One of my favorite PBS series, Independent Lens, will be showcasing four new documentary films in May. If you're a fan of the series, here's what you can look forward to. If you've never seen the series before, I encourage you to check it out, as the films featured are always well-made, and always compelling.
On May 8 at 10:30 p.m., "The Cats of Mirikitani" looks at the life of artist Jimmy Mirikitani, an 80 year old who has survived both internment camps and the bombing of Hiroshima.
On May 15 at 10:00 p.m., "Sentenced Home" looks at three Cambodian refugees in the Seattle projects facing deportation for regretful decisions they made as teenagers.
On May 22 at 10:00 p.m., "Knocking" explores the world of Jehovah's Witnesses. Out of all the offerings this month, this one is the most intriguing to me, because I've always been curious about this particular faith, whose members are known more for knocking on people's doors than for what their faith actually consists of.
Finally, on May 29 at 9:00 p.m., "The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill," based on the book by Mark Bittner, tells the story of Bittner as he follows a flock of parrots as a sort of modern day Francis of Assisi in order to find some kind of meaning to his life. This documentary is also available for purchase from Amazon and elsewhere if you're too impatient to wait for its TV premiere.
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