Independent Lens

Indie Films Series / 8 Seasons

Authentic stories. Extraordinary people.

1h 25m / TV-14

Coming Soon to Independent Lens: Las Marthas

30s / TV-PG

In the lingering aftermath of the U.S.-Mexican War, the border town of Laredo, Texas created an annual debutante ball unlike any other. Las Marthas follows two Mexican American girls carrying this gilded tradition on their shoulders during a time of economic uncertainty and tension over immigration.

Las Marthas: Nuevo Laredo Debutante Rosario Gets Fitted for

1m 28s / TV-PG

In this excerpt from the Independent Lens documentary Las Marthas, where tradition meets fantasy: new debutante Rosario is measured for a spectacular gown by highly coveted dressmaker Linda Leyendecker Gutierrez, an oil heiress who is “portraying history.”

Coming Soon to Independent Lens: Spies of Mississippi

1m 21s / TV-PG

The story of a secret spy agency formed by the state of Mississippi to preserve segregation during the 1950s and ‘60s. Granted broad powers, this commission investigated citizens and organizations in attempts to derail the civil rights movement.

Spies of Mississippi: Many Shades of Opinion

48s / TV-PG

This excerpt from the Independent Lens documentary Spies of Mississippi looks at the people involved in the movement who ended up on the “other side,” who ended up working against the movement. They were either those who did not think it could possibly win, while some just could not believe the government would be involved in anything illegal.

Spies of Mississippi: Not-So-Secret Meetings

37s / TV-PG

In this excerpt from the Independent Lens documentary Spies of Mississippi, some of the black leaders in the civil rights movement became more aware something suspicious was going on when white agents started showing up at their meetings, even if not yet aware of Sovereignty Commission. They just knew their meetings were not a secret: “by the time we leave in the morning, they gonna know anyway.”

Spies of Mississippi: Training for Three Things

41s / TV-PG

In this excerpt from the Independent Lens documentary Spies of Mississippi, we learn about the training civil rights activists from the north went through in Ohio for the 1964 Summer Project, to prepare themselves “to be beaten, to be put in jail, and to be killed.”

Coming to Independent Lens: The State of Arizona

1m 54s / TV-PG

This topical documentary captures the explosive emotions and complex realities behind Arizona’s headline-grabbing struggle with illegal immigration. Tracking the year after Arizona passes SB1070, its controversial “papers please” law, the film tells the stories of Arizonans on all sides of this divisive issue and depicts a state and its people testing the edges of our democratic values.

The State of Arizona: Russell Pearce Rallies a Crowd

2m 22s / TV-PG

In this excerpt from the Independent Lens documentary The State of Arizona, Sheriff Joe Arpaio rallies an outdoors pro-SB1070 crowd, citing murders along the border and how he feels he has the Founding Fathers on his side. Meanwhile, frustrated anti-SB1070 activists like Jorge Martinez meet to discuss strategy.

The State of Arizona: Salvador Reza Tracks Sheriffs Pulling

2m 10s / TV-PG

In this excerpt from the Independent Lens documentary The State of Arizona, activist Salvador Reza, a founder of the Puente Movement, tracks the Sheriff department pulling over and interrogating Latinos on suspicion of being illegal immigrants. Reza and his associates use cameras to film the activity, while he also talks about SB1070 being the “287(g) [Agreement] on steroids.”

The State of Arizona: Sheriff Joe Debates Journalist During

2m 15s / TV-PG

In this excerpt from the Independent Lens documentary The State of Arizona, controversial Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio speaks to reporters during a raid of a fast food restaurant checking for illegal immigrants, where he’s challenged by a journalist about the operation. Meanwhile, patrons debate whether or not illegal immigrants should be allowed to work there.

The State of Arizona - See the Preview

29s / TV-PG

This topical documentary captures the explosive emotions and complex realities behind Arizona’s headline-grabbing struggle with illegal immigration. Tracking the year after Arizona passes SB1070, its controversial “papers please” law, the film tells the stories of Arizonans on all sides of this divisive issue and depicts a state and its people testing the edges of our democratic values.

The State of Arizona: A Wall Goes Up

/ TV-PG

In this video extra from the Independent Lens documentary The State of Arizona, Rudy Peña, a fifth generation of Mexican descent, reflects on a surprising divide within the Latino community. He talks about his family history and how he feels ostracized by newer Mexican immigrants because he doesn’t speak Spanish and doesn’t feel the way they do.

Coming Soon to Independent Lens: Blood Brother

30s / TV-PG

An intimate portrait of Rocky Braat, who traveled to India as a disillusioned tourist. When he met a group of children with HIV living at an AIDS hostel, a place of unspeakable hardship, he decided to stay and devote his life to them.

Blood Brother: Rocky Returns to India

2m 54s / TV-PG

In this excerpt from the Independent Lens documentary Blood Brother, Rocky Braat describes his first encounter with the unforgettable HIV-positive kids he met in India, what they called him in their native tongue, and how he found it so hard to shake them that he had to return to India to see them again.

Blood Brother: Rocky Visits with Pizza and Books

1m 8s / TV-PG

In this excerpt from the Independent Lens documentary Blood Brother, Rocky goes to visit one of the girls in the hospital, where she’s been for a few days, plus he brings pizza to the kids, and reads a story in English with them.

Coming Soon to Independent Lens: At Berkeley

1m 19s / TV-PG

Legendary documentarian Frederick Wiseman goes back to school for this wide-ranging film about the University of California at Berkeley, the oldest and most prestigious member of a ten campus public education system.

At Berkeley: Fred Wiseman and Why He Went Back to School

/ TV-PG

Alongside scenes and images from the Independent Lens documentary At Berkeley, filmmaker Frederick Wiseman talks about why he wanted to do a film about “the extraordinarily complicated place” that is the University of California, Berkeley, which fits well into his institutional series, as well as about the unprecedented access he was given, and why showing it on public television is so important.

Coming to Independent Lens: How to Survive a Plague

2m 15s / TV-PG

How to Survive a Plague is the story of two coalitions — ACT UP and TAG (Treatment Action Group) — made up of self-made activists, many of them HIV-positive, who challenged the pharmaceutical industry, then helped it to identify promising new drugs, moving them from experimental trials to patients in record time.

Oscar-nominated How to Survive a Plague Coming in December

29s / TV-PG

How to Survive a Plague is the story of two coalitions — ACT UP and TAG (Treatment Action Group) — made up of self-made activists, many of them HIV-positive, who challenged the pharmaceutical industry, then helped it to identify promising new drugs, moving them from experimental trials to patients in record time.

Jiro Dreams of Sushi: The Challenges of Making Shrimp and Oc

4m 21s / TV-PG

In this excerpt from the Independent Lens documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi, Master Chef Jiro Ono reflects back on his own history with sushi, dating back to post WWII, how the art of making sushi invaded his dreams, and the evolution of technique in preparing more challenging food items like shrimp and octopus.

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