3 DOC NYC 2023reviews: EAT BITTER, NATHAN-ISM, and THREE PROMISES

EAT BITTER
Documentary follows a two men in the Central African Republic, one from the country and one from China as they work together to build a bank.  The film is a look at how globalization is changing the face of the world in un expected ways. It’s a low keep portrait that pulls you in and pulls you along as you ponder the differing lives of the two co-workers.

If there is anything wrong with the film it is purely in the choice to play the film in a festival like DOC NYC where it’s small understated charms are going to get lost in the almost 200 titles and the chatter of everyone looking for the next big thing. The truth is if this film played in a different slot under different circumstances where people could find it and ponder it before bumping to the next film, it could very well turn out to be the much sought after “next big thing” recommended..

NATHAN-ISM 
This is the story of Nathan Hilu in his own words and art. He was a guard at the Nuremberg trials and the things he saw haunted him. He turned them in to an unending series of sketches that give a unique perspective to world events.

This is a wonderful celebration of a one of a kind individual that is also a great history lesson. Looking at the drawing and animations in this film we get to see a side of History that we don’t normally see. As some one trained as a historian it is always more fun to  hear personal accounts over the official ones.

Recommended

THREE PROMISES
Yousef Srouji takes a collection of old VHS tapes and creates a look at his family and life in the Palestinian West Bank in the early 2000’s.

This moving portrait of life in a war zone is even more so owing to events happening in Israel. While the film would have been good before the insanity, the film now takes on a deeper resonance as a reminder that there are good people lost in the madness. (The final piece of text made me gasp-something it was never intended to have happen)

You will forgive me if I don’t say much more, but world events are coloring ny thoughts on the film so anything I have to say doesn’t feel truly right.

Do yourself a favor and just see this.