In the Shadow of the Stars

A documentary about bipolar disorder.

DFW Punk, covering the Dallas/Ft. Worth punk/new wave scene. If you thought Texas in the late ’70s was all about urban cowboys, country tunes and bible-thumping, get ready to be proved dead wrong. 2007, MiniDV.

Minnie Evans is the embodiment of the visionary artist. She is an African American painter of Wilmington, N.C., who has created a world of mythical animals, religious symbols and natural beauty. The film explores the sources of Minnie Evans' art--Airlie Garden, with its magnificent azaleas and swans, where Minnie worked as a gate keeper for 27 years and where she did most of her paintings. Angel That Stands By Me is part of the "Visions of Paradise" series on contemporary folk artists directed and produced by Irving Saraf and Allie Light.

When Sister Jane Kelly discovers sexual molestation and thievery, she carries her battle all the way to Rome creating a scandal; this leads her to debunk church teachings on birth control, homosexuality, married priests and virgin birth and become a champion for the poor. Her courage, wit and humanity shine throughout the film.

Oscar® and Emmy winner Allie Light’s The Ship That Turned Back also draws on a mix of elements in letting late husband/collaborator Irving Saraf recall his Jewish family’s harrowing flight from Nazi-occupied Poland. It took them from Vienna to Trieste to Malta, then finally Palestine, dodging bombs and the custody of opposing armies en route.

This absorbing documentary examines the lives of Asian Americans through the inspirational poetry of Mitsuye Yamada and Nellie Wong. Interviews, rare archival footage, intimate family scenes, and a lively dialogue between these fascinating women underscore the different histories of Chinese and Japanese Americans, as well as their shared experiences of biculturalism and generational difference.