Documentary of the Week

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Every week, WNYC tells you about the best documentaries as they become available on screens of any size. Our hosts are Thom Powers and Raphaela Neihausen, co-founders of the Pure Nonfiction podcast and the DOC NYC festival, the largest non-fiction film festival in the U.S. WNYC Studios is the pro…

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    • May 9, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 1m AVG DURATION
    • 309 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Documentary of the Week

    'Antidote' profiles a journalist on Russia's wanted list

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2025 1:45


    'Antidote' profiles the Bulgarian journalist Christo Grozev, who's uncovered hundreds of Russian secret agents. Filmmaker James Jones follows Grozev after European authorities inform him that he's being targeted by assassins. 

    'River of Grass' explores the Everglades

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2025 1:58


    'River of Grass' profiles a range of figures who interact with the Everglades in the past and present, including a Miccosukee educator, a python hunter, and the pioneering environmentalist Marjory Stoneman Douglas. Filmmaker Sasha Wortzel will attend the film's New York premiere at the Margaret Mead Film Festival at the American Museum of Natural History. 

    'Drop Dead City' covers New York in the '70s

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2025 1:50


    'Drop Dead City' is a deeply researched history of New York's financial crisis in the mid-70s. Filmmakers Peter Yost and Michael Rohatyn interview a wide range of people who were involved at many levels. 

    John Lennon and Yoko Ono in 'One to One'

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2025 1:46


    'One to One: John & Yoko' uses archival footage, including telephone calls heard for the first time, to capture the radical politics and performances of New York in the early 1970s. Filmmaker Kevin MacDonald frames the story in a way that has eerie echoes in the present. 

    'We Want the Funk' moves your mind and body

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2025 1:57


    'We Want the Funk' explores several decades of the highly danceable music genre, ranging from James Brown to Fela Kuti. Filmmakers Stanley Nelson and Nicole London combine dazzling performance footage with sharp analysis of the politics and artistry of funk. 

    'Secret Mall Apartment' explores a rebellious art project

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2025 1:49


    'Secret Mall Apartment' profiles a group of Rhode Island artists who created a hidden sanctum inside the Providence Place shopping center where they lived for four years. Filmmaker Jeremy Workman interviews the key participants, many of whom have never spoken publicly before. 

    Looking back at Japan's Aum cult

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2025 1:38


    'Aum: The Cult at the End of the World' looks back at the religious fanaticism behind the deadly Tokyo subway attack in 1995. Filmmakers Ben Braun and Chiaki Yanagimoto explore how Aum grew in popularity and wasn't taken seriously as a criminal enterprise. 

    'Art Spiegelman: Disaster is My Muse' profiles the cartoonist of 'Maus'

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2025 1:58


    'Art Spiegelman: Disaster is My Muse' profiles the Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist who crafted the classic Holocaust memoir 'Maus.' Filmmakers Molly Bernstein and Philip Dolin use Spiegelman's career to reveal a hidden history of comics. 

    'Sly Lives!' explores a musical legacy

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2025 2:01


    'Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius)' profiles the 1960s band Sly and the Family Stone and the pressures on its leader. Oscar winning filmmaker Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson ('Summer of Soul') interviews musicians who were part of the group and others who took inspiration from it. 

    A painting escapes from prison

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2025 1:52


    'Paint Me a Road Out of Here' tells the story of a painting that Faith Ringgold created for the women's house of detention at Rikers Island in 1971. Filmmaker Catherine Gund explores how the jail became a dangerous place for the painting's survival. 

    'The Fall of Diddy' explores accusations against Sean Combs

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2025 1:55


    The four-part series 'The Fall of Diddy' explores multiple accusations against Sean Combs of violence and sexual abuse. The filmmakers interview an array of his former associates, some who are speaking on the record for the first time.In a statement sent to Variety, Combs' lawyer called this documentary series “one-sided and prejudicial” and says the accusations against Combs are “pure fiction.” The case goes to trial in Manhattan in May.   

    Liza Minnelli looks back

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2025 1:54


    'Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story' chronicles the highs and lows of an extraordinary career in show business. Filmmaker Brian David Klein captures multiple perspectives on Liza Minelli from longtime friends including Michael Feinstein, Mia Farrow and Ben Vereen. 

    'The Only Girl in the Orchestra' profiles Orin O'Brien

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2025 1:50


    'The Only Girl in the Orchestra' profiles Orin O'Brien, the first female musician hired full-time by the New York Philharmonic in the 1960s. The film, directed by Orin's niece Molly O'Brien, is one of 15 short documentaries selected to contend for the Oscar nominations. 

