Update - SFiFF 55 - Documentaries Now Screening ( "Informant" "Last Call at the Oasis" "The Waiting Room" )

There are over 30 documentaries being screened at this year's San Francisco International Film Festival. We discussed these in detail on our 04/23/12 show, but here's a brief overview of a few we've been able to screen:

"Informant" USA

If you caught last year's doc "Better This World," you'll want to catch this one. "Better This World" told the story of two young anarchists who ended up being charged with domestic terrorism for their activities at the 2008 Republican National Convention. "Informant," which had its world premiere at the Festival, tells the story of Brandon Darby, left-wing anarchist and activist turned right-wing tea party darling and, as the title indicates, informant. Darby participates in this film, even so far as appearing in reenactments of his actions. He may have thought he would come off better in this film than the last. Nope.

"Last Call at the Oasis" USA

You know, I'm old enough to remember when the water we drank came out of the tap, that the only bottled water around was Perrier (and it sucked,) and that the term "global" was only attached to the words "thermonuclear war," not "warming." My, how things have changed. This doc takes a look at the water crisis, and YES, it is a crisis. Not one we tend to think about much as we guzzle down liters of Arrowhead/Dasani/Alhambra/Calistoga/Aquafina/Crystal Geyser/Evian/Fiji/Refreshe/Sparkletts water from petroleum-product bottles, or as we water the beautifully manicured lawns surrounding our homes in a new, "planned" desert community. But we should. This doc lays it out in simple terms. We're gonna run out of water if we don't get our act together. Fast.

"The Waiting Room" USA

A day in the life of a hospital emergency room. Set in Oakland, Ca's Highland Hospital, you're going to get a good idea of how our healthcare system really operates, and what people of all ages, racers, genders, and incomes have to do seek relief. We've probably seen it all before, but it's still guaranteed to frustrate the hell out of you, and yet make you want to hug a public hospital worker the next time you see one. Go ahead and do it.