From the tale of a toilet crusader, to the world of fine art dealership, to one family’s mission to live off the land, this year’s Doc Edge film festival features a treasure trove of fascinating films.
With the festival set to open on Friday 12 June, we round up our six must-see films.
Mr Toilet
Jack Sim is not your typical businessman. Known as ‘Mr Toilet’, he’s on a mission to bring safe sanitisation to millions of people around the world.
Eccentric, full of jokes and passionate about his mission, Jack Sim was born in the Singapore slums and knows first-hand the struggles of not having a safe place to go to the toilet.
Charming, heartfelt and eye-opening, Mr Toilet shines a light on an unspoken global crisis, following Jack as he embarks on a monumental project: to secure 6 million toilets for India.
My Rembrandt
Ever wanted to step into the world of fine art dealership? My Rembrandt is a fascinating exploration of iconic painter Rembrandt and the people who own his works.
Filmmaker Hoogendijk encounters an array of Rembrandt obsessives, from Baron Eric de Rothschild, to an eccentric Scottish aristocrat, to an art dealer fixated on uncovering new Rembrandts.
With unexpected twists and dramatic turns, the film stumbles upon an unbelievable story – filled with greed, betrayal and an ending Hoogendijk couldn’t even have predicted.
First We Eat
What would it be like to really live off the land? In First We Eat, one family in Yukon, Canada, set off on an unbelievable mission; to only eat food that was grown or produced locally.
Sitting just 300 km off the Arctic Circle, 97% of the food eaten in Yukon is trucked in.
In its international premiere, join retired doctor Suzanne Crocker and her family as they take on the incredible challenge of year-long self sufficiency, hunting, foraging, fishing, growing and raising their own food.
Showing the struggles and astounding lengths the Crocker’s must go through, First We Eat exposes the problems in the modern food system and raises awareness of a global issue in the face of a changing planet.
Miguelito
Described as “Searching for Sugarman meets Buena Vista Social Club”, Migeulito follows the story of a child music star who vanished from the world.
Having recorded an album with legendary record producer Harvey Averne and performed with the biggest salsa musicians at Madison Square Garden, Migeulito was at the height of his fame when he disappeared from the world.
Rumours soon spread throughout Latin America about Miguelito’s whereabouts and his story went on to dominate the Latin American music scene.
A road-trip celebration and deep dive into the young musician’s world, Migeulito takes you into the world of salsa music and shows that once you dig a little deeper, things aren’t always what they appear to be.
Richard Leplastrier – Framing the View
81-year-old architect Richard Leplastrier has crafted some of Australia’s most stunning and radically-designed homes.
Notoriously reclusive, Richard Leplastrier – Framing the View gives a rare insight into the man behind the stunning architecture, following Leplastrier from his house in the Blue Mountains to the construction of other homes in the city.
Featuring interviews with Leplastrier’s close friends, the film, which spans over 15 years, is a celebration of Leplastrier’s singular skill and showcases his exceptional talent in architecture.
This year’s Doc Edge film festival sees the world premiere of Richard Leplastrier – Framing the View, giving audiences the first look at this compelling story.
Acasă, My Home
For 20 years, the Enache family have lived in the wilderness of the Bucharest Delta. Talks of transforming the Bucharest Delta into a national park have been happening for years and when those plans come to fruition, the Enaches will be evicted and forced to join a society they have long rejected.
Acasă, My Home is a beautiful, vivid and poignant portrayal of a family with their roots in the wilderness, following their struggles as they’re forced into the concrete jungle.
With detailed care, Director Radu Ciorniciuc and cinematographer Mircea Topoleanu take an observational approach, bringing a powerful storytelling lens to the film, which won them a Special Jury Award for Cinematography at Sundance.
The Doc Edge Festival 2020 opens online and nationwide on Friday 12 June – Sunday 5 July. Check out the full programme here: docedge.nz