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Documentary film has the power to engage an audience at a level beyond entertainment, and go on to enlighten hearts and minds.
During New Zealand's higher National Alert levels Confluence kept audiences engaged with regular films recommendations. Often from films we've screened before at Thoughtful Thursdays but also new films selected from free to view online worldwide libraries.
Without being able to curate your individual viewing experience, we have also included some tips for viewing the films for different devices and services.
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Top Five
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Here are the top five films, based on Confluence box office figures, that now also have a free online version to watch at home.
Clicking on each poster will take you directly to that film on within whatever service is hosting it for free viewing. Remember you may need to login to that service, or create a free account, to actually view the films.
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Revolutions in modern Afghanistan are all too frequent, yet each is perhaps narrowing the outlook for half the population. What was once a symbol of equality for pleasure and commerce alike, cycling has become another shameful victim to fall under the complex rules of state and religion of modern Afghanistan. Yet as the wheels of inequality turn ever wider, one group of women are not taking this oppression sitting down, they are instead returning to the saddle, and their determination is winning races around the world. But how far do they have to go to win at home?
Afghan Cycles screened in Dec 2019 to another sold out audience.
Watch it now on Kanopy by clicking the poster.
Once a forest is gone is it really lost forever? One man challenges the modern money making doctrine for prime South Island farmland, by simply setting aside any short term wealth, in favour of a lifelong belief in true value. Building a native forest to last generations, this short documentary takes you deep inside a real kiwi treasure.
Our screening of Fools & Dreamers in July 2019 included a filmmaker Q&A was sold out. If you missed it then, now is your chance to see it whenever you like.
Watch it now on the filmmakers website by clicking the poster.
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If you look away from, rather than into, a mirror then watching this film will show you a true reflection of how modern society sees women. Embracing her own image and then others, this is one woman leading thousands to value normality and turn over glossy pages to a new life.
Embrace screened to 2 sold out audiences in 2018 and again as a fundraiser in 2019.
Watch it now on Kanopy by clicking the poster.
America is built upon solid principles of democracy, including a multi-tiered justice system. But that foundation has been rocked with years of popularity seeking leaders and constant attacks from right leaning administrations. There plenty of those in positions of power who fight against this to remind those who may have forgotten that liberty and justice for all is worth holding onto. Ruth is one of them who is unique in many ways, not least her rap derived moniker of RBG.
Watch RBG on the DocPlay for free by signing up for a 30 day free trial.
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Whanganui's famous daughter, Edith Collier, once escaped her stuffy early twentieth century life to an idilic Village by the Sea. Freeing her mind and soul to capture in paintings what she saw around her, at the same time she was captivating the villagers hearts for generations to come. Filmmaker Michael Heath returns again to the works of Edith, this time travelling around the world to that small seaside village in Ireland. He and the camera are instantly taken back in time to the days our Edith was there. A time that for many locals, could have been just yesterday. Explore Edith's paintings in exquisite detail, thanks to access from the Sarjeant Gallery, and mirror the delights she painted then to the beauty that still exists today.
This film was had a sold out fundraiser screening with Q&A from Michael in Jan 2019 at Confluence.
You can watch it now via NZ On Screen by clicking the poster.
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Double Farley Films
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Double Farley, the owners and operators of Confluence, are a company that also makes documentary films. As part of the Virtual Cinema a number of these films will be released online throughout April for anyone to view for free.
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A small team helps in the fight against a huge potential problem. Athol Steward and his family get into the ocean to keep the miners out, and in doing so discover that its richness and beauty are beyond compare.
Making Waves screened twice to sold out audiences in May 2019.
Watch it now on the filmmakers website by clicking the poster.
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Keith and Faith work together at home to painstakingly reconstruct people's precious plastic dolls and soft toys.
Sharing their Doll's Hospital secrets and stories of restoring toys who have succumb to old age, dog attack, or simply being overly loved.
Watch it now on the filmmakers website by clicking the poster.
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Memories of loss and sacrifice are set in stone monuments throughout the country. Each one creating a public place to gather and remember those we've lost in war and to cherish the peace we have that they once longed for.
But as generations of tears, wind and rain are absorbed by the stones, a new war begins. Slowly pieces become loose, memories become frail, and the stones themselves begin returning to dust.
For the Maori WW1 memorial in Whanganui this war, waged through weather and time, would have continued unabated destined to a conclusion of destruction further compounding our losses. Instead a community came together to change this destiny. To somehow save their unknown soldier and hold on to everything he represents.
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Viewing suggestions
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These films have not been screened at Confluence Cinema before but fit well with either Thoughtful Thursdays or Fulfilling Fridays intentions to bring you quality cinema that goes deeper then Hollywood glamour to provide lasting stories,
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Ken Loach is never afraid to challenge the system, to do things differently and to ask questions of those who hold so dearly to their positions of power. The protagonist in I, Daniel Blake could be seen as Loach himself, only this time a redundant wood worker instead of a filmmaker. Both seek the public's mind. Daniel's communication tool in the film is a spray can, whereas Loach's film camera is more lasting yet no less shocking to see.
This NZ made film is a different look at life in Antarctica. Rather than the natural world being centre stage, it focuses on the impact of time on the people who work there, specifically looking at the US and NZ bases over 12 months.
