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This Week In Documentary: 'October 8,' 'Meanwhile,' 'The Class,' & 'AUM'

Theatrical & Streaming Releases - New & Recommended - March 14-March 20, 2025

Mar 14, 2025

St. Patrick’s Day is coming up this week, so once again, I urge you to watch Robert J. Flaherty’s Man of Aran and, for something more recent, School Life. More importantly, my birthday is at the end of this week. What do I want, gift-wise? Paid subscriptions to Nonfics (for you, not me —I already have access). I would recommend a charity for you to donate to in my name, but as a documentary critic, I know of too many good causes to choose just one. Feel free to pick, and let me know which. Maybe I’ll share some in next week’s newsletter. Otherwise, supporting Nonfics is charitable for the many issues I promote by way of highlighting various issue documentaries.

Below, you’ll find this week’s highlights, listings, and coming attractions, including our Pick of the Week. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber to receive more in-depth highlights and reviews in the future (and to make my birthday special this year).

Nonfics Pick Of The Week: The Battle Of Chile: Part I (1975)

In reviews of the just-honored Oscar-winning film I’m Still Here, critics noted that it no longer feels impossible that such a story could happen here. That drama, based on true events, involves Brazil’s military dictatorship in the 1970s and specifically follows a family whose husband/father is taken away and “disappeared” for political reasons. Similar stories happened throughout South America during that time as U.S.-backed military coups silenced left-leaning citizens in countries including Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile. Across three installments, The Battle of Chile chronicles how such a coup occurred in its titular nation. It’s a vital trilogy in general, but especially today.

The Battle of Chile: Part I, subtitled The Insurrection of the Bourgeoisie, turns 50 years old this week. Directed by Patricio Guzmán, the initial installment was reportedly first shown on March 18, 1975, in Cuba (ahead of its Cannes premiere two months later), where the filmmaker fled after being exiled in 1973. Part I centers around the country’s 1973 elections and the increased political tension between President Salvador Allende’s left-wing Popular Unity party and right-wing opposition groups. The film ends with the unsuccessful coup attempt known as the Tanquetazo, concluding with one of the most incredible images in documentary history: the first-person shot by photojournalist Leonardo Henrichsen capturing his own death.

The Battle of Chile: Part I and the rest of the trilogy is streaming on OVID. They can also be rented via Icarus Films on Vimeo, Prime Video, and Apple TV. A newly restored version of the trilogy will be released on DVD from Icarus on March 18.

Other Documentary Highlights

AUM: The Cult At The End Of The World (2023)

Every tragedy has its causes, and while we can’t go back and change anything, we need to look at the how and the why to hopefully learn to avoid another incident. AUM: The Cult at the End of the World begins with a tragedy — the 1995 subway sarin attack in Tokyo — then chronicles the causes leading to that deadly event via tons of archival material and some talking heads of varied effect delivering the narrative exposition and context. Specifically, the film depicts the history of its perpetrators, the Aum Shinrikyo cult, and explores the life of its leader, Shoko Asahara.

Along the way, warning signs of their potential as a threatening group, if not full-on terrorist organization, are detailed. Ultimately, after playing out as a straightforward transmission of detailed evidence, though, AUM says more about the world today than anything from 30 years ago. This isn’t the first documentary about a cult, and what makes this one not stand out any more than any of the rest should be what’s most striking. Cults continue to be formed and escape the cultural, political, financial, and judicial scrutiny that we wish these past examples had.

AUM: The Cult at the End of the World opens in theaters on Wednesday, March 19.

The Class (2025)

Five years ago this week, Americans began sheltering in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In May, the first students who graduated from high school post-shutdown will complete four-year college programs and head out into the job market with all-new concerns about the economy and more. The Class takes us back to their senior year (2020-2021), following six kids attending a Bay Area high school and preparing for higher education. This isn’t the first documentary to showcase a similar narrative — Peter Nicks’s Homeroom followed a Bay Area senior class of 2020 — but as it’s a series, there’s more time to be engaged and care about the characters.

The Class is also more focused than Homeroom, mainly because that earlier film didn’t set out to be about COVID-19, having begun production many months before the shutdowns. What makes The Class most compelling is not any of the six students it follows but their guidance counselor, Mr. Cam. He’s the most constant presence throughout the series and the most affecting character. He’s the star. But the kids are well-selected for their variety of stories, and it’s the sort of documentary where you become so invested that the end titles showing where they are now is very satisfying.

The first episode of The Class premieres on PBS on Tuesday, March 18, and will be available to stream afterward on the PBS website and app.

