Hands on a Hard Body

No, it's not a porn. It's a film about a bizarre contest in which participants keep one hand on a pick-up truck for as long as possible. It's a somewhat older film but has a big reputation (deservedly, in my opinion).

"Okie Noodling"

I had no idea that grabbing a fish and letting it chomp down on your arm was an accepted (though rare) method of fishing. You learn all about it and get to know some of the best noodlers in this doc. They're interesting people.

Ecstasy of Order: The Tetris Masters

Like Spellbound, Word Wars, Word Play etc., this documentary shows us high performers, but I particularly like this one because the game in question is an old NES game.

"Dark Days"

This film shows us what life is like for a group of people who live literally underground, in an Amtrak tunnel. We see the human desire to survive and have a home (pets too!) even in crazy circumstances.

I really like how they hung out with each other, and I really enjoyed hearing the way they talk and express themselves. They may be homeless (in a way), but they don't seem lonely.

In fact one fellow said that they were a bit like a big family. As someone who often feels alone and isolated in NYC, I'm actually envious of this part of their otherwise very difficult lives.

I'm earning less and less money recently and have to find more work soon, so it was a little scary to see where I could end up if I don't keep working.

The soundtrack is great too- familiar music from DJ Shadow.

"Doing Time, Doing Vipassana " and "The Dhamma Brothers"

I'm putting these two films together because they cover similar material, and you might get a lot out of watching them both (or either one, really). The subject is the transformative power of meditation and how it works even for hardened, angry criminals who are locked up. It's so effective it's startling. Afterwards these guys hug and are much more peaceful and present.

I'm hoping to do a Vipassana course myself someday- it's a ten day, silent meditation retreat, and there is no fee (but you get lodging and delicious Indian food).

"Dr. Bronner's Magic SoapBox"

I'd seen Dr. Bronner's soap and the label, heavily dense with text, and wondered: what the hell? After watching this documentary, I have an excellent answer. Turns out, perhaps unsurprisingly, that Dr. Bronner is a real character. I found him absolutely mesmerizing, though he is literally crazy (I'd hypothesize schizophrenia). But he has a way of speaking with his German accent that I just love.

We also meet and spend time with one of his sons, whose gentle kindness I see in myself. Ralph Bronner talks to and connects to people in such a genuine way that it warms my heart. He gives them soap, too, and tours the country talking about his dad.

"Touching the Void"

It's actually been a while since I watched this film, but I remember it being intense and gripping. I'm not usually crazy about reenactments, but they worked for me here.

This film is essentially the story of two extreme climbers doing a climb as partners, but one of them gets injured. How he survives is unbelievable, but apparently it's true.