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Independent Lens

Season 9 2007 - 2008
TV-PG

  • 2007-10-17T02:00:00Z on PBS
  • 1h
  • 1d 2h (26 episodes)
  • United States
  • English
  • Documentary
This acclaimed Emmy Award-winning anthology series features documentaries and a limited number of fiction films united by the creative freedom, artistic achievement and unflinching visions of their independent producers. INDEPENDENT LENS features unforgettable stories about a unique individual, community or moment in history. The series is supported by interactive companion Web sites and national publicity and community engagement campaigns. Acclaimed actor and filmmaker Stanley Tucci hosts the series.

26 episodes

Season Premiere

2007-10-17T02:00:00Z

9x01 Wordplay

Season Premiere

9x01 Wordplay

  • 2007-10-17T02:00:00Z1h

Fifty million Americans do crossword puzzles each week, many in the venerable New York Times, where Will Shortz has been editor for 12 years. "Wordplay" presents an entertaining and informative look at Shortz' work and that of the puzzle constructors with whom he collaborates, as well as coverage of the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament, an annual competition founded by Shortz, that profiles a number of intelligent and ingratiating contestants.

2007-10-24T02:00:00Z

9x02 Please Vote for Me

9x02 Please Vote for Me

  • 2007-10-24T02:00:00Z1h

This film follows eight-year-old students in an elementary school in China as they campaign for school monitor. This is the first election for a class leader to be held in a school in China. The three candidates campaign, holding debates and showing their intellectual and artistic skills, until one is voted the winner.

2007-10-31T02:00:00Z

9x03 Storm of Emotions

9x03 Storm of Emotions

  • 2007-10-31T02:00:00Z1h

This is a film explores the Israeli disengagement from the Gaza Strip and efforts to achieve democracy amidst great social and political turmoil. Told from the perspective of the Israeli police force, this film explores how these individuals try to balance their emotions, beliefs and conscience while attempting to maintain civil order and a democratic outcome.

2007-11-07T03:00:00Z

9x04 Red White Black & Blue

9x04 Red White Black & Blue

  • 2007-11-07T03:00:00Z1h

U.S. soldiers who fought on the island of Attu in Alaska during WWII journey back to the location.

2007-11-14T03:00:00Z

9x05 Miss Navajo

9x05 Miss Navajo

  • 2007-11-14T03:00:00Z1h

Follows contestants in their quest for the Miss Navajo Nation crown, featuring stories of winners.

2007-11-21T03:00:00Z

9x06 The Creek Runs Red

9x06 The Creek Runs Red

  • 2007-11-21T03:00:00Z1h

A town facing serious health risks and age-old racial tensions between Indian and white society.

2007-11-28T03:00:00Z

9x07 Sisters in Law

9x07 Sisters in Law

  • 2007-11-28T03:00:00Z1h

A look at a small courthouse in Cameroon where two women help others fight against cases of abuse.

2007-12-12T03:00:00Z

9x08 The Paper

9x08 The Paper

  • 2007-12-12T03:00:00Z1h

Chronicles the pressure of a year in the life of Pennsylvania State University's Daily Collegian.

2007-12-19T03:00:00Z

9x09 An Unreasonable Man

9x09 An Unreasonable Man

  • 2007-12-19T03:00:00Z1h

This program offers an unsparing look at Ralph Nader, one of the most important and controversial political figures of our time.

2008-01-09T03:00:00Z

9x10 Today's Man

9x10 Today's Man

  • 2008-01-09T03:00:00Z1h

The story of Nicky Gottlieb, a former child genius diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome at age 21.

Dr. Jack Kessler, a prominent neurologist, shifts his diabetes research to stem cell research when his daughter is paralyzed from the waist down. The program brings the stem cell debate to the forefront and examines the constantly evolving interplay between the promise of new discoveries, the controversy of modern science and the courage of people living with devastating disease and injury.

2008-01-23T03:00:00Z

9x12 A Son's Sacrifice

9x12 A Son's Sacrifice

  • 2008-01-23T03:00:00Z1h

A young Muslim American struggles to take over his father's halal slaughterhouse in New York City.

2008-01-30T03:00:00Z

9x13 How Is Your Fish Today?

9x13 How Is Your Fish Today?

  • 2008-01-30T03:00:00Z1h

While working on his latest screenplay in Beijing, Hui Rao experiences writer's block and begins to live the life of the character he is trying to create.

Banished is a documentary film about four U.S. cities, which were part of many communities that violently forced African American families to flee in post-reconstruction America. In incidents which took place in Texas, Missouri, Georgia and Indiana between 1886 and 1923.

2008-02-27T03:00:00Z

9x16 Hard Road Home

9x16 Hard Road Home

  • 2008-02-27T03:00:00Z1h

Follows two former felons in different stages of life "on the outside." / Examines the challenges faced by ex-convicts as they adjust to life after incarceration. The film focuses on the Exodus Transitional Community, a New York City-based organization (founded by Julio Medina).

