Purdah is a fantastic documentary, and it's a fantastic juxtaposition of sports documentary and cultural exploration. The driving force is Kaikasha's desire to play professional cricket, and that motivation is simple and pure. The challenges she face are not just related to the sport, and that's where the cultural aspects come in. Sports storylines are often a person in a battle with themselves to improve but in Kaikasha's community she has to overcome all sorts of social hurdles as well. The documentary isn't preachy, it just presents a person's dream and the struggles she has to overcome to pursue it. Those struggles are what they are, and it's hard not to find yourself rooting for her.

Stadium Anthems is a really funny indy comedy kind of in the style of The Office or Parks and Rec (although quite a bit raunchier.) It takes on the music industry and features cutting satire of not only the seedier side of the industry, but the devolution of music from great art into often popular trash. At the core of it the movie works really well because the main character is a music exec who, despite being in and part of this devolution, at his core wants to be part of great music and great artistry. His journey is one I think any real music lover can relate to, and his attitude of "if it can't be about the music is it really worth it" brings a purity that stands in great and biting contrast to the many other characters who are all perpetuating the whole charade. The movie delivers because it is not just funny, but if your a music lover it really gives you something to root for.

Elephants is exactly the kind of film that I love to discover. First, it was clearly created by filmmakers who had a vision and something to say and weren't just following a Hollywood formula. I love that. The relationship portrayed is realistic and the actors pulled it off wonderfully. I also really appreciated the cinematography. Every scene was lit with care to enhance the story. Highly recommend.