If You Like Documentaries...Here Are Some Interesting Ones You Might Not Know About!

[I review the documentaries "Inside the Mind of a Dog," "The Disappearance of Shere Hite," "An Update on our Family," "Fanatical: The Catfishing of Tegan and Sara," and "Scamanda"]

Inside the Mind of a Dog (2024)

Do you ever wonder what your dog is thinking?  Well, wonder no more!

Directed by Andy Mitchell and narrated by Rob Lowe, this documentary explores the strong bond that exists between people and their dogs as well as sharing new research into the dog mind. 

Did you know that dogs use their barks and tail wags and 16 facial expressions to show us how they feel?  Did you know that dogs can also show signs of ADHD? It's all here and more.

But it's not all science. The film also explores the history of dog and human companionship and how they evolved from wolves to our pampered pets. There is also a strong emphasis on how service dogs are trained as well as practical tips for dog owners.

Though very informative, this is also a heartwarming adventure into the minds of our furry friends.  It might even make you cry a little.

Rosy the Reviewer says...one of the "most liked" films on Netflix, if you are a dog lover, you will also give it a thumbs...er...paws up, too! (Netflix)

 

The Disappearance of Shere Hite (2023)

Shere Hite's bestselling book about female sexuality rocked the American establishment.  It also eventually rocked her world, but not in a good way.

If you were a young person or adult in 1976, you have probably heard of "The Hite Report," a book that revealed the results of a survey of thousands of women about their sexuality. Her book was as talked about as the findings by Kinsey and Masters and Johnson, but today, ask a young woman about this book.  She has probably never heard of it. My local library doesn't even have the book today, and yet, it was (and still is) the 30th best-selling book of all time.  While you are at it, you might also ask that young woman if she is a feminist.  She might wrinkle her nose.

But in the 70's, feminism was in full bloom and this book reflected the frustrations of women and blew the lid off the patriarchy. Likewise, Shere Hite was not afraid to go on talk shows and talk about her books, and it made people, well, men, very uncomfortable. She revealed that few women felt satisfied sexually by their partners, and in a later book, revealed the rampant infidelity that existed amongst married couples.  And it didn't help that Hite didn't take any crap from anyone.  She was a beautiful woman who belied her looks by speaking of sex and the needs of women in a very matter of fact way.  She could also be feisty and even angry.  And you know how men react to angry women. She faced tremendous backlash and misogyny.

Through archival footage and talking head interviews, we learn about Hite's life and work from those who knew her.  There is also narration from those her work helped which makes the backlash she endured and her fall into obscurity all the more troubling. 

This documentary reminded me of my own journey to feminism and how that word has become a dirty word, even to other women.  So the title of this documentary is literal - Hite was basically canceled and run out of the country. Her books were controversial and she herself was so controversial, she eventually couldn't get an American publisher so she moved to Europe and eventually renounced her U.S. citizenship in 1995. But the film's title is also a metaphor for what appears to be the disappearance of feminism as well.

Directed by Nicole Newnham with Dakota Johnson providing the "voice" of Shere Hite (Johnson is also one of the producers), this is a very timely documentary and an indictment of repression as so many are losing their reproductive rights and the LGBTQ+ community is under attack. We have gone back in time...and not in a good way.

Rosy the Reviewer says...a fascinating portrait of a trailblazing woman brought to life for a new generation. (Netflix)

An Update on Our Family (2024)

The dark side of sharing everything about your life on YouTube.

This three-part docuseries tells the story of Myka and James Stauffer, family vloggers who shared everything about their lives on their YouTube channel.  They shared their personal lives, their kids, everything.

The Stauffers were a beautiful family. All went well for them as they gained a significant following, especially during the pandemic.  At one point, they had over a million subscribers. They posted constantly, show their happy day-to-day lives. They were adept at branding and turning their everyday lives into compelling content. Then they adopted a little boy from China and named him Huxley, again documenting every step of the adoption. They became even more popular, attracting a wide range of sponsors (AKA making money).  But when Huxley was diagnosed with autism and ADHD, the "beautiful family" persona fell apart as Myka and James struggled to deal with Huxley's special needs. 

One day Huxley just didn't exist on the vlog anymore. Huxley went missing and online speculation was rampant. And when the Stauffer's fans discovered that Huxley had been "rehoused," their fans turned on them, accusing them of opportunism and neglect. 

