Films with: James, Steve

At the death house door

An intimate look at the death penalty in the state of Texas through the eyes of Pastor Carroll Pickett, who served 15 years as the death house chaplain to the infamous 'Walls' prison unit in Huntsville. During Pickett's remarkable career he presided over 95 executions, including the world's first lethal injection. After each execution, Pickett recorded an audiotape account of his trip to the death chamber.

DVD 6873

Black Mozart in Cuba

"The Black Mozart in Cuba is the latest act in the rehabilitation of the memory of this extraordinary human being. The film skillfully combines biographical information with performances of his works. Born in Guadeloupe of a Senegalese enslaved woman and a French nobleman, Joseph Boulogne, Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges (1745-1799), became one of the most remarkable figures of the 18th century. He influenced the music and political life of his time. He was a genius composer and conductor, a virtuoso violinist, the best fencer in Europe, as well as the first black general in the French army. For 200 years after his death his music was rarely heard, due in part to Napoleon's efforts to erase his existence from history. Today, his music is being rediscovered and played by orchestras and music groups around the world. In this documentary, Cuba dedicates a week of cultural activities to his memory and welcomes Saint Georges as 'a great hero of the Caribbean.'"--Container.

DVD 13032

Hoop dreams

This documentary follows two inner-city basketball phenoms' lives through high school as they chase their dreams of playing in the NBA.

DVD 4520

Interrupters

The moving and surprising stories of three Violence Interrupters who, with bravado, humility, and even humor, try to protect their Chicago communities from the violence they once employed. Shot over the course of a year, this documentary captures a period in Chicago when it became a national symbol for the violence in America's cities.

DVD 8754

Life itself

The legacy of Roger Ebert's life, recounts the inspiring and entertaining life of the world-renowned film critic and social commentator, from his Pulitzer Prize-winning film criticism at the Chicago Sun-Times to becoming one of the most influential cultural voices in America.

DVD 10865

Stevie

Director James returned to rural southern Illinois to reconnect with Stevie, a troubled young boy he knew ten years ago. The film began as a way of discovering what forces shaped Stevie's life. Part way through the filming, Stevie is arrested for a serious crime that tears his family apart. The modest profile turns into a chronicle of Stevie, his broken family, the justice system and the filmmaker himself.

DVD 2717

War tapes

Documentary about the war in Iraq, with footage shot by U.S. National Guardsmen who agreed to film their year in Iraq. Includes over 100 minutes of additional footage, interview updates and more.

DVD 981