What to Watch Right Now

Stand up and speak to the hand! Canada's favorite sons, Barenaked Ladies, cross the border.

Vivaldi's The Four Seasons and four outstanding violinists are the threads the filmmakers use to weave this exploration of how nature shapes who we are. As Spring reaches Toyko and the cherry blossoms burst to life, violinist Sayaka Shoji demonstrates to her young students the timeless lessons in the music, and in their own culture. Niki Vasilakis and friends travel from all corners of Australia to the Far North to share the music of Summer with the Thursday Island Community, as the monsoon clouds gather. As the leaves turn, Cho-Liang (Jimmy) Lin and his neighbours reveal to us their New York City's vibrant, complex personality. Finally, in the icy reaches of Finnish Lapland, Pekka Kuusisto and his colleagues bring the warmth of music and human interaction to the small local community. A documentary full of fascinating characters, fine music and glorious images as it reflects on the global experience of the seasons.

ACCELERATING AMERICA tells the story of a revolutionary school in Rhode Island that gives inner-city youths who are at risk of dropping out a second chance by accelerating their studies. At the head of the school is a fearless principal, Robert DeBlois, who as a quadriplegic knows something about overcoming adversity. If the word "inspiring" gets overused, it rarely feels as apt as when watching DeBlois apply his tough love educational techniques on hardened teens. We watch three students - America, Jason and Yazmine - as they struggle through a make-or-break year, drawing upon conviction, pride and humor in order to survive.

A history and celebration of the Lincoln Highway, dedicated in 1913 as the first automobile route to span the United States coast-to-coast from New York City to San Francisco.

A funny anthology featuring various sketches about people having trouble with love and sex. A mom advises her 16 year old daughter about sex and dating in a very confusing way. A couple has a pedantically rational fight. A man is growing tired of the fact that his sweetheart is saving herself for marriage. Two bored people hook up on a boring party. A couple has a bitter fight before going to their favorite restaurant. A young mother tries to bond with her baby daughter.

Mrs. Booth is granted a divorce and their twin sons are separated, George going to the mother and Herbert to the father. Mrs. Booth lavishes on George all of a mother's care and affection. Herbert is a true son of his profligate father. He steals money from his father, and after squandering it he enlists in the Army for duty in the Philippines, but becomes dissatisfied and deserts. He meets a Filipino girl, Tatuka, who gives him shelter and supplies him with liquor. George returns from West Point a full-fledged officer. He loves, and is loved by, Grace Thomas. George's commanding officer, Colonel Vail, accidentally hears that Grace will come into a fortune when she marries, and woos her ardently, but she refuses him. George and Vail are called to the Philippines. George bids farewell to Grace, giving her a locket which he tells her to wear for remembrance. At headquarters in Manila, Vail intercepts the mail between George and Grace, and the young people begin to doubt each other. Finally Vail receives a letter from Grace saying that she is coming to the Philippines with her father on their yacht, as she fears that something is wrong. Vail is in dismay. And then he makes an amazing discovery. He sees Herbert, the living image of George, being coaxed back by Tatuka to her hut. Vail thinks of a plan: He gives Tatuka money to buy liquor for Herbert, telling her that it's the only way she can keep her white husband. Then he dispatches George on a secret mission which will keep him away. When Grace arrives and asks for George, Vail pretends to be greatly affected, and after much entreaty, leads Grace and her father to Tatuka's hut. There Grace sees Herbert, whom she believes to be George, intoxicated, with the native girl fondling him. Aroused by the revolting sight, she enters the hut and casts the locket at the drunken man's feet, telling him that they have met for the last time. The Filipino girl takes up the locket and wears it. Vail secures Grace's promise of marriage, and leaves for America with her and Mr. Thomas. Herbert, tired of the native girl, finds the little hoard she has been saving, and steals it to get back to America. George returns from his mission, finds a scathing letter from Grace, in which she tells him never to write to her again. He is bewildered at the turn of events, and suspects Vail. Some time later the American troops are attacked and surrounded by natives. George volunteers to ride through the line for assistance. As he nears a Filipino village he is wounded, but is saved by the arrival of Tatuka, who imagines him to be her husband. In Tatuka's hut George sees the locket, and learns the whole story from Tatuka. The American troops are saved by the arrival of another regiment, and when George returns to the post, he tells how he has been made the victim of a plot. They tell him he can get back to America before the wedding, so George leaves. It is the night of the wedding. In a lowly section of the city, Herbert is met by a crook who tells him of a rich haul to be made at the wedding. Herbert becomes the crook's accomplice. George arrives in the city at 8:00 the same night. He rushes to Grace's home in an auto. The wedding ceremony has commenced when Herbert and the crook steal cautiously into a window of the Thomas home. George sees the men entering. He rushes after them and there is a struggle in the dark library. The ceremony is interrupted by the noise. Grace, her father, Vail and the guests rush into the library and turn on the lights. The two brothers stand facing each other. Vail looks on in horror. And then the whole truth is made known. Several days later George and Grace are seen in loving conversation, and George gives Herbert money to start life anew somewhere else.

Performance poet Master Duncan competes to be crowned the 13th Bard of Bath.

A look back at the television show "Bonanza."

B-movie star becomes a sheriff in a small town.

A look at various forms of promotion including the carnival humbuggery of PT Barnum, the publicizing of star Florence Lawrence by Carl Laemmle, the movie palaces of Sid Grauman, and the use of food concessions such as pizza at drive-ins.

A look at the Hollywood "Blacklisting" trials of the 1950s.

Chronicles labor organizer A. Philip Randolph's legendary efforts to build a more equitable society.

Stephen H. Bogart narrates the rise to fame of his father, Humphrey Bogart through the use film clips, written material and interviews of friends and co-workers, emphasizing how he got to know him better.

In Colonial New England two indentured servants fare differently. Twelve-year-old James is contracted to a family that treats him like a son and his friend Davy works for a callous farmer.

Three generations of the Caribou Inuit family come together to tell the story of their journey as Canada's last nomads. From the independent life of hunting on the Keewatin tundra to taking the reins of the new territory of Nunavut on April 1, 1999, we see it all. The film is the result of a close collaboration between Ole Gjerstad, a southern Canadian, and Martin Kreelak, an Inuk. It's Martin's family that we follow, as the story is told through his own voice, through those of the Elders, and through those of the teens and young adults who were born in the settlements and form the first generation of those growing up with satellite TV and a permanent home.