Documentary of the Week

The documentary “The Peacemaker” profiles Boston bar owner Padraig O’Malley, who’s known in the world of international diplomacy for his skills at negotiating in conflict zones. Filmmaker James Demo follows O’Malley to war torn cities in Northern Ireland, the Balkans, the Middle East and beyond to understand what makes him tick.

— Thom Powers and Raphaela Neihausen

For more information, click here to visit the official film web site.

In the documentary “The Force,” director Peter Nicks embeds with the Oakland police force for two years during a period when leaders tried to reform after past abuses of power. While there are many documentaries about law and order, few bring the depth and nuance of this one.

— Thom Powers and Raphaela Neihausen

For more information, click here to visit the film web site.

Lorraine Hansberry, the playwright best known for “A Raisin in the Sun,” gets a long overdue biography in the documentary “Sighted Eyes/Feeling Heart.” Filmmaker Tracy Heather Strain spent 14 years on the film, and delivers a complex portrait of Hansberry as a writer, radical and lesbian ahead of her time.

— Thom Powers and Raphaela Neihausen

For more information, click here to visit the official film web site.

In “The Final Year," filmmaker Greg Barker follows key members of President Obama’s foreign-policy team over the course of their last year in office. As we watch Secretary of State John Kerry, UN Ambassador Samantha Power and others at work, their approach makes a striking contrast to the current administration.

— Thom Powers and Raphaela Neihausen

For more information, click here to visit the official film web site.

Susan Froemke’s documentary “The Opera House” looks back on the history of New York’s Metropolitan Opera, focusing on the 1966 opening of its current home at Lincoln Center. The history encompasses larger than life characters including New York’s master builder Robert Moses, the Met leader Rudolph Bing and visionary director Franco Zeffirelli. The new building opened with soprano Leontyne Price.

— Thom Powers and Raphaela Neihausen

For more information, click here to visit the film web site.

The performance film “Prince: Sign O the Times” came out in 1987, but was out of distribution for over 25 years. Now it’s back, on platforms such as iTunes and Showtime. The visuals are very much an '80’s period piece with an abundance of neon, smoke and shoulder pads. But the main attraction is Prince in his prime, playing alongside singer Sheena Easton, drummer Sheila E, dancer Cat Glover and an extraordinary band.

— Thom Powers and Raphaela Neihausen

For more information about the film, click here.

One of the most ambitious documentaries of the year is PBS’ 10-part series “The Vietnam War” directed by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick. The series puts an emphasis on the voices of participants from both the American and Vietnamese sides.

— Thom Powers and Raphaela Neihausen

For more information, click here to visit the film web site. 

Errol Morris’ six-part documentary “Wormwood” investigates the 1953 death of CIA agent Frank Olson, which has been a six-decade obsession for Olson's son Eric. Morris combines interviews and archival footage with dramatic re-enactments featuring the actor Peter Sarsgaard at Frank Olson.

— Thom Powers and Raphaela Neihausen

  For more information, click here to visit the film web site.

The film “The Rape of Recy Taylor” documents the case of a black woman who was gang-raped in Alabama in 1944 and defied the Jim Crow south by speaking out, with the support of Rosa Parks and others. Filmmaker Nancy Buirski reconstructs the events with testimonies from Taylor and her siblings, along with historian Danielle McGuire who wrote a book on the case, “At The Dark End of the Street."

— Thom Powers and Raphaela Neihausen

For more information, click here to visit the official film web site.

The documentary “Quest” follows 10 years in the life of the Rainey family in North Philadelphia as they operate a community music studio in a neighborhood challenged by economic instability. Filmmaker Jonathan Olshefski creates a memorable portrait of the married couple Christopher and Christine’a Rainey and their family.

— Thom Powers and Raphaela Neihausen

For more information, click here to visit the film web site.