APOLLO CINEMA PRESENTS ... ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATED DOCUMENTARY SHORTS 2007 — *** — Compilation of award-nominated documentary short films; with English subtitles (Asian and Spanish dialects); not rated, probable PG-13 (drugs, profanity, vulgarity, nude artwork, violence).
Apollo Cinema's compilation of the most recent Academy Award-nominated documentary shorts kicks off with "The Blood of Yingzhou District," a moving, emotionally draining piece that examines the treatment of AIDS in China, as seen through the eyes of children who have the virus or lost their parents to it.
If you can watch the plight of young orphan Gao Jun, who has been rejected by his surviving family members, and still have a dry eye, there may be something wrong with you.
This is the short that won the best short-documentary Oscar. And the other three nominated shorts that are included here don't even come close to its power and emotion.
That's not to say they're unwatchable, however.
"Recycled Life" looks at a unique community that thrives in the heart of the one of the largest garbage dumps in South America, but the film goes on a little long.
"Two Hands: The Leon Fleisher Story" is the inspirational but too-brief story of a classical pianist struggling with a debilitating condition that afflicts one of his hands.
"Rehearsing a Dream" is the weakest link here, about aspiring high school performers given the chance to work with professionals, an overly familiar "Fame" tale we've seen before and done better.
"Apollo Cinema Presents ... Academy Award Nominated Documentary Shorts 2007" is not rated but would probably receive a PG-13 for some drug content (references to AIDS medication and recreational drug use), scattered profanity and crude slang, glimpses of nude paintings, and some brief violence (television clips). Running time: 135 minutes.
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