Independent Lens

Season 9, Episode 1

October 16, 2007

Wordplay

Season 9, Episode 1

October 16, 2007

The ninth season begins with “Wordplay,” a portrait of crossword-puzzle creators and enthusiasts, with a focus on New York Times crossword-puzzle editor Will Shortz. Included: comments by celebrity aficionados such as Jon Stewart, Ken Burns and Bill Clinton. Directed by Patrick Creadon.

Season 9, Episode 2

October 23, 2007

Please Vote for Me

Season 9, Episode 2

October 23, 2007

“Please Vote for Me” examines the efforts of three 8-year-old students running for class monitor in an elementary school in Wuhan, China. The youngsters are shown campaigning for votes and participating in debates.

Season 9, Episode 3

October 30, 2007

Storm of Emotions

Season 9, Episode 3

October 30, 2007

“Storm of Emotions” recalls the efforts of the Israeli police to oversee the evacuation of Israelis from the Gaza Strip and the northern West Bank in 2005. Directed by Yael Klopmann.

Season 9, Episode 4

November 6, 2007

Red White Black & Blue

Season 9, Episode 4

November 6, 2007

Two WWII veterans return to the Alaska island of Attu and recall the May 1943 battle to retake Attu from the Japanese, who had occupied the island since June 1942.

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Season 9, Episode 5

November 13, 2007

Miss Navajo

Season 9, Episode 5

November 13, 2007

“Miss Navajo” follows contestants in the annual Miss Navajo Nation Pageant, including Crystal Frazier, who's seen preparing for the event, which requires participants to demonstrate skills in music, dance and the rigors of everyday tribal life. Included are comments from other contestants and previous pageant winners. Directed by Billy Luther.

Season 9, Episode 6

November 20, 2007

The Creek Runs Red

Season 9, Episode 6

November 20, 2007

“The Creek Runs Red” examines the challenges facing residents of Picher, Okla., who live near the Tar Creek Superfund Site, an area polluted by lead and zinc mining from the late 1800s through the 1970s.

Season 9, Episode 7

November 27, 2007

Sisters in Law

Season 9, Episode 7

November 27, 2007

“Sisters in Law” profiles state prosecutor Vera Ngassa and Judge Beatrice Ntuba in Kumba, Cameroon. Ngassa and Ntuba help women fight difficult abuse cases.

Season 9, Episode 8

December 11, 2007

The Paper

Season 9, Episode 8

December 11, 2007

“The Paper” examines challenges faced by student journalists working on Penn State's Daily Collegian.

Season 9, Episode 9

December 18, 2007

An Unreasonable Man

Season 9, Episode 9

December 18, 2007

“An Unreasonable Man” explores the career of crusading consumer advocate Ralph Nader. Included: interviews and archival news footage. Directed by Henriette Mantel and Stephen Skrovan.

Season 9, Episode 10

January 8, 2008

Today's Man

Season 9, Episode 10

January 8, 2008

"Today's Man" profiles Nicky Gottlieb, an autistic man who was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome at age 21. The film is directed Nicky's sister, Lizzie Gottlieb.

Season 9, Episode 11

January 15, 2008

Mapping Stem Cell Research: Terra Incognita

Season 9, Episode 11

January 15, 2008

"Mapping Stem Cell Research: Terra Incognita" follows the efforts of Dr. Jack Kessler as he researches methods to repair injured spinal cords using embryonic stem cells, a crusade he began after his daughter, Allison, was injured in a skiing accident and paralyzed from the waist down. Director Maria Finitzo's film also examines the ethical and political issues concerning embryonic stem-cell research.

Season 9, Episode 12

January 22, 2008

A Son's Sacrifice

Season 9, Episode 12

January 22, 2008

"A Son's Sacrifice" looks at the challenges faced by a young Muslim who runs his father's slaughterhouse in New York City.

Season 9, Episode 13

January 22, 2008

American Made

Season 9, Episode 13

January 22, 2008

"American Made" is a compelling look at family, faith and racism as a Sikh family is stranded on a desert road and family members try to flag down passing cars.

Season 9, Episode 14

January 29, 2008

How Is Your Fish Today?

Season 9, Episode 14

January 29, 2008

"How Is Your Fish Today?" tells the story of a Chinese screenwriter (Hui Rao) with writer's block who decides to live the life of a character he created.

