Fascinating Look into Iowa Prison Hospice Program Poignant and Redemptive

Another film nominated in the Documentary Short Subject category at the Oscars was Prison Terminal:  The Last Days of Private Jack Hall, directed by Edgar Barens.  This remarkable film tells the story of the final days of Jack Hall, a terminally ill prisoner at the Iowa State Penitentiary.

At the time this film was made, Hall was 83 years old, and was serving a life sentence for the murder of his deceased son's drug dealer.  The drug dealer had been boasting about his profit from drug sales.  Hall's son, who had been addicted to drugs from a young age, had previously committed suicide.

One sad parallel about Hall was that he fought in WWII, and recounted how his experience as a POW profoundly impacted his life.  In fact, while watching the film, one has the sense that there was much more to the life of Hall, and this adds to the poignancy and power of the documentary.

Barens had unlimited access to the prison while filming, and the viewer gets an inside look at the prison's hospice program.  Hall was cared for by other prisoners serving lengthy sentences for violent crimes, but the humanity of those prisoners comes through as they strive to make Hall's final days peaceful and comfortable.

The viewer is with Hall as he passes away, and one cannot help but wonder about the fate of other elderly prisoners around the country, most of whom will not have not have access to a hospice program during their final hours.

Story of Tragic Turn of Events During Peaceful 'Friday of Dignity' Protest in Yemen Powerfully Recounted by Cameramen and Fathers of Victims

Another wonderful film nominated for an Oscar in the Documentary Short Subject category was Karama Has No Walls, which was directed by Sara Ishaq.  This film runs for just 26 minutes, but powerfully recounts the horrifying turn of events that took place following a peaceful pro-democracy protest in Karama, Yemen, on Friday, March 18, 2011.

On this fateful day, which is commemorated as the Friday of Dignity, pro-government forces built a wall to block the protest and suddenly began firing on the peaceful protesters, resulting in 53 deaths and many injuries.

The attack was caught on video by cameramen who bravely sought to document the onslaught.  These cameramen tell their stories in this film, and viewers can see the sadness on their faces as they recount the events of this day.

But the most heartbreaking stories in the film are told by two fathers, one of whom lost a son, and another whose small son was seriously and permanently injured.

The attack motivated thousands more Yemenis to stand in solidarity with the protesters and victims, and those who lost their lives are honored each year by Yemenis.

Chance Meeting Between a Former Neo-Nazi Skinhead and His Gay Hate-Crime Victim Leads to Forgiveness and Friendship

Although Facing Fear, directed by Jason Cohen and nominated for an Oscar in the Documentary Short Subject category, runs only 23 minutes, it powerfully recounts a crime of opportunity and a later fateful meeting between the perpetrator and victim.  

As a young, gay teenager living on the streets of Los Angeles, Matthew Boger was savagely attacked and left to die by a group of neo-Nazi skinheads.  One of those skinheads was Tim Zaal.  Although Boger recovered from the attack, it had a lasting impact on him and shaped his life's work.  He never anticipated meeting one of his attackers, but he did.   

While working for the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles 25 years after the attack, Boger was asked to meet with Zaal, who had left the neo-Nazis after realizing that the hateful life of a skinhead was not for him.  Zaal was at the Museum of Tolerance to share his thoughts about his own troubled past and efforts to rebuild his life after leaving the neo-Nazi group.  

After conversing for a few minutes, the two men quickly realized that they had encountered each other before.  The film recounts how this meeting was another life-changing moment for both Boger and Zaal, a moment that eventually led to forgiveness, understanding and friendship.   

New Mexico's Breathtakingly Beautiful Mountain Vista is Now Beautiful Within, Too, Thanks to Ra Paulette

Directed by Jeffrey Karoff and nominated for an 2014 Oscar in the Documentary Short Subject category, CaveDigger showcases the artistry and struggles of Ra Paulette, who has devoted the last 30 or so years to single-handedly digging intricate cave designs into New Mexico mountains.  

Paulette's work on the caves often comes across as a personal obsession.  Although he strives to follow a preconceived vision for each cave, he often finds that the work itself leads him in unplanned directions.  Because Paulette often felt that he should only stop digging and creating when he thought a work was complete, he was occasionally at odds with those who commissioned his work.  

What's astonishing about this story is that Paulette's creations -- which usually take years to complete -- have gone largely unnoticed and unrewarded financially.  

The 39 minutes spent viewing this short documentary will pass quickly, but those pressed for time can take Karoff's virtual tour of one of Paulette's caves titled "Tree of Human Kindness."  

Oscar-Nominated Short Documentaries a Must-See Movie Experience

Be Prepared to be Inspired...

The five short films nominated for Oscars in the Documentary Short Subject category were extraordinary and it is safe to say that each film was worthy of an award.  Moviegoers have a rare opportunity to see all five films at once in a two-part feature titled The Oscar Nominated Short Films:  Documentary, which is playing at the Opera Plaza Cinema on Van Ness Avenue in San Francisco. 

The featured films are: 

~ The Lady in Number 6:  Music Saved My Life (Canada)
~ Karama Has No Walls (Yemen/UK/United Arab Emirates)
~ Facing Fear (USA)
~ CaveDigger (USA)
~ Prison Terminal:  The Last Days of Private Jack Hall (USA)

Although the documentaries tell the stories of vastly different people, they share some common themes, and each film is, in its own way, very inspirational.  Moviegoers will find these films both accessible and riveting.

More on each of the films later.

86th Annual Oscar Award Ceremony

The 86th Annual Oscar Award Ceremony will be televised live on March 2, 2014.  This year's selection of acting and film nominees is impressive, and the ceremony is sure to appeal to most every taste.   

Two particularly exciting categories offer awards for best Documentary Feature and best Documentary Short Subject.

Watch this blog for future posts about the documentaries.