This docuseries is more than an expose of this family and their vlog.  It raises some bigger questions: why do people tune in to watch other people's lives and get so caught up in them and then get so upset when they don't live up to their expectations?  What are the ramifications of international adoption?  Are people who document their families online exploiting their children?

Rosy the Reviewer says...directed by Rachel Mason, this is a fascinating look at "mommy vlogging," the risks of "putting it all out there" and the ethical concerns surrounding digital family content (HBO and Max).

 

Fanatical: The Catfishing of Tegan and Sara (2024)

The dark side of fandom.

For you who are part of the "Older Set," you may not know who Tegan and Sara are.   I certainly didn't. They are a Canadian queer indie pop duo formed in 1998, and Tegan and Sara Quin are identical twins born in 1980.  They are both songwriters and musicians.  They have released 10 albums and won a Grammy in 2012 for their video album "Get Along." 

So since I am one of those in the "Older set" and didn't know who Tegan and Sara were, why was I interested in this docuseries?

Well, it had me at "catfishing."  I am totally obsessed with the concept.  It all started with "Catfish," the 2010 documentary where Nev Schulman confessed his experience being "catfished (he actually coined the term)" and he subsequently got an MTV series out of it where he now helps other people figure out whether or not they are being "catfished." The rest is "catfish" history.

So anyway, in the mid-2000s, fans of Tegan and Sara began receiving messages and emails from the Tegan half of the twin duo. Now most people these days would dismiss an email from a celebrity (the whole current Brad Pitt thing notwithstanding), but here we are talking about the 2000's when there were still novice Internet users out there and catfishing was not yet a huge thing.  And Tegan and Sara were very much online, posting often on Facebook, message boards and on their official website. So at that time, maybe it didn't seem beyond the realm of possibility that Tegan would respond to what was said and form friendships with fans. But it turns out, the messages were not from Tegan.  Instead, it was someone pretending to be her who exploited Tegan and Sara's fans for 16 years.  That person became known as Fake Tegan or Fegan.

This documentary follows fans who had been victims and who share their stories. 

Julie was one fan who began listening to the band in college.  She had recently realized she was gay and was struggling with it.  Tegan and Sara's music was a lifeline.  When another fan sent her a link  to a Facebook profile that appeared to be Tegan, Julie sent her a message and was shocked, but happy, that Tegan replied.  Soon they had a friendship.  Three years later, Julie discovered she had been catfished. Another fan actually had a real relationship with the real Tegan but was pulled into the fake Tegan's world, ruining the relationship. 

When the hoax was discovered, the reach of Fake Tegan became clear. He or she had access to much of Tegan and Sara's personal lives. Tegan and Sara started to wonder if the hacker was someone close to them.  They became suspicious of everyone.

Tegan kept Fake Tegan under wraps for 16 years because she was embarrassed and didn't want to come forward but eventually did.  Directed by Erin Lee Carr, this is a compelling examination of fan obsession and celebrities having to deal with Stans - a term coined to describe stalker-fans.  

But this series is not just about celebrity scams. This documentary is a warning to us all. This is a cautionary tale about the scams, frauds and fakes lurking on the Internet, the "keyboard kourage" that allows anonymous people to pretend to be someone they are not while scamming their victims out of money, or at the very least, their dignity. It's a reminder that no one is immune from scammers so be careful out there.

Rosy the Reviewer says...even if you don't know this band, if, like me, you are fascinated by the world of catfishing, you will enjoy this.  (Hulu)

Scamanda (2025)

Catfishing is not the only scam rampant on the Internet.   There is also "Munchausen by Internet."  Don't know about that?  Then, read on.

There was this girl.  She started out as a babysitter for a married couple with a little girl but then the married couple divorced and the babysitter married the husband.  She not only married the husband but got full custody of the little girl. She joined a megachurch and was beloved by all.  And then she got cancer.

Meet Amanda C. Riley.

Amanda C. Riley was a devout Christian, an active church member, and a mother of two healthy children living in San Jose, California.  In 2012 she shared her cancer diagnosis with her church and started a blog depicting her journey called "Lymphoma Can Suck It." Her looks and personality were such that her blog and Internet presence attracted supporters, sponsors and fundraisers from all over the world who wanted to help this pretty young woman who was so positive and inspirational as she fought cancer.

But over time, some things didn't add up.

Friends wondered how she could go swimming right after brain surgery. How was it that her pregnancies seemed to be unaffected by her cancer?