    Exploring the legacy of Loïe Fuller in 'Obsessed with Light'

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2024 1:47


    'Obsessed with Light' explores the history and legacy of the trail-blazing the American performer Loïe Fuller who took Europe by storm in the 1890s with her Serpentine Dance. Filmmakers Sabine Krayenbühl and Zeva Oelbaum evoke Fuller's work through archival footage and interviews with contemporary artists she influenced. 

    'Space Cowboy' profiles an aerial stunt artist

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2024 1:40


    'Space Cowboy' profiles the sky diving cinematographer Joe Jennings as he attempts to pull off the most difficult stunt of his career. It's among over 200 films playing this week at the DOC NYC festival in Manhattan theaters and online. 

    'Soundtrack to a Coup D'Etat' blends music and history

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2024 1:53


    'Soundtrack to a Coup D'Etat' is an eclectic film essay exploring the U.S. influence in Congo in the 1960s that ranged from jazz concerts to political subversion. Filmmaker Johan Grimonprez creates a heady swirl of history that beckons us to look and listen more closely. 

    'No Other Land' focuses on the West Bank

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2024 1:58


    'No Other Land' is directed by a collective of two Palestinians and two Israelis to document a village in the occupied West Bank. Documentary of the Week host Thom Powers spoke to two of the directors, Basel Adra and Yuval Abraham. 

    Japan's #MeToo moment in 'Black Box Diaries'

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2024 1:56


    In 'Black Box Diaries,' Japanese journalist Shiori Ito goes public accusing a high profile figure of rape and starting a national conversation. She faces pushback from police and resorts to secretly taping their conversations to break the silence. 

    'Union' follows the labor movement at an Amazon warehouse on Staten Island

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2024 1:36


    'Union' follows the grassroots effort to organize workers at an Amazon warehouse on Staten Island. Filmmakers Stephen Maing and Brett Story observe leader Chris Smalls and others through a contentious battle of labor activism.

    'Carville: Winning is Everything, Stupid' profiles the maverick political consultant

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2024 1:59


    'Carville: Winning is Everything, Stupid' profiles the political consultant who became a dissident in the Democratic party for saying that Joe Biden was a weak candidate in 2024. Director Matt Tyrnauer explores Carville's past and present, including his marriage to his political opposite, Mary Matalin.

    'Patrice: The Movie' is a romantic comedy about disability rights

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2024 1:54


    'Patrice: The Movie' follows a couple with disabilities as they face a U.S. legal conundrum that they risk losing their government benefits if they get married. Despite the dire situation, the film exudes a joy and optimism in confronting adversity. 

    Certifying elections in 'Denial'

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2024 1:57


    'Denial' profiles an election official named Bill Gates in Arizona's Maricopa County who faces pressure from conspiracy theorists over the voter count in 2020 and 2022. Filmmakers Paul Moakley and Daniel Lombroso present a cautionary tale for this November, now streaming for free from The New Yorker. 

    Will Ferrell and Harper Steele take a road trip

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2024 1:48


    In 'Will & Harper,' comedian Will Ferrell takes a road trip across America with his longtime friend Harper Steele who recently came out as a woman. The two friends blend the serious with the silly on a journey to find acceptance. 

    Pursuing a surfing record in 'Maya and the Wave'

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2024 1:39


    'Maya and the Wave' profiles Brazilian surfer Maya Gabeira as she strives to set a world record on the monster waves in the Portugese town of Nazaré. Filmmaker Stephanie Johnes follows Gabeira for ten years as she battles sexism along with the forces of nature. 

    'Look Into My Eyes' profiles psychics in New York City

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 6, 2024 1:47


    'Look Into My Eyes' takes a non-judgemental approach to watching New York psychics at work. Filmmaker Lana Wilson ('Miss Americana') captures a vibe of city dwellers in isolation looking for connections.

    'Happy Campers' on the fleeting pleasures of summer

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 9, 2024 1:49


    'Happy Campers' profiles the residents of a trailer park on the waterfront of Virginia in its final year, before the property is sold to developers. Filmmaker Amy Nicholson crafts a loving portrait from inside the community. 

    'Mountain Queen' profiles Lhakpa Sherpa

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2024 1:50


    'Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa' profiles an immigrant from Nepal who works at a Connecticut Whole Foods, but has another life as a record-breaking climber. Oscar-nominated director Lucy Walker follows the climber as she tries to make a better life for her daughters by climbing Mount Everest for the tenth time. 

    Trespassing on rooftops in 'Skywalkers: A Love Story'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2024 1:45


    'Skywalkers: A Love Story' tells the story of a couple, Angela Nikolau and Vanya Beerkus, who share a passion for illegally climbing to the tops of skyscrapers. The film follows them as they attempt their most daring stunt by climbing the world's second tallest building. 