Told extensively through time-lapse photography sequences captured by Anthony Powell, mixed together with friendly chats with a handful of his fellow workers 'over wintering' with him for several months of darkness.
During summer 4 or 5 thousand people are on the ice, but over winter it drops. So by the end of March fewer than 700 remain scattered amongst the 30 or so bases, with the next flights returning until August it is a long lockdown of sorts.
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Telling tales, blaming others, making excuses, screaming and shouting - all characteristics seen in at least one world leader. This charming French documentary takes you into a rural school where one teacher is for all years. Following a year in the life with routine and surprises along the way, maybe you can even spot a little Trump in the mix!
Watch it for free on Kanopy if you have a credit left and are signed up to the service.
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On one hand this is a simple documentary about the making of a film. But look again and discover the film being followed transcends popular entertainment history as it stars Buster Keaton. A name that came from Baudville to dominate silent cinema in a way modern stars are dwarfed by.
But as the talkies destroyed a genre and the stars of it alike, has modern filmmaking met its match with Buster?
Watch this unique documentary for free on Canada's National Film archive.
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Photography
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Whanganui is home to many artists, galleries, and public art, many of which involve photography. So over the years we have looked out for films that provide a thoughtful exposure of the photographic world.
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One man in self imposed lockdown from society, discovers a creative outlet for his fears and passions. Accidentally discovered by the world, a new man is later welcomed back into society.
This is one of the first Kanopy credit free viewing options from films we've screened in Confluence before. Highly recommend.
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Your siblings know more about you than many others. You may know or will have seen that Annie's life is dedicated to projecting a very carefully crafted photo to the world. This documentary, made by her sister, exposes some of the secrets from the dark room of her life.
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Agnes Varda had a unique way of seeing the world, and renowned photographer, JR, has a unique way of sharing it. The scale of gentle fun in this film is perhaps only matched by the scale of artwork that this unlikely pairing create all over France.
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Environment
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Documentary film continues to play an important role in environmental problem awareness and education.
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Often documentaries shock the world into thinking about the challenges facing societies with global environmental change. This NZ documentary goes further to look at what people are actually doing to make a difference to the lives of their families and communities. More relevant for our immediate future than ever, and an important reference we should learn from before we all try and 'return to normal'.
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Dip your mind into in an exploitative artificial world, where risk and fear are commodities traded for ticket sales and merchandise. Built to make the rich richer, with carefully calculated marketing spin, occasionally the natural order returns, with a horrific and devastating result for people and the bottom line.
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Up until recently the likes of Amazon or Alibaba could send you almost anything, at a price and speed that was simply unbeatable. Now take a look at those who loose this battle everyday, and no it is not the local retailers who have vanished, but the unseen trade conduit between the worlds of unceasing supply and non-essential demand - our oceans.
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Creative
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Stunning imagery from a multidisciplinary worlds of fashion, art, and crafts, presented here for you in documentary film.
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Life is short, true, yet individual creativity can last longer than many lifetimes, especially when it is accessible to all. Museums are often the ultimate home for those creative legacies, but unlike the artwork they house, they are all struggling to survive. Fighting declining visitor numbers, combating competition from technology, and questioning unfair demands for a return on public money.
This German made documentary spends 90 mins of your time, showing you how one museum, perhaps the greatest museum, counts everything from minutes to moths, Botticelli's to birds, and visitors to viscounts. A slower style of filmmaking with subtle smiles and stunning sequences of exhibits.
Perhaps now more than ever we are all discovering the ritual, joys, and challenges of the garden shed and working from home. This film walks you down the garden path of Kobi Bosshard's idilic rural NZ home, going into his timeless workshop, where he works mundane metals into magical medallions prized by the world.
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Born out of rebellion in a time of 70's punk, Vivian Westwood has now become the thing her younger self would have despised. Captured in this film are pivotal moments of realisation for her and us. One moment Vivian leads an environmental green battle, whilst the next she destroys an entire collection of clothing because it was the wrong colour. Seen by contemporary society as a media anarchist, arguably more by her associations than her own actions. She is often placed in the spotlight for cheap controversy, constantly defeating her battle for professional recognition. Personally arguing against the expensive demands of high-fashion society, whilst at the same time being dependent upon its rewards.
An unlikely lad from London conquers the world of high fashion but looses the fight to his own low self esteem. Discover the art, celebrate the life, and morn the loss in this well made and thought provoking film.
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As the world holds its collective breath to 'return to normal', this film questions aspects of that normality. Asking why a plastic mould of a silver balloon bunny costs more to buy than a hospital ward. Do we collectively really want to return to a world where status is measured in ownership of frivolous artwork, locked away in private apartments by those surpassing the creators themselves in terms of wealth and standing within society?
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More Thoughtful Films
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Including the links above, we have found free online screeners for 24 films that we have shown as Thoughtful Thursdays. Here are links to the rest of them.
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Hosting services
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We only identify films that are free for you to watch online, legally, in New Zealand. Some of the hosting services for quality films require you to have an account with them before you can watch.
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Additional online services providing free films for you to watch. We make weekly recommendations, often from these and other services, via our Facebook page and customer emails.
You can explore each of them yourself by clicking on the logos below to visit their services.      |
Viewing tips
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Protecting your audience
Contact
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(06) 2813474 to leave a message and we will respond as soon as we can during business hours.
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Messaging service outside of these hours.
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