Meet Nancy Moscatiello, an investigative producer.  She received an anonymous tip about Amanda which put Nancy on a five-year-long investigation which led to a podcast by Charlie Webster about what was believed to be Amanda's "Factitious disorder" aka "Munchausen. And when it is played out on the Internet it's called "Munchausen by Internet."

Through reenactments, photos, screenshots and interviews from former friends of Amanda's ("former" because they were also scammed), this four-part ABC series now streaming on Hulu reveals Amanda's scam and offers insight from a neuropsychologist into the mind of a scammer and the psychology behind choosing a cancer diagnosis as a narrative. 

But questions still remain after watching this series.  Why? What was her background and what led Amanda to do this and even when caught, to continue the fraud?  We may never know.

Rosy the Reviewer says...a sad commentary on how easily in our society we can be manipulated and feel immediately sympathetic when the manipulator is an attractive, vivacious and privileged young woman. (Hulu) 

See You Next Time!

If you enjoyed this post, feel free to like it and share it on Facebook, X, or other sites; email it to your friends and/or follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/rosythereviewer where I share short reviews about TV shows I am watching, books I am reading and all sorts of other fun stuff that doesn't appear here!

And next time you are wondering whether or not to watch a particular film, check out my reviews on IMDB (The International Movie Database). Go to IMDB.com, find the movie you are interested in.  Scroll over to the right of the synopsis to where it says "Critics Reviews" - Click on that and if I have reviewed that film, you will find Rosy the Reviewer alphabetically on the list (NOTE:  IMDB keeps moving stuff around so if you don't find "Critics Reviews" where I am sending you, look around.  It's worth it)!

What To Watch in December!

[I review "Conclave," "We Live in Time," "Emilia Perez" and the documentary "Carol Doda Topless at the Condor."]

Conclave (2024)

An inside look at how a Pope is chosen - with some conspiracy and mystery thrown in.

The Pope has died so the College of Cardinals goes into seclusion for a papal conclave (that's what the process is called for choosing a new Pope) led by Cardinal-Dean Thomas Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes). And we get to be there as flies on the wall to an ancient and mysterious process that few know about.

The four men vying for Pope are Aldo Bellini (Stanley Tucci), an American liberal; Joshua Adeyemi (Lucian Msamati), a Nigerian with socially conservative views; Joseph Tremblay (John Lithgow), a Canadian mainstream conservative; and Goffredo Tedesco (Sergio Castellitto), an Italian traditionalist who wants to go back to the old ways - you know, services in Latin, no birth control, fish on Fridays, all of that.  But there is also a newcomer, someone unknown to the Cardinals - Archbishop Vincent Benitez (Carlos Diehz) of Kabul, who claims the late pope secretly made him a cardinal.  His arrival is strange because no one knew about him but particularly strange because Benitez is Mexican.  How did he end up as the Archbishop of Kabul?

There is mystery and drama afoot.

Bellini and Lawrence are the two leaders of the Church's liberal wing, but neither claims to want the papacy but it becomes clear that is not really true. As Lawrence leads the conclave, he learns about a mysterious medical appointment the former Pope made for Benitez in Switzerland that was later canceled.  He also learns that the pope demanded Tremblay's resignation hours before dying.  However, when confronted, Tremblay vigorously denies this. Then a secret is revealed about Adeyemi and Head nun, Sister Agnes (Isabella Rossellini), plays a pivotal role, sharing a secret with Lawrence.  And there is more - a bribery for votes allegation, a suicide bomber attack on the Vatican, and a huge twist you won't see coming!

Who knew there was so much drama around electing a Pope?

Drama, indeed.  Based on the book by Robert Harris adapted for the screen by Peter Straughan, this is one of the best dramas of the year and one could say it's an allegory for the world's current political climate, conservative vs. progressive.

I have been in love with Ralph Fiennes ever since "The English Patient."  No one broods like Ralph.  And he has lots to brooder over here. He is also surrounded by an ensemble cast of wonderful actors and the film is highlighted by brilliant cinematography thanks to Stephane Fontaine. Directed by Edward Berger, this movie has Oscar written all over it.

