Documentaries rule the roost
Films touch on war, Barbara Lee and MTT, and more
The best new movies this week include some surefire documentaries as well as a black-and-white epic that’s one of the best films of the year — if you can handle it. And the Jewish Film Institute is serving up a brief summer festival featuring two documentaries on prominent Bay Area figures. Here’s a look. “FATHER SOLDIER SON” >> After spending a year on an ambitious project about the toll that active military duty takes on a family’s life, New York Times reportersturned-filmmakers Catrin Einhorn and Leslye Davis realized they needed to dig a little deeper. With “Father Soldier Son,” the two journalists spent 10 years with Sgt. 1st Class Brian Eisch, a dedicated officer and proud single father of two boys, who returns home after a serious injury in Afghanistan. Once back, the physical and emotional challenges overwhelm him and his new life. Einhorn and Davis capture Eisch’s triumphs and the tragedies in a film that is refreshingly unbiased as it presents a cinema verite look into the struggles wounded veterans and their families confront in America. “Father Soldier Son” is a quiet triumph. DETAILS >> \*\*\*/* out of 4; available Friday on Netflix. “FATAL AFFAIR” >> A highpowered Bay Area attorney (Nia Long) encounters a former classmate (Omar Epps) in a thriller that follows the “Fatal Attraction” boilerplate — except no bunnies get boiled. This isn’t a film you ponder deeply. It’s one you gobble up over pizza. Long and Epps, who have worked together before, keep us interested in the bythe-numbers story and director Peter Sullivan gives the Bay Area a glossy, sensual look while employing minimal bloodshed. DETAILS >> \*\*/* ; available on Netflix. “THE PAINTED BIRD” >> What if I told you one of the bestmade films of 2020 happens to also be one of the hardest to endure? The barrage of cruelty here — physical and sexual — can make it difficult to watch directorscreenwriter Vaclav Marhoul’s black-and-white adaptation of Jerzy Kosinski’s controversial novel. But “Bird” should not be cast aside; it’s directed with bold strokes, acted fiercely by a cast that includes Petr Kotlar, Udo Kier, Barry Pepper and Harvey Keitel, and delivers a sweeping 35 mm vision about war and the destruction of innocence. It’s one of the most disturbing films I’ve seen, but “Bird” leaves you in awe. DETAILS >> \*\*\*\* ; available Friday on various platforms and at select drive-in theaters. CINEGOGUE SUMMER DAYS >> The annual San Francisco Jewish Film Festival won’t be held in its usual format this summer, but the Jewish Film Institute scrambled to create a meaningful, mostly virtual celebration of Jewish film and culture running today through Sunday. Opening Cinegogue Summer Days tonight at Concord’s West Wind Solano DriveIn is Berkeley filmmaker Abby Ginzberg’s “Truth to Power: Barbara Lee Speaks to Me,” about the fearless Oakland congresswoman. (Screens 8:30 p.m. today; tickets must be secured in advance.) Also in the mix are “On Broadway,” screening at drive-ins in Concord and San Jose, an illuminating look at Broadway featuring interviews with such stars as Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen, Helen Mirren and many more (8:30 p.m. today). And classical fans should check out director Susan Froemke’s documentary on Michael Tilson Thomas, who just wrapped up a legendary 25-year run as San Francisco Symphony music director. In “Michael Tilson Thomas: Where Now Is,” the maestro talks about his childhood, husband and his love for both music and the New World Symphony he helped cofound (2:30 p.m. Saturday, followed by a conversation between Tilson Thomas and Peter Stein). DETAILS >> For a full festival lineup and to order tickets, go to jfi.org/summerdays. “DIRT MUSIC” >> In the transition from page to screen, novelist Tim Winton’s emotionally distanced protagonists come out looking like pretty mopers. It’s a shame, given that stars Garrett Hedlund and Kelly Macdonald give it their all in this romantic drama. Even sweeping shots of West Australia can’t overcome Gregor Jordan’s plodding direction and Jack Thorne’s bland screenplay. Just read the Booker Prize-nominated book. DETAILS >> \*\*; available Friday on multiple platforms. “OLYMPIA” >> Harry Mavromichalis’ chummy film about grand actress Olympia Dukakis is like having a bottomless mimosa weekend brunch with your besties. There’s a boozy dinner with Armistead Maupin, the beloved author who created the iconic character of Anna Madrigal that Dukakis is loved for. There’s a chat with Norman Jewison, the director who helped her land an Oscar for “Moonstruck,”andthere’sherstint as grand marshal at a San Francisco Pride parade. Mavromichalis captures it all with elan, revealing the inner workings of a creative spitfire. DETAILS >> \*\*\*; available on various platforms.