Oftentimes documentarians take on the role of activist just by making their film in the first place. Filmmakers can use their platform to spotlight issues facing marginalized communities, like Barabara Kopple’s depiction of the 1973 Brookside Strike in “Harlan County, USA” or Jennie Livingston’s exploration of late-1980s ball culture in “Paris is Burning.” Or they can throw themselves in front of the camera, acting as an avatar for their audience, like Morgan Spurlock in “Super Size Me” or Michael Moore in any of his movies.
But, increasingly, the genre is spotlighting the stories of activists themselves. Documentaries like “Knock Down the House,” “The Cove,” or the now tragically essential “Navalny” tell stories of people who are currently working to make change, while movies like “John Lewis: Good Trouble” celebrate the lives of iconic activists while reminding us of just how radical their actions were.
The Triplex is honored to host “Joan Baez: I Am a Noise,” one of the best recent examples of this activist-documentary genre, at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday. After the screening, we will be joined by directors Miri Navasky and Karen O’Connor and Joan Baez herself as they sit down for an interview with WAMC Northeast Public Radio’s Sarah LaDuke.
Outside of being great movies, documentaries like “I Am a Noise” are also vital resources in fighting against the erosion of our collective memory. Joan was at the forefront of the civil rights movement, working with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and performing at the March on Washington, and was a vocal critic of the Vietnam War. History has proven her right on both of these issues, but “I Am a Noise” reminds us of how much courage it took to speak out at the time.
In an age in which we are constantly documenting ourselves and sharing our stories online, it can be easy to assume that we know all there is to know about a public figure. That is why these documentaries are such vital acts of activism themselves. They provide the context around what their subjects were fighting for and remind us of how much work and sacrifice is required to enact meaningful change. And that if we don’t keep telling these stories, we risk losing the things that people like Joan Baez worked so hard to bring about.
Now Playing
“Dune: Part Two”
The spice must flow.
Director Denis Villeneuve continues his epic saga of House Atreides and the Fremen in “Dune: Part Two.” Boasting an all-star cast featuring Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Florence Pugh, Austin Butler, and many more, “Dune: Part Two” is primed to be one of the biggest movies of the year.
“Robot Dreams”
The Oscar nominee plays for one night only.
Join us on March 6 for a one-night-only preview screening of director Pablo Berger’s animated charmer “Robot Dreams.” Equal parts heartwarming, hilarious, and tragic, “Robot Dreams” tells the story of Dog, a lonely dog living in 1980s Manhattan who builds himself a robot companion. Nominated for Best Animated Feature at this year’s Academy Awards.
“The Taste of Things”
Held over by popular demand!
A simmering tale of romance from director Tran Anh Hung, “The Taste of Things” is an instant classic in the food film canon. Winner of the Best Director award at Cannes, “The Taste of Things” stars real-life exes Juliette Binoche and Benoît Magimel as two chefs who learn to use food as their love language.
“Drive Away Dolls”
The newest crime comedy from Ethan Coen.
The first solo outing from director Ethan Coen (“Raising Arizona,” “Fargo”), “Drive Away Dolls” is the initial installment in his planned “Lesbian B-Movie” trilogy with writer Tricia Cooke. Starring Margaret Qualley and Geraldine Viswanathan as two friends on a road trip who cross paths with a gang of inept criminals, “Drive Away Dolls” is a vintage Coen-esque crime caper that features performances from Pedro Pascal, Colman Domingo, Beanie Feldstein, Matt Damon, and more.
Coming Soon
“Perfect Days”
The latest from legendary director Wim Wenders (“Paris, Texas”), “Perfect Days” explores the shadows that lurk on the edges of the simplest of stories. Depicting a few weeks in the life of Hirayama (Koji Yakusho), a Tokyo toilet cleaner, as his carefully constructed life is challenged by the arrival and departure of friends and family, this Academy Award nominee for Best International Feature starts on March 8.
“Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”
Join us on March 16 for a screening of Mike Nichols’ 1966 classic starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, followed immediately by a conversation with Philip Gefter, author of the new book “Cocktails with George and Martha: Movies, Marriage, and the Making of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?,” and film critic Lisa Schwarzbaum.
