A great documentary is defined by how it makes a topic interesting through impressive filmmaking. A documentary could be about something as boring as filing taxes, and if a filmmaker can make it interesting for everyone, they ve created something special.
“This Rain Will Never Stop,” the new film from Alina Gorlova, does the complete opposite. Although the documentary was about war, grief and a separated family, all of which should be interesting, it found a way to lose my interest instantly.
The documentary follows Andriy Suleyman and his personal battle between his work as a Red Cross volunteer living in Eastern Europe and his family being scattered across Europe due to the Syrian civil war. While Andriy could have studied at a university to make his family proud, he decided that it was best for him to volunteer. Intercut between the main story, Gorlova shows audiences images of war, festivities and mundane life to display how good times will never stop the bad.
Rock Bottom Riser
If one is curious about the best in documentary filmmaking, there’s no better place to experience it each year than the True/False Film Fest, based in Columbia, Missouri. After last year’s edition was one of the final in-person festivals before the pandemic hit in full force, they are now returning a bit later this year, specifically from May 5-9, with a hybrid edition.
This year, there will be outdoor screenings in Columbia with four outdoor amphitheaters well as at a drive-in. Seven of the features will also screen virtually with a “Teleported” option, as noted with the TTF designations below. Featuring work by Theo Anthony, Jessica Beshir, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, and more, Check out the feature lineup below with a hat tip to Filmmaker Magazine, and see the shorts selections here.