Sex Change Capitol of the World." AfterBiber's death, his practice was handedover to his former patient, Dr. MarciBowers, who has enhanced the procedureto near perfection.This compassionate and compellingdocumentary follows Bowers and two ofher patients, both at different stages oftheir sexual transformation from male tofemale, as they struggle with thesadly-not-surprising intolerance ofsmall-town morals and the challenge ofreconciling their new personas with theexpectations of their spouses and children.It's a delicate transition for everyoneinvolved - the women themselves, theirfamilies, and their adopted community,which is still struggling to accept the factthat the economic growth from this newindustry is the only thing keeping theirtown on the map.Reviews• "Though Trinidad is a small town, it'semblematic of the world at large. Inthis documentary, three maincharacters make different choices in asociety struggling to accept them. Theuniversal themes and the compellingnarrative quality of the film make it amust-see." - Ellen Huang,GLAAD/Queer Lounge• "Who knew that Trinidad, Colorado,with a population of 6,500, was thesex change capital of world. Well, atleast I didn't. This documentary aboutthe small town, follows several of it'stransgendered residents including Dr.Marci Bowers — who is herself nowone of the world's top doctors forreassignment surgery... capturing thesubtle moments of people who'swhole life is lived in various states ofperformance and nuance." - TheAdvocate• "Fascinating. Avoiding ‘before andafter' sensationalism, filmmakersRaval and Hodges trace the women'spersonal stories with curiosity andsensitivity, using quaint, rural Trinidadas a mountain-girdled backdrop." -Austin American-StatesmanNotes• Official Selection, Outfest, L.A. Gay &Lesbian Film Festival, 2008• Official Selection, Los Angeles FilmFestival, 2008• Official Selection, Starz Denver FilmFestival, 2008• Official Selection, Chicago ReelingFilm Festival, 2008Award• Winner, Best Documentary, ClevelandInternational Film Festival, 2009Item no. : RJ05970778Format : DVDDuration : 86 minutesCopyright : 2008Price : USD 295.00HISTORYSTRANGEST DREAM, THEThe inspiring story of Joseph Rotblat andthe efforts of the Pugwash Conferences tohalt nuclear proliferation.Directed by Eric BednarskiWhen the U.S. government brought theworld's greatest scientists together to buildthe first atomic bomb, nuclear physicistJoseph Rotblat was among them. But hisconscience would not allow him tocontinue, and he became the onlymember of the Manhattan Project to leaveon moral grounds. Branded a traitor andspy, Rotblat went from designing atomicbombs to researching the medical uses ofradiation. Together with Bertrand Russellhe helped create the modern peacemovement, and eventually won the NobelPeace Prize.The Strangest Dream tells the story ofJoseph Rotblat, the history of nuclearweapons, and the efforts of the PugwashConferences on Science and World Affairs- an international movement Rotblatco-founded - to halt nuclear proliferation.The first Pugwash conference took placein the small Nova Scotia fishing villagefrom which it draws its name. This filmbrings to light the group'sbehind-the-scenes role in defusing someof the tensest moments of the Cold War.The story takes us from the site of the firstnuclear test, in New Mexico, to Cairo,where contemporary Pugwash scientistsmeet under the cloud of nuclearproliferation, and to Hiroshima, where wesee survivors of the first atomic attack.Featuring interviews with contemporariesof Rotblat, members of the Pugwashmovement, and passionate public figuresincluding Senator Romeo Dallaire, TheStrangest Dream demonstrates therenewed threat represented by nuclearweapons, while encouraging hope throughthe example of morally engaged scientistsand citizens.Reviews• "An emotionally and politicallypowerful, anti-nuclear weapons film."- Barton Bernstein, Professor ofHistory, Stanford University, Author,"The Atomic Bomb: The CriticalIssues"• "An important addition to the history ofthe atomic bomb and a timelyreminder that individuals of integritycan make a differnce if they are willingto stand for what they believe in." -Jim Riccio, Nuclear Policy Analyst,Greenpeace• "Rarely does one experience a trulybrilliant and altruistic human beingwho changed history...Joseph Rotblatachieved this extraordinary feat...Thisis an imperative history for all to knowand understand in this highly unstablepolitical time on this nuclear lacedplanet." - Dr. Helen Caldicott• "This documentary is a worthy tribute________________________________________________________________________________________________________Email: inquiry@learningemall.comLearning Rendezvous LimitedWebsites: http://www.learningemall.com & http://www.learningemall.com.hk29