This film was shown as part of the Outstanding Achievement Award Retrospective programme. Filmmaker and journalist, Adam Curtis works for the BBC. Over the past twenty years, he has amounted an interesting body of work. The Way Of All Flesh was first released in 1997. It shares the story of Henrietta Lacks, a young African-American woman who died of ovarian cancer in 1951. Prior to her death, however, “cancerous tissue was removed from her and cultivated in a lab in the belief that her ever-growing cells contained unique properties that may help cure cancer.”

The film was screened only once at Hot Docs; it sold out, and with good reason. And I recommend it to anyone who is interested in medical research, ethics, and of course, the notion of individuals’ rights over their own body. I first came to know of Henrietta through the book The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, written by Rebecca Skloot. This documentary is a great companion piece to the book; written in 2010. Curtis is able to summarise the extent to which doctors, researchers, and research companies have profited from Henrietta’s tissue. All this unbeknownst to her family for many years.

Documentaries such as this are essential, not only for their educational value, but also because they can create awareness and dialogue about issues that affect all of us… issues that go skin deep, literally in this case. If you missed this screening, I strongly suggest looking out for more of Curtis’ work. And I also suggest reading Skloot’s book; Henrietta Lacks’ is a story worth knowing.

The Sheik

Wrestling fans would need to introduction to The Iron Sheik. I, however, did not know much about this bigger-than-life figure, who is ready to put anyone who ticks him off in a “camel clutch” and “make you humble.” Essentially, who is The Iron Sheik and has become of him as of late?

Although the film is not a cinematic gem, director Igal Hecht tries to shed light into the personal life of Khosrow Vaziri, as the Sheik is known to his family and friends. At times, a bit jumbled in chronology, the film takes us on a tour through the Sheik’s most famous times as the man who made Hulk Hogan as household name, to his infamous days as an independent, his addiction to alcohol and drugs, to his current status as a ‘social media celebrity.’

Through personal photos, home videos, and interviews with Aziri’s family, and his closest friends, admirers and mentees (like Dwayne Johnson a.k.a. The Rock), we come to know that fame and fortune was not the case for the Sheik. Without the help of his wife, family, and friends, the Sheik would most likely have succumbed to addiction. His new found fame via YouTube and Twitter have given him a second chance to bring out this alter-ego. While at times I cringed at some of the Sheik’s antics, I understand this is an outlet for Vaziri. Underneath his bigger-than-life persona, Vaziri is like any one of us and that makes him an interesting person to get to know.

The Sheik screens again on Saturday, May 3, 6:30pm at Bloor Hot Docs Cinema.

Whitey: United States of America v. James J. Bulger

Crime and punishment have always been fascinating subjects for documentary filmmakers. The story of Boston ex-mobster and possible FBI informant James ‘Whitey’ Bulger has received plenty of attention over the years; including a possible Hollywood treatment in the near future. Director Joe Berlinger gives us an in-depth look at Bulger’s story using his recent trial to guide us through it. 

The film itself presents a vast amount of information. From interviews with some of Bulger’s victims’s familes, FBI agents, members of the District Attorney’s office, and many others, we come to realise the extent of Bulger’s power to not only control the streets of Boston but also high-ranking members of law enforcement offices. The extent of corruption makes one angry, disillusioned, but it is also not surprising. All the while, Bulger continues to maintain he was no FBI informant. He admits to his killing many people and many other wrong-doings, yet the story is so convoluted that is hard to believe the police, FBI, and other agencies had no role in enabling him in some way. Where the truth lies is at times hard to discern.

From a production standpoint, Berlinger and team have put together a film that takes you through highs and lows. His choice to use music throughout also helps to identify the various twists and turns the story takes. I was glad to hear the version screening at Hot Docs is the more definitive one versus the one that CNN will broadcast later this year. If you are of a curious mind about crime stories, police procedurals,  and investigative journalism, this a film that I highly recommend.

Whitey: United States of America v. James J. Bulger sceens once more on Sunday, May 4, 9:30pm at Bloor Hot Docs Cinema.

For more festival updates, visit hotodocs.ca. And for more of my time at Hot Docs, follow this page, and online via Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. See you at the cinema!