Rosy the Reviewer says...who knew a papal conclave could be so riveting and exciting, but it is and with that a huge twist at the end, I was speechless, something I rarely am, but, when it was revealed... Kaboom!  Mic drop!  This film is not to be missed! One of the best of the year! (Streaming for free on Peacock and also available for rent or purchase on various other streaming platforms)

We Live in Time (2024)

Tobias (Andrew Garfield) and Almut (Florence Pugh) "meet cute" and fall in love... and then she gets sick.

On his way to sign divorce papers, Tobias is hit by a car driven by Almut, an up-and-coming chef. They fall in love but then Almut discovers she has ovarian cancer.  But she gets treatment, the cancer goes into remission and she and Tobias are able to have a child.

A few years later, Almut is now head chef at her own high end restaurant, and Tobias and Almut are living in the countryside with daughter, Ella, but then Almut's cancer returns.  She doesn't want to undergo treatment again, wishing to live "six to eight amazing months" rather than months of chemotherapy, but when Tobias proposes marriage, she decides to undergo treatment. At the same time, Almut is invited to participate in the Bocuse d'Or, a prestigious cooking competition, a challenge that conflicts with her treatment and her wedding and, when confronted about this by Tobias, Almut says she wants her daughter to remember her as an accomplished chef rather than a sick and dying woman.

Written by Nick Payne and directed by John Crowley, the film weaves together the past and present in flashbacks and flashforwards that could be confusing to some viewers - Tobias and Almut meeting "cute," if being hit by a car by your future love interest could be considered "meeting cute;" their romance before her cancer diagnosis; the birth of Ella; and Almut's career as a chef and participation in the Bocuse d'Or cooking competition. So there is something here to satisfy those who like love stories; something for those who like drama; something for those who appreciate good acting; something for you foodies out there; and plenty of tears to be jerked if you are hooked on tearjerkers.

But this is not a movie wallowing in sadness. Yes, this is one of those "dying woman love stories," but what sets it apart from most is that Almut refuses to be defined as a dying woman and instead continues with her life right up until the end.

I couldn't get over how much Florence Pugh reminded me of Kate Winslet. Not just in looks but in getting her kit off (that's Britspeak for taking off one's clothes) as did Kate (she was even kind of known for that). I have always been a Florence Pugh fan but not so much Andrew Garfield, probably because I wasn't that into Spiderman but then he did "tick, tick...boom" and I was in.  And here he does a good job as a charismatic romantic lead. Pugh and Garfield have chemistry and are great together.

Rosy the Reviewer says...despite a cringey birthing scene in a gas station toilet, this is a poignant love story about living your life fully right up until the end. (available to rent on Amazon Prime and Apple+) 

Emilia Perez (2024)

The story of four Mexican women who are each seeking to find their own happiness: Emilia Perez (Karla Sofia Gascon), an ex-cartel leader who fakes her own death; Rita Mora Castro (Zoe Saldana), an underappreciated lawyer who gets caught up in Emilia's life; Jessi (Selena Gomez), Emilia's ex; and Epifania (Adriana Paz), a once abused wife who enters into a relationship with Emilia - and it's a musical!

Against her conscience, Rita defends a prominent media figure's wife accused of murder, arguing the death was a suicide.  Soon after winning the case, Rita is asked by cartel kingpin Juan "Manitas" Del Monte to help him fake his own death after having sex reassignment surgery so he can start a new life as a woman.  Rita finds him a doctor and he pays Rita a huge amount of money.  Meanwhile, his wife, Jessi, and his children are moved to Switzerland for their own safety. After the surgery, Manitas begins a new life as Emilia Perez.

But wait just a minute.  This is not going to be one of those happily ever after stories. Think of this as a telenovela (even though this movie is very French), one of those over-the-top Latin American soap operas, but with music. 

So four years later, Emilia's and Rita's paths cross in London...and not by chance.  Emilia misses her children, so Emilia once again asks Rita to help her by arranging to bring Jessi and the children back to Mexico City to live with Emilia, telling Jessi that Emilia is a distant cousin of Manitas and Emilia wants to help Jessi raise the children. Jessi is skeptical but acquiesces because she wants to reunite with Gustavo Brun (Edgar Ramirez), an ex-lover.  Unbelievably, Jessi doesn't recognize Emilia (but, hey, this is a telenovela).  All goes well for a time when Emilia wants to reunite with her family and make restitution for her life as Manitas, using her connections for good by setting up a nonprofit to help find "the disappeared," and to identify bodies of cartel victims. Through that, Emilia meets Epifania, a woman whose abusive husband's remains were identified and the two begin a relationship.

