Documentary Film Program Thesis Screening

An eclectic collection of eight short thesis films by Stanford University's Documentary Film and Video MA students.

SCREENING ORDER:

UNDER THE ROLLER COASTER by Lila Place

The Thunderbolt Roller Coaster was a Coney Island icon, but, for Mae Timpano, it was home. The film looks beyond the enchantment of the famous playground to examine the true-life experience of one woman who had a unique relationship to Coney Island: she lived under the famed Thunderbolt Roller Coaster.

YESTERDAY IN RWANDA by Davina Pardo

A Rwandan genocide survivor remembers the past while rebuilding her life in Canada. Film images of Rwanda combined with video footage of Toronto reveal the texture of memory and a survivor's daily struggle to live with yesterday.

GRAY DAYS by Katherine Leggett

A graying American population and a record number of people incarcerated present a new and disturbing issue: a dramatic increase of elderly in our state prisons. Built around the compelling stories of two older inmates in two North Carolina prisons, this film confronts the lives of an often-ignored population within our criminal justice system.

BUNDLE OF BLUES by Serena Down

Bundle of Blues explores the stories of women with postpartum mood disorders, a problem for almost 1 of 5 new mothers. Through three different experiences, the film reveals that postpartum problems can happen to anyone.

CITY OF MERMAIDS by Leah Wolchok

City of Mermaids is the story of preserving Florida kitsch, told through three generations of mermaids at Weeki Wachee Springs. The film traces the rise and fall of an underwater theme park eclipsed by Disney and now struggling to survive.

OUT IN THE HEARTLAND by Gretchen Hildebran

What is the human impact of on-going campaigns to ban same-sex marriage? This film explores the effects of Kentucky's recent constitutional amendment on three families and their communities. As momentum pushes the issue from mega-churches to the ballot box, these gay parents begin to fear for their safety and future. Out In The Heartland gives a face to those at the center of these amendments, illuminating their long-term consequences for all.

BODIES AND SOULS by Christie Herring

Bodies and Souls focuses on the work of Sister Manette, a white Catholic nun running a health clinic in rural Mississippi. Where almost every family is struck by both diabetes and heart disease, her clinic's refreshingly practical approach to faith, race, and poverty in the community imparts lasting change in small doses.

RADIO GRITO by Mike Seely

In the tradition of Cesar Chavez and farm labor organizing, Radio Grito is a small Spanish language radio show for migrant workers and their families in California's San Joaquin valley. The film illustrates the empowerment, independence, and education that a grassroots radio project can provide for a community in need.

Informal reception to follow immediately after the screening.