    'Sorry / Not Sorry' looks at Louis C.K.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 12, 2024 1:56


    'Sorry / Not Sorry' examines the case of Louis C.K.'s sexual misconduct - from years of rumors to the New York Times' exposure to his subsequent comeback as a Grammy-winning comedian. Filmmakers Caroline Suh and Cara Mones capture multiple perspectives including that of his accusers whose careers suffered for speaking truths. 

    'The Grab' is a journalistic thriller on global politics

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2024 1:52


    'The Grab' follows reporter Nathan Halverson as he investigates how wealthy countries seek to control land outside their borders for access to food and water. The film plays like a journalistic thriller when Halverson is leaked over 10,000 emails from a business central to this story. 

    'Copa 71' uncovers a hidden history of women in sports

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2024 1:47


    'Copa 71' tells the story of an international women's soccer tournament in 1971 that took place in Mexico and was erased from history. Filmmakers James Erskine and Rachel Ramsay interview players from six countries who took part, but never told their stories. 

    'The Luckiest Guy in the World' profiles Bill Walton

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2024 1:54


    The ESPN series 'The Luckiest Guy in the World' profiles basketball great Bill Walton who passed away last month. Filmmaker Steve James ('Hoop Dreams') examines the hurdles that Walton had to overcome - including injuries and a speech impediment - on his way to winning championships and acclaim as a TV commentator. 

    Collecting records and reviving dreams in 'Flipside'

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2024 1:53


    Filmmaker Chris Wilcha tells a personal story of reckoning with youthful dreams in middle age as he tries to save an old record store in 'Flipside.' The film weaves together the perspectives of many others including Ira Glass, Judd Apatow and Starlee Kine. 

    'Queen of the Deuce' profiles the grandmother who ran porn theaters

    Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2024 1:37


    'Queen of the Deuce' profiles Chelly Wilson, a Greek Jewish immigrant grandmother who ran multiple adult film theaters around New York City's 42nd Street. Filmmaker Valerie Kontakos evokes the 1970s era when adult film was on an upswing with Wilson at the center. 

    'A Time to Stir' looks at Columbia University in 1968

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2024 2:21


    'A Time to Stir' is a 10-part oral history film focusing on the Columbia University student strike of 1968. Filmmaker Paul Cronin interviewed hundreds of participants to bring multiple fresh perspectives that still resonate today. Hear the director interviewed on Pure Nonfiction.

    Is 'The Contestant' the most bizarre documentary of the year?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2024 1:39


    'The Contestant' explores the early days of reality TV in Japan when a man named Nasubi spent over a year naked in isolation living off prizes from magazine sweepstakes while 30 million viewers tuned in to watch. Filmmaker Clair Titley interviews all the main players in the story and explores what happened to Nasubi after he became famous. 

    'Uncropped' profiles photographer James Hamilton

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2024 1:40


    'Uncropped' profiles the the photographer James Hamilton who has an eclectic career spanning street scenes, celebrity portraits, war coverage and more. Filmmaker D.W. Young crafts the documentary as a love letter to a bygone era of New York journalism. 

    'Photographic Justice: The Corky Lee Story' profiles a Chinatown hero

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2024 1:48


    'Photographic Justice: The Corky Lee Story' profiles the New York photographer who dedicated himself to covering the Asian American community for five decades. Filmmaker Jennifer Takaki chronicles the emergence of Asian American activism through the lens of Lee. 

    'Kim's Video' is film history as a heist movie

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2024 1:50


    Filmmakers Ashley Sabin and David Redmon explore the mystery of what happened to the famous collection of VHS tapes and DVDs from New York's beloved rental store Kim's Video that closed in 2008. The documentary is made with the same outlaw spirit as the original store known for its bootleg editions. 

    Exploring the career of Paul Simon

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2024 2:07


    'In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon' explores six decades of the musician's career while following him in the studio for the making of his recent album, 'Seven Psalms.' Filmmaker Alex Gibney delivers a wealth of insight into a monumental career. 

    'Carol Doda Topless at the Condor' profiles a trail blazer

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2024 1:34


    'Carol Doda Topless at the Condor' profiles the San Francisco dancer who broke taboos with nude performances starting in 1964. In this documentary from filmmakers Marlo McKenzie and Jonathan Parker, feminist scholars unpack questions of empowerment and exploitation. 

    'Frida' profiles the Mexican painter in her own words

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2024 1:54


    'Frida' profiles the Mexican painter Frida Kahlo by drawing upon her own words from diaries, letters and interviews. Filmmaker Carla Gutierrez taps into a rich archive of visuals and collaborates with Mexican animators to bring movement to Kahlo's autobiographical paintings. 

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