Season 9, Episode 15

February 19, 2008

Banished

Season 9, Episode 15

February 19, 2008

"Banished" recalls the forced evictions of black families from their homes in the years after the Civil War, and focuses on such occurrences in Harrison, Ark., Forsyth County, Ga., and Pierce City, Mo. Directed by Marco Williams.

Season 9, Episode 16

February 26, 2008

Hard Road Home

Season 9, Episode 16

February 26, 2008

"Hard Road Home" examines the challenges faced by ex-convicts as they adjust to life after incarceration. The film focuses on the Exodus Transitional Community, a New York City-based organization (founded by Julio Medina) that offers aid to former inmates. Directed by Macky Alston.

Season 9, Episode 17

March 18, 2008

Iron Ladies of Liberia

Season 9, Episode 17

March 18, 2008

"Iron Ladies of Liberia" examines the challenges facing President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and the women she appointed to governmental-leadership roles. The film focuses on the administration's first year as Johnson-Sirleaf and her staff tackle social and economic obstacles.

Season 9, Episode 18

April 1, 2008

Compañeras

Season 9, Episode 18

April 1, 2008

"Compañeras" profiles the all-female mariachi band Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles. Included: footage of the group performing; clips of the musicians as they face various personal struggles.

Season 9, Episode 19

April 8, 2008

Water Flowing Together

Season 9, Episode 19

April 8, 2008

"Water Flowing Together" profiles New York City ballet dancer Jock Soto as he prepares to retire from performing. The film includes footage of Soto getting ready for his final performance, and a segment on a trip to a Navajo reservation as he reconnects with his Native-American roots.

Season 9, Episode 20

April 15, 2008

King Corn

Season 9, Episode 20

April 15, 2008

"King Corn" examines the corn-growing industry and the various products that are made with corn as filmmakers Curt Ellis and Ian Cheney raise corn on an acre of land in Iowa.

Season 9, Episode 21

May 6, 2008

Na Kamalei: The Men of Hula

Season 9, Episode 21

May 6, 2008

"Na Kamalei: The Men of Hula" focuses on graduates of a men-only hula school who participate in a hula competition during the Merrie Monarch Hula Festival in Hawaii. Produced by filmmaker Lisette Marie Flanary.

Season 9, Episode 22

May 20, 2008

A Dream in Doubt

Season 9, Episode 22

May 20, 2008

"A Dream in Doubt" examines hate crimes against minorities in the U.S. after the Sept. 11 attacks, including the shooting death of Balbir Singh Sodhi in Arizona.

Season 9, Episode 23

May 27, 2008

New Year Baby

Season 9, Episode 23

May 27, 2008

"New Year Baby" chronicles filmmaker Socheata Poeuv's trip to Cambodia with her parents as she sets out to learn her family's history.

Season 9, Episode 24

June 3, 2008

Writ Writer

Season 9, Episode 24

June 3, 2008

"Writ Writer" recalls the efforts of jailhouse lawyer Fred Cruz (1939-86), a man incarcerated for robbery in Texas during the 1960s who taught himself how to file appeals, which led to his work representing other prisoners.

Season 9, Episode 25

June 10, 2008

The Cool School

Season 9, Episode 25

June 10, 2008

"The Cool School" recalls the Ferus Gallery in Los Angeles, an art gallery started by curator Walter Hopps and artist Ed Kienholz that exhibited works from 1957 to 1966.

Season 9, Episode 26

June 15, 2008

Deep Water

Season 9, Episode 26

June 15, 2008

"Deep Water" recalls amateur sailor Donald Crowhurst's efforts to compete in a round-the-world boat race in 1968. Crowhurst, who was ill-prepared for the trip and couldn't back out for financial reasons, fell far behind his competitors, so he began sending fake radio reports about his progress. Crowhurst apparently committed suicide.

Season 9, Episode 27

June 19, 2008

Abduction: The Megumi Yokota Story

Season 9, Episode 27

June 19, 2008

"Abduction: The Megumi Yokota Story" recalls the 1977 kidnapping of schoolgirl Megumi Yokota from her Japanese hometown by North Korean agents, who took her to North Korea. The film also examines the efforts of Yokata's parents to find out what happened to her. In 2002, the North Korean government admitted to the kidnapping, and to the abduction of 14 other people.