Time Passing in "Hog Heaven: The Pigz Brotherz Story"
This indie short documentary archived the story of a staple rock band as well as an essential part of local history.

It is the summer of 1999 and what the Chocolate team thinks will be a normal skateboarding tour across the USA, turns into a race against time with a new set of rules… Brushes with the law, forgery and fraud are just a few of the startling mis-adventures the Chocolate Brotherhood have on their way to saving the only other family they’ve ever known – the Girl team. Armed with a healthy respect for their elders, and a strong sense of camaraderie, the Chocolate team faces the overwhelming responsibility of being the last hope for their Girl brothers… or are they?
This indie short documentary archived the story of a staple rock band as well as an essential part of local history.
In the film adaptation, director Jon M. Chu turns each musical number into a massive show stopper, with grand set pieces and a wealth of diverse dancers. Yet, in this attempt to show reverence for the people of the Washington Heights barrio, Chu, or maybe more specifically those in charge of casting, left out a crucial part of the community, Afro-Latinos.
For anyone who is not a cis white woman, a justice-fueled murderous rampage is not framed as liberation. Instead, they contribute to harsh stereotypes that vilify minority women with dangerous consequences.
“And I think to myself….what a wonderful world”. Louis Armstrong sang about this notion via his classic 1967 song, an ode to witnessing elements of our life that should be but some reminders of exactly what that concluding line of each verse indicates. Now we see our contemporary realities and, just being honest, it makes a sentiment like this seem SO overtly far away….perhaps even impossible….to accept or believe could be. It sounds harsh, but again, so much of what is occurring speaks not to beauty, but bedlam.
In The Women and the Murderer, directors Mona Achache and Patricia Tourancheau center women—the very demographic true crime is designed to appeal to.
Wes Anderson offers a light-hearted comedy in the Middle East centering around Catholic motifs.