9 movies to see at Milwaukee Film's first-ever Dialogues Documentary Festival
The documentaries are often the best parts of the Milwaukee Film Festival – so why not assemble a festival that's just all docs then?
September’s mostly become welcome to dumpsville for movies – but that’s not the case this final weekend, at least here in Milwaukee, thanks to Milwaukee Film and their brand new Dialogues Documentary Festival, bringing spotlight-worthy documentaries and plenty of discussion to the Oriental and Downer starting today and running through Sunday, Sept. 29.
Even serious Milwaukee Film fans might be asking themselves: Wait, what the hell is this? I thought the film festival was in spring now; it’s back? Nope, this is a brand new festival, taking the place of the former Cultures & Communities Festival. “Taking the place of” sounds harsh, though, as it’s more like a refocusing of that fall weekend festival, which nobly began as a celebration of culture, communities and conversation on screen. It maintained those noble and thoughtful ambitions over its tenure, but lost its way a bit, leaving the movies behind and seemingly hosting more comedy shows, networking shindigs and concerts than screenings – not bad concepts by any means, but somewhat confusing and disjointed when it’s ostensibly a film event run by a film organization.
This new festival aims to recenter the big screen while keeping the community and conversational focus – and if its first batch of selections is any sign, it seems to have hit the mark. There’s a lot of strong options to pick from – and honestly, I could’ve doubled or tripled my list of recommendations, but I have a day job and I already overwrite enough as is. So here is my more digestible list of the most intriguing screenings from the first-ever Dialogues Documentary Festival at the Oriental and Downer. (For the whole list of showings, click here.)
Oh, and be sure to pull a Marvel fan and stay through the credits, as several of these showings will feature post-film conversations with directors, producers and other notable figures.
“Free Money”
I’m not one to turn down free money – whether it be literal cash for free or this opening day documentary, following the impact of newly introduced Universal Basic Income on a Kenyan village. What seems like a simple societal experiment, though, produces fascinating results – both positive and negative – that’ll have you starting the Dialogues Documentary Festival with debate in the lobby. Perfect – after all, it’s not called the Quietly Leave And Go About Your Day Unchanged Documentary Festival.
Showing Thursday at 4 p.m. at the Oriental Theatre.
“The Eternal Memory”
Rejoice, truly obsessed Oscar completists still trying to watch all of last year’s nominees: Your quest may finally be over! (And just in time for the NEXT awards season.) Thanks to the Dialogues Documentary Festival, Best Documentary nominee “The Eternal Memory” – about a couple coping with the impact of Alzheimer’s – will finally hit Milwaukee screens. It wasn’t just a random nominee, but a fairly serious contender, thanks to the film’s intimate and emotional approach as well as the director’s resume, previously getting nominated for the crowd-pleaser “The Mole Agent.”
Showing Friday at 4:30 p.m. at the Oriental Theatre.
“War Game”
OK, but what about THIS year’s Best Documentary Oscar race? The Dialogues Documentary Festival happens to have a contender there as well: “War Game,” a light-heartened, easy-breezy documentary about several government figures partaking in a simulation of a disputed American election and military coup against the government, “stress-testing” our national security and processes, and practicing how to avoid a fake civil war so we can hopefully, if necessary, avoid a real one. Listen, you won’t find escapism here – but you will find a grippingly assembled political doc designed like a thriller that’s wound up on many potential awards short lists. (And for another buzzy option come Oscar season, check out “Union,” focusing on the fight over the first unionized Amazon workplace.)
Showing Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the Oriental Theatre.
“The Strike”
Unfortunately timed perfect amongst a national conversation about incarceration and America’s treatment of prisoners, the tense documentary “The Strike” tells the story of the largest hunger strike in U.S. history – just over ten years ago, as prisoners from across multiple California prisons refused to eat in protest over inhumane solitary confinement treatment. The doc looks gripping, focusing on a bit of recent American history locked away and forgotten far out of sight.
Showing Saturday at 11:30 a.m. at the Oriental Theatre.
“Emergent City”
When an innovation tech company buys up a massive swath of industrial land in Brooklyn, are they setting out to improve the neighborhood … or impose themselves upon it? That’s the tension in this pulsing documentary that gets impressive access to all sorts of meetings, debates and discussions as neighbors, politicians and tech guys all spar over the future of their city – and their place in it.
Showing Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Oriental Theatre.
“We Can Be Heroes”
No, this isn’t the Netflix Robert Rodriguez movie about stretchy kid superheroes … but in a way, this doc selection is kind of about superheroes as it follows a band of teens who slowly transform into their best selves by transforming into different characters at a camp for LARPing. One of the directors, Alex Simmons, helped produce the previous MFF standout charmer “Science Fair” a few years back – and this SXSW winner may just be another one.
Showing Saturday at 8:15 p.m. at the Oriental Theatre.
“Missing From Fire Trail Road”
Here’s an option for true crime fans – but one with more on its mind than just lurid grisly thrills and cheap manufactured twists: “Missing From Fire Trail Road,” following the missing persons investigation of Mary Ellen Johnson-Davis, who disappeared in 2020. While friends and family search for answers, the documentary also thoughtfully digs into the legal loopholes that make Native American women shockingly defenseless prey for those with violent intentions.
Showing Saturday at 9 p.m. at the Oriental Theatre.
“Eternal You”
A.I. is a hot topic at this first Dialogues Documentary Film Festival – but of the options on the topic, “Eternal You” sounds the most intriguing, taking an eerie look at techbros’ attempts to “raise the dead” and let people interact with loved ones gone away via artificial intelligence. Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned from science fiction stories, it’s that bringing stuff back from the dead always ends well and goes great for everyone. The perfect option, no matter whether you’re celebrating the Dialogues Documentary Festival or spooky season.
Showing Sunday at 11 a.m. at the Oriental Theatre.
“The Click Trap”
Wow, go figure, an online media guy is intrigued by a documentary about the modern horrors of the online media industry! What a twist. But even if you haven’t spent the last two decades of your life working in and thinking about the internet and its impact on people, “The Click Trap” looks tensely fascinating, hitting on everything from phishing fraudsters to the creepy targeted ad economy and the big business of bringing out the worst of folks on the internet. It’s enough to make you want to unplug everything and never digitally step foot on here again. (But please don’t, I just started this blog; you can’t leave yet.)
Showing Sunday at 7 p.m. at the Oriental Theatre.