Lovebirds

In 458 BCE, Aeschylus staged the Orthasty trilogy. The tragedy culminates in the trial of Orestes, who killed his own mother to avenge his father's death. His acquittal by the Athenian jury put an end to the eye for an eye, tooth for tooth and converted from the Erinias, goddesses of revenge, in Eumenides, as defenders of the democracy, a civilizing landmark in the western culture.

An awe-inspiring documentary exploring what makes Brazil one of the greatest footballing nations ever: ‘ginga’, the mysterious, indefinable magical quality of rhythm and movement which sets the Brazilian game apart from the rest. Produced by Fernando Mereilles (City of God, The Constant Gardener) and directed by three up-and-coming young filmmakers, Ginga follows seven young footballers from a diverse range of social and ethnic backgrounds, providing a glimpse into the passionate culture that produces some of the world’s finest footballers.

Documentary on the life and times of one of the most prominent Brazilian samba composers, Cartola (Angenor de Oliveira).

After André Levesque missionnaire, Oksana Karpovych is back at the RIDM with her first feature, which she filmed in her native country, Ukraine. To take the pulse of the country, the filmmaker adopts one of documentary cinema’s most prolific sub-genres: the train film. Filmed entirely in the old, run-down, overcrowded passenger trains used by ordinary Ukrainians, the film captures conversations, observes the landscape, and accompanies several protagonists on their journey; they open our eyes to popular preoccupations in a country that seems perpetually anchored in its highly visible Soviet legacy. A fine lesson in listening and humanity.

One of the biggest questions of the financial crisis has not been answered until now. What happened at Lehman Brothers and why was it allowed to fail, with aftershocks that rocked the global economy?

The oldest Quebecois Benedictine convent open its gates to a documentary filmmaker for the first time. Observed up close, life behind its walls is busier than one would expect. About twenty cloistered nuns, most of them over 70, share their daily life with diligence and humor. A contemplative portrait of a community of sisterhood and solidarity emerges, punctuated by prayer, work and games evenings.

In the heart of a popular neighbourhood of Montreal, Fissure is the portrait of Father Robert and his coordinator Jenny who carry the last church in the neighbourhood at arm's length. Set against a backdrop of religious decline, this short documentary testifies to what goes through us when our world collapses.

This documentary journeys to the kitchens of Peru's coast, highlands and jungle, as well as Peruvian expat communities in Paris, London, Amsterdam and New York for answers. From the most humble family kitchens to the poshest restaurants, from stories of pioneering Peruvian chefs abroad to those who preserve ancient recipes at home, we find that Peru's cuisine is deliciously integrating for its people, who have historically been marked by ethnic and economic differences. Renowned chefs such as Gaston Acurio, Ferran Adria, Juan Mari Arzak and Bernardo Roca Rey share their views on Peru's cuisine alongside those unsung chefs, who also dream of Peru's cuisine as a motor of development.

Made for the 30th anniversary of the Montréal massacre, Judith Plamondon’s documentary gives voice to the survivors and witnesses of the tragedy and is narrated by Karine Vanasse, actor and co-producer of Denis Villeneuve's 'Polytechnique' (2009).

A Russian immigrant now residing in Montreal, Alexandre Sobalev practices and teaches the art of iconography using a technique that dates back to the 15th century. The mysticism that emanates from this art form brings him to question his most personal convictions.