What to Watch Right Now

Why is pork a forbidden food for Jews and Muslims? In a search for the historical roots of the pig taboo, the filmmakers travel around the world interviewing archaeologists, religious scholars, hunters and pet pig owners. Their journey reveals the many ways this intelligent and complex animal has found its way into religious scripture, onto our dinner tables, and even into our homes.

Japan is celebrating the upcoming World Sports Games, the world's largest sporting event, in Tokyo. The "Japanese Bullet," the world's first vacuum-tube super-conducting linear train, is built with the latest Japanese technology and timed to coincide with the WSG opening ceremonies.

Stan Brakhage (1933-2003) was possibly the most important filmmaker of the avant-garde and one of the greatest artists of our time. From 1952, at the age of nineteen, until his death, Brakhage created more than 400 films, ranging in length from several seconds to several hours, constantly and consistently redefining cinematic art. The film BRAKHAGE explores the depth and breadth of the filmmaker's genius, the exquisite splendor of his films, his magic personal charm, his aesthetic fellow travelers and the influence his work has had on generations of other creators. While touching on significant moments in Brakhage's biography, the film celebrates Brakhage's visionary genius and explores the extraordinary artistic possibilities of cinema, a medium mostly known only for its commercial applications in the form of narratives, cartoons, documentaries and advertising. BRAKHAGE combines excerpts from Brakhage's films and films of other avant-garde filmmakers (George Kuchar, Jonas Mekas, Willie Varela, Bruce Elder and others); interviews with Brakhage, his friends, family, colleagues and critics; archival footage of Brakhage spanning the past thirty-five years; and location shooting in Colorado and New York. BRAKHAGE was directed by Jim Shedden, produced by Alexa-Frances Shaw and executive produced by Ron Mann. An original score was composed for the film by long-time Brakhage associate and noted avant-garde composer James Tenney.

The friendship between Christophe de Ponfilly and Commander Massoud, a legendary figure of the Afghan resistance against the Soviet invader, goes back to the filmmaker's first film, "A Valley Against an Empire", made in 1981. Fifteen years later, weakened, isolated, betrayed by many of his own, the "Lion of Panshir" has not surrendered to his new and implacable enemies, the Taliban. While preparing his next offensive, he evokes his commitment and his fights, and bears witness to a history in which he has been one of the main actors for twenty years. At the same time, the director questions the role and power of the media, as well as his own approach as a filmmaker. Commander Massoud was killed in an attack in September 2001.

Fly over Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont and see red barns, white steeples, rugged coastlines, harbors, and lighthouses.

A film by Christopher Nupen with the Russian master pianist who has taken the classical music world by storm. Evgeny Kissin not only has dazzling virtuosity and unmistakable star-appeal, his meteoric rise to the top of the international concert circuit has seldom been equalled. There have been few careers in music that have climbed so high, so fast.

"Frank Gehry: An Architecture of Joy" illustrates the unique intertwining of art and architecture throughout Gehry's spectacularly eclectic career. In this portrait, Gehry explores his work of the 1990's including The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao and the Frederick R. Weisman Museum in Minneapolis, as well as his first European commission, the EMR Communication and Technology Center in Bad Oeynhausen, Germany. Seeing himself as an artist first, Gehry discusses his early relationships in the art world and how sculpture, painting and small scale work has influenced his architectural style. Like Rauschenberg, Johns, and Warhol, he has introduced "bad taste" into his concepts, while keeping himself outside of the contemporary dialogue between modernism and post-modernism. He has translated the vocabulary of contemporary art into an architectural language of his own, disobeying the rules of his profession and questioning its historic conventions.

The classic children's story of triumph over adversity.

The greatly anticipated follow-up to the platinum-selling "Beyond the Pale." In this Austin performance that capped off his sold-out 2008 stand-up tour, Gaffigan does not let the audience catch their breath. This all-new show proves no other comedian working today can romanticize laziness and overindulgence like Jim Gaffigan.

When a modern-day girl faces a big challenge in her life, her mother teaches her about the power of fasting by sharing the story of a heroine from the Bible. Your whole family will enjoy this musical journey into Amelia's imagination as she brings to life the amazing story of Esther, an orphan raised by a relative named Mordecai, as she is chose from all the maidens in the land to become queen. While this is where most fairy tales end, it's just the beginning of the true story of Esther, who must risk her life to save her people from a treacherous plan of the charmingly wicked prince Haman. Featuring all new original music by Aaron Edson, this is a story that will tickle your funny bone and touch your heart.

When Charlie Brown complains about the overwhelming materialism that he sees amongst everyone during the Christmas season, Lucy suggests that he become director of the school Christmas pageant. Charlie Brown accepts, but it proves to be a frustrating struggle. When an attempt to restore the proper spirit with a forlorn little fir Christmas tree fails, he needs Linus.

Jeff Dunham is back in his much-anticipated fourth concert event, with all-new material and unparalleled comedy that surpasses his record-breaking specials Arguing with Myself, Spark of Insanity, and A Very Special Christmas Special. All the favorites are here, plus two never-before-seen characters certain to unleash their own unique havoc on stage. Dunham is an international phenomenon with sold out stadium concerts, one-half billion YouTube views, and television shows that remain among the highest rated in Comedy Central history. Controlled Chaos is guaranteed to deliver an unequaled number of laughs per minute - whether you're a Dunham Maniac or seeing him and his partners for the very first time.

In this extended and uncensored stand-up special, Paul F. Tompkins takes us on a hilarious tour of his varied career. Relive his glory days as an employee at a Beta-only video store, a hot shop salesman, and an anxious host on Best Week Ever.

In Lisa Lampanelli's fifth stand-up special, the world's edgiest insult comic has a radically different look after her 100-pound weight loss and funky haircut. She's newly divorced and has re-started her entire life.

Santa's stealthiest elves are enlisted by Mrs. Claus to retrieve a mysterious item hidden the office of Santa Claus. Can the duo acquire the target in time, or will they be discovered by the big guy and doomed to placement on the naughty list?

Focusing on the Western Australian Government's decision in January 2014 to hunt and kill the protected great white shark, filmmaker Skyler Thomas visits Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand to learn more about the shark culling practices in each of those locations. Interviewing scientists, politicians, surfers, and activists, Great White Lies thoroughly examines the history of shark culling.