Chicago International Documentary Festival April 1, 2007

April 1 screenings @3:00 pm and 5:00 pm (Studio Theatrer)
April 2-5 screenings @7:00 pm (Main Theater)
Chicago International Documentary Festival Schedule

4/1 - 3:00pm
"Welcome To Poptun" by Marcelo Bukin
This heartbreaking film follows the lives of three siblings in the village of Poptun in Guatemala. Instead of playing soccer with their friends, each day they set out to make a living by shinning shoes on the city streets and are forced to bring what little money they make back to their alcoholic and abusive parents. Still, despite their daunting circumstances, the boys’ spirit and mischievous nature shines through.

4/1 - 7:00pm
"Row Hard No Excuses" by Luke Wolback
What kind of person competes in the Atlantic Rowing Challenge, a three thousand mile race across the Atlantic in a two-man rowboat? Certainly not those seeking easy money. It costs $19,000 to enter the race and $150,000 to build and equip the 23-foot racing craft, and the only prize is a trophy. Competitors must adhere to rigid rules: all the boats are constructed from the same marine plywood kit, teams cannot receive outside assistance and must carry their own supplies, and those that quit must burn their boat to keep shipping lanes clear. Filmmaker Luke Wolbach starts by following John Zeigler and Tom Mailhot, among the oldest competitors and the only American entrants in the "world's toughest rowing race," and places their story within the diverse context of other teams (men and women, young and old). On the surface, this is an inherently exciting sports adventure story, but it also provides an intimate portrait of John and Tom and a deeper exploration of their personal quest. A popular favorite at the recent Slamdance Film Festival, Row Hard No Excuses posits the race as a meditation on shattered expectations and the pursuit of happiness.

4/2 - 7:00pm
"Kill The Messenger" by Mathieu Verboud & Jean-Robert Viallet
A few days after the 9/11 attacks, Sibel Edmonds, 32, an American woman of Turkish origin, is recruited by the FBI as a language specialist with top-security clearance. Her job is to translate counter-intelligence wiretaps related to ongoing criminal investigations. After two months, EdmondsEdmonds brings a lawsuit. A few months later, then-Attorney General John Ashcroft invokes the all-encompassing blanket of the State Secrets Privilege in the case. Not only Sibel is forbidden from publicly exposing classified information, she can’t even go to court with any of her allegations. A tense real-life thriller, Kill the Messenger explores the abuses behind the State Secrets Privilege, and shows the persecution of other USUnited States. reports serious wrongdoings in the conduct of investigations and a case of espionage within her unit. Her claims aren’t taken seriously. In March 2002, she is fired from the FBI, physically escorted from the building, and warned “Don’t talk!” But national security whistleblowers. The filmmakers spent nearly two years researching and interviewing experts, including Daniel Ellsberg, Coleen Rowley (FBI), Russell Tice (NSA), Bogdan Dzakovic (DHS), John Vincent (FBI), Steve Elson (FAA), John M. Cole (FBI). Like the National Security Whistleblowers Coalition, the film highlights the danger that government suppression of the truth causes the

4/3 - 7:00pm
"Cuba, The African Epic" by Jihan el-Tahri
Why was Fidel Castro the first person Nelson Mandela sought out after his release from prison? What exactly was the Cuban dictator’s relationship to the African freedom fighter? This revealing documentary chronicles the unique relationship between these two historical figures by recounting the story of the Cold War through the prism of its least known arena: Africa. Between 1961 and 1991 the African continent was the battle ground for no less than four adversaries, each with a well defined and conflicting interested in the future of the continent. There was the Soviet Union’s desire to spread their ideology through the third world and the United States’ determination to contain their adversary, not to mention the Colonial Power’s struggled to maintain their control as a new breed of revolutionaries yearning for independence surfaced. Fighting against communism, capitalism and colonialism, underground freedom movements turned to Cuba’s new regime for support. Bonded by a common new ideal: internationalism, an unlikely alliance was forged between Cuba’s government and African freedom fighters. From the tragicomic epic of Che Guevara in Congo to the triumph at the battle of Cuito Cranavale in Angola, this compelling and detailed film shows how Castro’s tiny country emerged as a central player in Africa’s battle against oppression.

4/4 - 7:00pm
"Dale" by Rory Karpf
The NASCAR community was shocked when legendary race car driver Dale Eanrhardt died in the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500. The suave and charismatic Earnhardt had been at the top of his game so long that even those not familiar with the ins and outs of NASCAR racing knew his name – a name synonymous with a sports legend who maintained peak performance for over 20 years and the working man’s hero, who never gave up his dream of making it big. In this moving tribute narrated by Paul Newman, filmmakers Rory Karpf and Mike Viney go behind the scenes of Earnhardt’s sports star persona with never before seen footage of Earnhardt at home and interviews with his friends and family. Behind the dark glasses and the wide-brimmed Stetson, Earnhardt was a grounded and devoted family man who lost his race car driver dad at an early age as well as a focused athlete who never stopped trying to improve his game. In Dale his fiercest competitors and most avid fans share memories of him on the track and his family and closest friends give insight to the man behind The Intimidator persona. An eye-opening doc for both fans and those not familiar with NASCAR, this universal and passionate film illustrates the depth of Earnhardt's influence in the racing world as well as the mark he left on Middle America

4/5 - 7:00pm
"Mystic Ball" by Greg Hamilton
What would drive a man to devote his life to a sport that no one else plays? Equal parts sports movie and lyrical biography, Mystic Ball tells the story of one man’s passionate obsession with a little-known sport, chinlone. Deeply rooted in Myanmar – still known as Burma - culture and tradition, chinlone is a bit reminiscent of soccer – if you cut out all the running and scorekeeping and focused only on ball-handling skills, that is. On the surface, chinlone is a game of skill where players walk around in a circle and juggle a “cane ball” with stylized, highly acrobatic, dance-inspired moves. But as the film so elegantly shows, this unassuming ball game is so much more than that – chinlone has meditative and communal aspects that makes it a favorite pastime from young children to octogenarians despite it’s back-breaking difficulty. Beautifully shot, this touching and intimate film follows not only Hamilton’s transformation from curious outsider to accomplished chilone master, it also subtly, yet sweetly chronicles his search for family, community and love.

Official Website: http://www.beverlyartcenter.org