
Letter to the Editor
For 40 years, filmmaker Alan Berliner has clipped out from the pages of The New York Times photos that caught his eye, keeping them meticulously filed and cross-indexed as a self-appointed archivist and librarian. Driven by his obsession, Berliner has completed the work of nearly a lifetime, transforming and reinterpreting his collection of images into a statement about the nature of humankind. Letter to the Editor is a filmy essay with multiple themes and a stunning array of thousands of photographs from Berliner's collection. Throughout his distinguished career, Berliner has approached documentary like an artist and memorized, through films about his family such as Nobody's Business to his meditation on insomnia Wide Awake (where he gave a glimpse of his archiving compulsion). This film delivers poignant reflections on the power of photography, the importance of print publications, and what it means when technology brings a dramatic change to century-old traditions. Berliner narrates his exploration with humor and insight. The flow of images pays homage to the ability of photo journalism to capture the scope of human experience from war to whimsy. The span of his archive, starting in the late-'70s, chronicles the small and large changes that the world has undergone. Every picture tells a story and Berliner weaves them into a profound tapestry. At a time when it seems inevitable for the daily print newspaper to go extinct, this documentary "letter" is a clarion call to recognize what's at stake.
- 2019
- 1 Hr 28 Mins
- Documentary
For 40 years, filmmaker Alan Berliner has clipped out from the pages of The New York Times photos that caught his eye, keeping them meticulously filed and cross-indexed as a self-appointed archivist and librarian. Driven by his obsession, Berliner has completed the work of nearly a lifetime, transforming and reinterpreting his collection of images into a statement about the nature of humankind. Letter to the Editor is a filmy essay with multiple themes and a stunning array of thousands of photographs from Berliner's collection. Throughout his distinguished career, Berliner has approached documentary like an artist and memorized, through films about his family such as Nobody's Business to his meditation on insomnia Wide Awake (where he gave a glimpse of his archiving compulsion). This film delivers poignant reflections on the power of photography, the importance of print publications, and what it means when technology brings a dramatic change to century-old traditions. Berliner narrates his exploration with humor and insight. The flow of images pays homage to the ability of photo journalism to capture the scope of human experience from war to whimsy. The span of his archive, starting in the late-'70s, chronicles the small and large changes that the world has undergone. Every picture tells a story and Berliner weaves them into a profound tapestry. At a time when it seems inevitable for the daily print newspaper to go extinct, this documentary "letter" is a clarion call to recognize what's at stake.
Currently not available to stream. Add it to your Watchlist to be notified when it becomes available.
Content not available in your region?ExpressVPNcan help you stay connected wherever you are.Get 4 extra months FREE with TV Guide's exclusive offer.
Cast & Crew
Awards
- 2020 - Cinema Eye Honors Award - Outstanding Achievement in Editing - Nominated
- 2019 - IDFA ReFrame Award for Creative Use of Archive - Winner
You May Also Like
Popular Movies
The Jacksons: An American Dream
The Jacksons are your average working-class family in Gary, Indiana; but when their father discovers the kids have an extraordinary musical talent they form a band. Winning talent show after talent show they soon hit it big when Motown calls. From there they become the now famous Jackson 5. But along the way their success brings trouble and turmoil

- 1992
- Documentary, Drama, Music
Child of Rage
Rob and Jill Tyler adopt 2 children named Catherine and Eric. Eric is sweet, quiet and shy and Catherine is nice at times but has these terrible violent outbursts for no apparent reason. Catherine sticks the dog Casey with needles until the dog bleeds. She smashes Eric's head on the basement floor, causing him to go to the emergency room and tries to stab her new adoptive father with a knife while he's sleeping. Jill and Rob try to find a doctor and they eventually find Dr. Rosemary Myers. She examines Catherine and find out that she was abused by her biological father and wants Catherine to overcome this rage. Dr. Myers, Jill, and Rob preform holding therapy for Catherine and at first it doesn't seem to work, but Catherine seems to become more at ease as the therapy progresses.
- 1992
- Documentary, Drama, Horror, Suspense
Popcorn Porn: Watching 'Zack and Miri Make a Porno'
This film follows the making of Kevin Smith's latest film, Zack and Miri Make A Porno.
- 2009
- Documentary, Comedy
Sarah's Oil
Sarah's Oil is inspired by the remarkable true story of Sarah Rector, an African American girl born in Oklahoma Indian Territory in the early 1900s, who believes there is oil beneath the barren land she's allotted and whose faith is proven right. As greedy oil sharks close in, Sarah turns to her family, friends, and some Texas wildcatters to maintain control of her oil-rich land, eventually becoming among the nation's first female African American millionaires-at eleven years old.

- 2025
- Documentary, Drama
The Wizard of the Kremlin
n the chaos of post-Soviet Russia, rising KGB officer Vladimir Putin (Jude Law) joins forces with master manipulator Vadim Baranov (Paul Dano) to reshape life behind the Iron Curtain, using violence and deception to change the world forever. Putin and Baranov’s reign of chaos begins with lies and corruption, and quickly escalates to assassinations, tyranny, and eventually all-out war.

- Metascore56
- 2025
- Documentary, Suspense, Drama
Bridge of Spies
In 1957, lawyer James B. Donovan is recruited from his prestigious law firm to defend accused Soviet spy Rudolf Abel. It's an unenviable task in many respects. Donovan hasn't practiced criminal law since he was a prosecutor at the Nuremburg trials after World War II. Also, the strong anti-Communist mood at the time makes him a target from who think Abel should just be executed. Abel is convicted but Donovan convinces the judge to sentence him to prison, rather than execute him, as they may at some point in the future want to swap him for an American spy the Soviets might have in custody. Just such a scenario comes into play when in 1960 U-2 spy pilot Francis Gary Powers is shot down over Soviet territory and taken prisoner. Donovan is again recruited to act as the intermediary and negotiate swapping Able for the American requiring him to travel to East Berlin crossing the newly built Berlin Wall.

- Metascore81
- 2015
- Drama, Documentary, Suspense, Action & Adventure