2008-03-19T02:00:00Z

9x17 Iron Ladies of Liberia

9x17 Iron Ladies of Liberia

  • 2008-03-19T02:00:00Z1h

With unprecedented access, this intimate documentary goes behind the scenes with Africa's first freelyelected female head of state, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, president of Liberia. The film explores the challenges facing the new president and the extraordinary women surrounding her as they develop and implement policy to rebuild their ravaged country and prevent a descent back into civil war.

2008-04-02T02:00:00Z

9x18 Compañeras

9x18 Compañeras

  • 2008-04-02T02:00:00Z1h

A profile of America's first all-female mariachi band, Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles.

2008-04-09T02:00:00Z

9x19 Water Flowing Together

9x19 Water Flowing Together

  • 2008-04-09T02:00:00Z1h

Jock Soto, who is Navajo Indian and Puerto Rican as well as gay, retired in June 2005 from the New York City Ballet after a 24-year career; this story climaxes with his emotional retirement at age 40. This is not a film solely for a ballet audience; it is also an exploration of identity, heritage, transition and family.

2008-04-16T02:00:00Z

9x20 King Corn

9x20 King Corn

  • 2008-04-16T02:00:00Z1h

King Corn is a feature documentary film released in October 2007 following college friends Ian Cheney and Curtis Ellis as they move to Greene, Iowa to grow and farm an acre of corn. In the process, Cheney and Ellis examine the role that the increasing production of corn has for American society.

The film shows how the industrialization of corn has all but eliminated the family farm, which is being replaced by larger and larger industrial farms. This trend reflects a larger industrialization of the North American food system, whereby, as was outlined in the film, decisions relating to what crops are grown, and how they are grown, are based more on economic considerations than their ramifications on the environment or the population. This is demonstrated in the film by the production of high fructose corn syrup, an ingredient found in many cheap food products, such as fast food. The two return to the same small town that was coincidentally home to both of their great-grandfathers.

Follow the journey of legendary teacher Robert Cazimero and the only all-male hula school in Hawaii as they celebrate their 30th anniversary and prepare to compete at the world’s largest hula festival. NA KAMALEI: The Men of Hula goes beyond deep-rooted stereotypes of "grass skirt girls" and reveals a story of Hawaiian pride—past and present.

2008-05-21T02:00:00Z

9x22 A Dream in Doubt

9x22 A Dream in Doubt

  • 2008-05-21T02:00:00Z1h

In the wake of 9/11 and the hate crimes that followed, a Sikh American struggles to believe in the American dream amidst a climate of xenophobia and fear.

2008-05-28T02:00:00Z

9x23 New Year Baby

9x23 New Year Baby

  • 2008-05-28T02:00:00Z1h

This film follows one woman's quest to uncover the secrets of how her family survived the Khmer Rouge genocide. Socheata Poeuv's family survived the Killing Fields, escaped across the border and became Americans. She searches for the truth about what her family escaped from and why her history has been buried in secrecy for so long.

2008-06-04T02:00:00Z

9x24 Writ Writer

9x24 Writ Writer

  • 2008-06-04T02:00:00Z1h

Reveals a little-known battle of the Civil Rights Movement, led by an indigent, under-educated prisoner. Texas-born, Mexican American Fred Cruz came of age and found his life's calling in prison, where the sanctioned cruelty and brutality among inmates and guards moved him to fight the state prison system in the court of law.

2008-06-11T02:00:00Z

9x25 The Cool School

9x25 The Cool School

  • 2008-06-11T02:00:00Z1h

The Cool School is an object lesson in how to build an art scene from scratch and what to avoid in the process. Featuring Academy Award nominee Dennis Hopper and narrated by Academy Award nominee Jeff Bridges, the film focuses on the seminal Ferus Gallery.

2008-06-16T02:00:00Z

9x26 Deep Water

9x26 Deep Water

  • 2008-06-16T02:00:00Z1h

The amazing and compelling true story of the fateful voyage of Donald Crowhurst, an amateur yachtsman who enters the most daring nautical challenge ever - the very first solo, non-stop, round-the-world boat race. Through re-enactments and interviews with family and friends, the viewer witnesses Crowhurst's maritime inexperience and eventually an ending that shocked a nation.

Season Finale

2008-06-20T02:00:00Z

9x27 Abduction: The Megumi Yokota Story

Season Finale

9x27 Abduction: The Megumi Yokota Story

  • 2008-06-20T02:00:00Z1h

A Japanese family searches for their daughter who was abducted by North Korean spies in 1977. / Recalls the 1977 kidnapping of schoolgirl Megumi Yokota from her Japanese hometown by North Korean agents, who took her to North Korea.

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