The following list, selected by the 1998-1999 Notable Video for Adults Committee, represents the best videos produced during the past two years.
The Black Press: Soldiers without Swords . Produced by Half Nelson Productions. Director, Stanley Nelson. Distributed by California Newsreel.
This moving documentary masterfully traces the birth, evolution and impact of African American journalism since Reconstruction.
Breathing Lessons: The Life and Work of Mark O’Brien . Produced by Inscrutable Films/Pacific News Service. Director, Jessica Yu. Distributed by Fanlight Productions.
Poet/journalist Mark O’Brien offers profound reflections on life from inside an iron lung.
Fear and Learning at Hoover Elementary. Producer, Tracy Trench. Director, Laura Angelica Simon. Distributed by Transit Media/Fear and Learning Library.
Filmmaker/teacher Laura Angelica Simon explores the conflict surrounding the public education of illegal immigrants.
Henry: One Man’s Way . Producers, Peter Singer and John Swindells. Director, John Swindells. Distributed by Bullfrog Films.
This tribute to animal rights activist Henry Spira demonstrates the power of one person to effect social and political change.
Lewis & Clark: The Journey of the Corps of Discovery . Director, Ken Burns. Distributed by PBS Video.
A beautifully realized account of the Lewis & Clark expedition that expands our knowledge of both American history and the American spirit.
A Litany for Survival: The Life and Work of Audre Lorde. Produced and directed by Ada Gray Griffin and Michelle Parkerson. Distributed by Third World Newsreel.
This rich social and personal history explores the life of black feminist poet Audre Lorde.
Paul Monette: The Brink of Summer’s End . Director, Monte Bramer. Distributed by First Run/Icarus Films.
This inspiring film chronicles gay activist and writer Paul Monette’s choice to live life to its fullest in the age of AIDS.
Silence . Producer, Halo Productions. Director, Orly Yadin. Distributed by Filmaker’s Library.
In a unique blend of animation and archival footage, a Holocaust survivor finally tells her story.
Stomp Out Loud. Produced by HBO Home Video. Producer, David Marks. Directors, Luke Crasswell and Steve McNicholas. Available on home video.
A stunning musical odyssey that rolls through the Manhattan cityscape, transforming everyday life into percussive poetry.
You Don’t Know Dick. Director, Candace Schermerhorn. Distributed by The University of California Extension Center for Media and Independent Learning.
These interviews with six female-to-male transsexuals reveal lives notable for their profound emotional complexity and bravery.