Plenty of independent, foreign and documentary films without star power worth seeing

Though the high-profile Hollywood fare at the Mill Valley Film Festival will inevitably garner most of the headlines, the Oct. 4-14 event offers a mother lode of hidden gems, whether they’re foreign films, documentaries or American and Bay Area independents. Relatively speaking, these films may be a bit under the radar, but they often can be some of the most rewarding finds of the festival, whose theatrical venues are the Christopher B. Smith Rafael Center in San Rafael, the CineArts Sequoia in Mill Valley and the Century Larkspur and Lark Theater in Larkspur.

Here is a sampling of films worth checking out: Free Solo: With stunning photography that takes us to dizzying heights, this amazing documentary follows legendary rock climber Alex Honnold and his death-defying quest to climb the 3,000-foot granite wall of El Capitan — without a rope. It’s an experience that will leave you in awe. Noon, Oct. 6, Rafael; 11:30 a.m., Oct. 8, Sequoia.

Collisions: Timely and quietly affecting, this assured feature debut from Bay Area director Richard Levien concerns a young girl and her even younger brother who go on a road trip to retrieve their mother after ICE agents haul the woman away for possible deportation. The acting, cinematography and music all lend the film a gritty and emotional authenticity. 8:45 p.m., Oct. 12, Sequoia; Noon, Oct. 14, Larkspur.

Charm City: With echoes of the seminal HBO series “The Wire,” this moving documentary takes us back to the deadly streets of Baltimore — where the rampant violence seems worse than ever. But the film shows the undying dedication of a community activist, a city councilman and a police officer who permeate the film with a sense of hope, even against all odds. 8:45 p.m., Oct. 5, Larkspur; Noon, Oct. 6, Sequoia.

The Whistleblower of My Lai: Combining the staging of an opera with devastating archival footage from the Vietnam War, this stirring documentary examines the My Lai massacre — one of the biggest stains in American history — and the whistle-blower who exposed it. The Kronos Quartet, based in San Francisco, helps perform the opera. 6:30 p.m., Oct. 11, Sequoia; 6:30 p.m., Oct. 12, Rafael.

Bias: Without finger-pointing, even in an era of political and social turmoil, this engrossing documentary explores implicit bias and its effects on all walks of life, including the workplace and law enforcement arenas. The film makes a strong case that although we are all wired in some way to have bias, we have the ability to do something to change it. 2:30 p.m., Oct. 7, Sequoia; 2 p.m., Oct. 13, Lark.

Who Killed Lt. Van Dorn?: A solid piece of investigative journalism, this riveting documentary focuses on the death of Wes Van Dorn, a Navy lieutenant who perished in a crash of the MH-53E helicopter, an aircraft that has killed more than 130 military members despite never being shot down. It’s a cautionary tale about how the militaryindustrial complex has failed the soldiers that it’s designed to protect. 4 p.m., Oct. 7, Larkspur; 3:15 p.m., Oct. 9, Rafael.

Rafiki: Banned in its home country of Kenya, this rare look at lesbian love in Africa has lots of charm, colorful costumes and winning performances. The film concerns the forbidden romance between two young women from rival political families — and the fallout that ensues. It’s also a fascinating look at the streets of Nairobi. 6 p.m., Oct. 12, Rafael; 8 p.m., Oct. 13, Larkspur.

Chris the Swiss: The brutal civil war of Yugoslavia is the backdrop of this documentary, which uses haunting ink animation and archival footage to explore a mystery: What happened to war correspondent Christian Würtenberg, who became a mercenary and was subsequently murdered? Adding to the intrigue is that the director, Anja Kofmel, is a relative of the journalist. 2:45 p.m., Oct. 12, Sequoia; 7:30 p.m., Oct. 13, Rafael. When the Trees Fall: In this deliriously lyrical, sexy fable, a young woman finds herself trapped by the oppressive and sexist ways of her Ukrainian village, where her family disapproves of her unbridled love for an impossibly handsome but hopeless thug. The final frames are breathtaking. 6 p.m., Oct. 12, Larkspur; 6:30 p.m., Oct. 13, Larkspur.

I Am Maris: Portrait of a Young Yogi: This intimate documentary chronicles the young life of Bay Area resident Maris Degener, who at 16 became a yoga instructor to help her find solace from serious anxiety and an eating disorder. It’s a tale of self-acceptance. 11:30 a.m., Oct. 13, Sequoia; 11:30 a.m., Oct. 14, Larkspur.

David Lewis is a Bay Area freelance writer.

Frazer Bradshaw Izabella Alvarez (left), Jesse Garcia and Jason Garcia star in “Collisions,” about the children’s search for their mother after she is detained by ICE.

Film Movement Sheila Munyiva (left) as Ziki and Samantha Mugatsia as Kena, lovers from rival political families in Kenya, in Wanuri Kahiu’s “Rafiki.” The film’s look at lesbian love was banned in the African country.

Michal Englert Sofia Halaimova as Vitka is a rebellious little girl in a Ukrainian village in Marysia Nikitiuk’s “When the Trees Fall.”