DVDs

 Far-from-Mainstream Films

Some of my favorite movies never made it to the multiplex; they are small, independent films that were brought to my attention by friends. Here are a few you might enjoy:

• The Story of the Weeping Camel - In the Gobi Desert, a family of nomads, who assist in the birth of its camel herd, face a crisis when one white calf is rejected by its mother. With all hope lost, the family sends its two young boys on a journey to a far-off village to fetch a musician capable of performing a magical ceremony.
• Whalerider - Set in New Zealand among the Maori people, this is the story of a young girl who manages to change the mind-set of her tribe through courage and determination.
• October Sky -  Working in the coal mines is an inescapable way of life in West Virginia in 1957.  When high schooler Homer Hickam, Jr. (Jake Gyllenhaal) sees the Sputnik satellite in the night sky, he dares to break free of the mines and reach for the stars.
• The Dish - In a remote, unknown Australian town, a group of local technicians, together with an American from NASA, man a giant telescope tracking the moon shot in 1969. There’s a great moment when the entire town gathers around the TV to watch Neil Armstrong’s first step, and they all realize that he and they have become part of history.

 To reserve any of these DVDs click on the Library Catalog in the Blog Roll.