"On a personal level, I saw a lot of myself in each of the girls. I also grew up playing a lot of sports, so I could really relate to that element of competition and making a comeback. I could also relate to decisions about love and marriage and friendship, which are obviously universal. This is one of the strengths of the film. We will all see ourselves in at least one of the characters, regardless of if their world is foreign to us." Filmmaker Amber Fares on her documentary "Speed Sisters"


I like Amber Fares because she did not go to film school or follow a traditional path on her way to becoming a director. A Canadian with Lebenese roots, Fares decided she wanted to tell stories that would bridge the gap between East and West. "Speed Sisters" provided great subject material for her first full-length documentary. Her advice to other fledgling directors is simply to follow their instincts and never take no for an answer.

I would also recommend the soundtrack for "Speed Sisters" to anyone who is into fusion or world music. The artists come from the Arab world but use a combination of traditional and rock styles. I ordered a CD copy from Amazon, and you can also listen to samples from all the tracks there.

Continuing the focus on documentary film, Kim A. Snyder's doc "Newtown" premiered on the PBS series "Independent Lens" this past week. Snyder produced and directed the documentary which profiles the victims and survivors of the horrific school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut on December 14th, 2012. Twenty children and six educators lost their lives that day. Incredibly, there are conspiracy theorists who deny the event ever took place (I heard one of them interviewed on BBC radio). These people believe it was a hoax perpetrated by the anti-gun lobby. Snyder's work is important because it gathers testimony from first responders, parents, siblings, and other eyewitnesses. You can watch "Newtown" for free until April 17th on the PBS website.


Here's the latest article from the Drama Movies site at BellaOnline.com.

Speed Sisters Film Review
Watching “Speed Sisters” is an exhilarating experience and made me regret selling my Camaro. The five Palestinian women profiled form the first all-women racing team to compete on the Palestine Motor Sports Circuit.

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art45240.asp

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