Freddy's Cine It

Plot Summary: In June 2002, fourteen-year-old Elizabeth Smart was abducted from her Salt Lake City bedroom at knifepoint by self-proclaimed prophet Brian David Mitchell and his wife Wanda Barzee. Held captive and repeatedly assaulted for nine months, Elizabeth was finally recognized and rescued in March 2003. This documentary chronicles the kidnapping, the botched investigation, the Richard Ricci detour, and Elizabeth's extraordinary road to becoming a survivor and advocate. Director: Benedict Sanderson Platform: Netflix Genre: Documentary / True Crime Year: 2026 Featured: Elizabeth Smart as herself Ed Smart as himself (Elizabeth's father) Brian David Mitchell (subject) Wanda Barzee (subject)   ⚠️ SPOILER ALERT ⚠️ A Powerful Survivor Trapped in a Draggy Documentary So I decided it was time to watch a documentary since it's been a while sin...

Plot Summary: This eye-opening documentary explores Europe's struggle to harness its own lithium resources for clean energy. Although rich in lithium reserves, the continent relies heavily on imports. The film examines environmental concerns, community resistance, and growing calls for sustainable and socially responsible mining practices. Director: Stijn van Baarle Presenter: Peter Tom Jones Production Company: Journeyman Pictures, Storyrunner, SIM² KU Leuven Runtime: 56 minutes Original Language: English Featuring: Peter Tom Jones (Self)   ***SPOILER ALERT*** First Impressions from the Portuguese Trenches Let me just say it straight: this documentary is a slap in the face. We’re being f*cked over. Our land, our hills, our Barroso, is getting auctioned off to some British company that plans to drill hole after miserable hole like it's a goddamn dartbo...

Plot Summary: *Muppet Guys Talking* is a delightful and intimate documentary where legendary Muppet performers come together to share behind-the-scenes stories, their creative process, and heartfelt memories of working with Jim Henson. Directed by Frank Oz, this candid conversation between the original Muppet team offers humor, nostalgia, and a deep appreciation for the art of puppetry and storytelling. Director: Frank Oz Producers: Victoria Labalme, Frank Oz Cast: Frank Oz as Himself Jerry Nelson as Himself Fran Brill as Herself Bill Barretta as Himself Dave Goelz as Himself   Sesame Street and My Childhood Escape To wrap up Frank Oz’s filmography, what better way than with the ultra-casual, heartwarming documentary Muppet Guys Talking? Now, I’ve mentioned before that I was never a hardcore Muppets fan, but Sesame Street? That was a different story...

Plot Summary: *In & Of Itself* is a thought-provoking theatrical experience that blends storytelling, illusion, and personal introspection. Derek DelGaudio leads the audience on a journey to explore identity, meaning, and the human connection. Through a series of mesmerizing performances and deeply emotional moments, the show challenges viewers to confront the question: "Who am I?" Director: Frank Oz Producer: Jake Friedman Writer & Performer: Derek DelGaudio Starring: Derek DelGaudio as Himself   Magic is alive! Let me start with WOW! I don’t even know what to say. This is a mind-blowing "movie" of a theater show, and I would give anything to go back in time and see it live, after somehow magically wiping it from my memory. Oh, wait, I’d still be broke and unable to travel to New York. Never mind. No spoilers here, this is a must-watch. I let m...

Plot Summary: The film follows Aisholpan, a 13-year-old Kazakh girl from Mongolia, as she trains to become the first female eagle hunter in twelve generations of her family. Set against the breathtaking expanse of the Mongolian steppe, the documentary captures her journey to compete in the annual Golden Eagle Festival and her rise within this male-dominated tradition. Director: Otto Bell Starring: Aisholpan Nurgaiv as Herself Rys Nurgaiv as Himself Daisy Ridley as Narrator   ***SPOILER ALERT*** Mixed Feelings and Authenticity Concerns Ok, it seems I got a bit derailed on my trip to Kazakhstan, and today I ended up in Mongolia. But, we are following a Kazakh family that's been into eagle hunting for 12 generations. (I only know three generations before me in my family! Such white trash). Eagle hunting is amazing and unbelievable. But what's really unbelievable is this movie. Towards the middle, I...

Death Metal Angola is a 2012 Angolan-American music biographical film directed by Jeremy Xido. Death Metal Angola received unanimous acclaim during its festival run. The Huffington Post's E. Nina Rothe called Death Metal Angola a "must-watch film" and "a cult-classic in the making." source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_Metal_Angola Death Metal Angola follows a loving Angolan couple, Sonia and Wilker, whose love for death metal music is bringing hope to the town and children of Huambo, and Angola as a country. source: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2118609/ ***SPOILER ALERT*** Heavy Music Rising from a Wounded Country KRASNAYA: The third film of the week is Death Metal Angola from American director Jeremy Xido. When Freddy pressed play, I honestly rolled my eyes because I did not feel like listening to death metal for 83 minutes. But the documentary quickly becomes much more than that. It opens with horrifying s...

Into the Okavango is a 2018 American National Geographic documentary film written, directed and produced by Neil Gelinas. The film was predominantly shot in Angola and Botswana. It was released on 22 April 2018 and gained critical acclaim for the portrayal of wildlife. The documentary film was also screened in a handful of international film festivals and also won several awards and nominations. source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Into_the_Okavango A passionate conservation biologist brings together a river bushman fearful of losing his past and a young scientist uncertain of her future on an epic, four-month expedition across three countries, through unexplored and dangerous landscapes, in order to save the Okavango Delta, one of our planet's last pristine wildernesses. source: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7573844/ ***SPOILER ALERT*** An Epic Expedition Into Angola's Wild Heart KRASNAYA: Hello friends! Today we have an incredibl...

Another Day of Life is a 2018 Polish-Spanish-Belgian-German-Hungarian animated feature co-production directed by Raúl de la Fuente and Damian Nenow, based on Ryszard Kapuściński's autobiographical account, Another Day of Life. source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Another_Day_of_Life_(film) A gripping story of a three-month-long journey that renowned Polish reporter Ryszard Kapuscinski took across Angola, ravaged by a war in which the front lines shifted like a kaleidoscope, from one day to the next. source: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2967856/ ***SPOILER ALERT*** A Fierce Introduction to Angola's Civil War FREDDY: We got off to a strong start on our Angola week. It almost had to be a war film, since the country endured civil war from 1975 to 2002. This hybrid of animation and documentary hit me especially hard because it connects with my own family history. My maternal family lived in Angola until the Portuguese Carnation Revolut...