But then all hell breaks loose! It doesn't end well.  But you knew that.  

As I said, this is a sort of telenovela with an original plot, excellent acting, lush cinematography (thanks to cinematographer Paul Guilhaume), music and even some humor! The scene where Rita interviews a sex reassignment doctor in Bangkok is a hoot! 

Does everything work? No, but I have immense respect for movies that try to do something new and to take risks.  This is like something you have never seen before. 

Karla Sofía Gascón is amazing, playing both Manitas and Emilia.  You would never guess it was a woman playing Manitas. And Gascon herself is transgender, beginning her transgender transformation in 2018. Selena Gomez is everywhere these days, starring in the popular series "Only Murders in the Building" as well as this, and she has a single coming out that her over 700 million followers on social media will no doubt embrace.  And did you know she is a billionaire? But this role as the horny ex-wife of Manitas will surprise everyone.  It's a departure for her.  No more the young Disney star. Adriana Paz is also good in a smaller role, but Saldana dominates as she is in almost every scene and is the character that connects everyone. She is outstanding. These four women won the Best Actress Prize as an ensemble at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival and the film, loosely based on the book "Ecoute" by Boris Rason and adapted and directed by Jacques Audiard, won the Jury Prize.

Rosy the Reviewer says...Wow!  A unique and poignant musical film experience, a feast for the eyes and ears, not to be missed.   (In Spanish with English subtitles on Netflix)

 

Carol Doda Topless at the Condor (2023)

A documentary about Carol Doda, who in San Francisco in 1964 became the first dancer to go topless. She became a tourist attraction as famous as The Golden Gate Bridge!

I moved to San Francisco in 1970, the day after I graduated from college in Michigan. I knew I had missed the Summer of Love, but after seeing this documentary, I realized I missed way more than that.  San Francisco was hopping starting in the early 60's when it was the center of the Bohemian movement and free love.

So there I was, a little virgin Michigan girl...well, a virgin when it came to living in a big city...and as I explored San Francisco's famous North Beach neighborhood, I couldn't avoid Carol Doda. A billboard highlighting her "assets" decorated The Condor Club on the corner of Broadway and Columbus (and it's still there).  North Beach was, and still is, a happening place.  It was where all of the nightclubs were but also the Italian restaurants, comedy clubs and Lawrence Ferlinghetti's famous book store, City Lights. 

So who was Carol Doda? 

She started out as a waitress but she also liked to dance and then Rudi Gernreich invented the topless bathing suit and that opened the flood gates. Doda was the first dancer to appear topless in the United States, and "Topless" became a thing. Everything was topless including topless ice cream shops and topless shoe shines (back when there actually were shoe shines). And Doda embraced it. Doda had said "I want to be in show business and I don't know any way except to show my boobs."  And so she did. Her act at The Condor became the place to go. 

  

And who said size doesn't matter?

Carol was a beautiful woman, but her breasts were not gigantic by any means so she set about making them so through silicone injections. Not recommended today.  Silicone injections were outlawed in 1992.  But for a time, it worked and Doda's breasts were the stars of the show at The Condor. She also danced "bottomless," as in totally nude until that was outlawed in 1972.  She retired from stripping in the 1980's but continued to entertain into her 70's. Little known factoid: Doda Dome in Yosemite National Park was named for her.

But for all of the titillation (sorry), there is a feminist twist here.  Doda said she was one of the original "bra burners"...wink...wink...but at the same time, she did take control of her life, did what she wanted with her body and there was a certain empowerment in that.

Rosy the Reviewer says...written and directed by Marlo McKenzie and Jonathan Parker, this is an interesting little tidbit in the history of San Francisco. (Amazon Prime)

                                      See you next time!

If you enjoyed this post, feel free to like it and share it on Facebook, X, or other sites; email it to your friends and/or follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/rosythereviewer where I share short reviews about TV shows I am watching, books I am reading and all sorts of other fun stuff that doesn't appear here!

And next time you are wondering whether or not to watch a particular film, check out my reviews on IMDB (The International Movie Database). Go to IMDB.com, find the movie you are interested in.  Scroll over to the right of the synopsis to where it says "Critics Reviews" - Click on that and if I have reviewed that film, you will find Rosy the Reviewer alphabetically on the list (NOTE:  IMDB keeps moving stuff around so if you don't find "Critics Reviews" where I am sending you, look around.  It's worth it)!