Meanwhile (2024)

The completion and release of Meanwhile contradicts its contents, as the film showcases a handful of incomplete art projects in their creative process. I wish it were forever labeled a work in progress, even if it was never “finished.” That minor objection aside, this “docu-poem” essay film is an essential experience right now, never mind that it’s meant to reflect the upheavals of 2020. It applies to the upheavals of 2025 just as well. Meanwhile is a reminder to breathe through this chaos as it expresses ideas about race, identity, and resistance. It’s very different from Catherine Gund’s other recent documentary release concerning artists, Paint Me a Road Out of Here, but if you see one, you’ll likely better appreciate the other.

Meanwhile opens theatrically on Friday, March 14.

October 8 (2025)

This hot-button documentary (formerly titled October H8te) provides a necessary reminder that thousands of innocent people were killed and wounded in the October 7 terrorist attacks in Israel and others were kidnapped and/or reportedly raped. The film’s focus, however, is not just on the limited compassion following the tragedy, particularly for the hostages, but the rise of anti-Israel, anti-Zionist, and antisemitic sentiment in the aftermath and related support for Hamas. Certainly, hate speech and hate crimes are also wrong, yet October 8 is itself pretty extreme in its one-sided discourse countering those parts of the larger critical demonstrations. Some consider it an important documentary. Yes, an important documentary to avoid.

The film comes off as defensive, fearmongering, and self-victimizing propaganda, regardless of whether some of its concerns are true. It’s not required to address the offenses committed by the side it supports, especially as such wrongdoing shouldn’t be deemed valid excuses for the attacks, However, not acknowledging that the issue is more complex and that Palestinians and their supporters are more diverse and nuanced in their opposition, let alone engaging in a dialogue, doesn’t help its cause. At a time when politicians are using this matter as an excuse to censor people and films, kindling like October 8 could even be considered dangerous. I would never say it shouldn’t exist, but it ought to be watched with an understanding of what it’s doing.

There are two moments in the film where I felt like it was heading in the right direction, only to fail in this potential. One intends to make a push for media scrutiny by explaining the chronology of reports on the explosion at the al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza on October 17, 2023, and how it was first claimed to be an Israeli strike and later to have been a malfunctioning rocket launched from within the territory. The fact that it’s still a widely debated incident would be a better point to make either way. The other moment involves a young woman visiting the site of the Nova music festival massacre who recognizes that too many innocent people are also now being killed in Gaza by Israeli forces. She claims to empathize with the protestors on campuses but then says they believe Israelis want war, adding, “We just want to live in peace.” It’s another instance of the documentary missing the point as well as the bigger picture.

October 8 opens in theaters on Friday, March 14.

Tokyo Olympiad (1965)

Another classic film celebrating an anniversary this week, Kon Ichikawa’s Tokyo Olympiad turns 60 years old on March 20. In the early days of Nonfics, filmmaker and guest contributor Robert Greene called this documentary “one of the most truly perfect films ever made” and “once-a-year must-see cinema.” In honor of its original Japanese release, this time of year is well-suited for that annual viewing. Here’s an excerpt from Greene’s review of Tokyo Olympiad from his Shots From the Canon column:

“A masterful film that pushes past immersive into something close to transcendent. Ichikawa exhaustively catalogues the 1964 Olympic games, from the flame traveling through the world, to the opening ceremony, through the games themselves. Along the way, every cinematic trick is pulled off, every landing stuck. Breathtaking landscapes, emotive close-ups, stunning slow motion, chaos, quiet, the agony and ecstasy of sport: it’s all here and gloriously so. As one of the most truly perfect films ever made, I gleefully nominate Tokyo Olympiad into our canon of cinematic nonfiction.”

Tokyo Olympiad is streaming on Max and The Criterion Channel and is available on DVD and Blu-ray via The Criterion Collection.

Documentary Release Calendar 3/14/25 - 3/20/25

Friday, March 14, 2025

Endless Calls for Fame (2024) - A documentary about the 1990s rock band The New Rising Sons. (VOD)

First Word on Horror Episode 3: “Elizabeth Hand” - The latest episode of this docuseries focuses on the titular writer. (Etch Studio Substack)

Meanwhile (2024) - A “docu-poem” about identity, racism, and resistance. (In Theaters)

October 8 (2025) - A documentary about the rise of antisemitism on college campuses and social media after the October 7 attacks in Israel. You can find our review of October 8 in the highlights section of this week’s newsletter. (In Theaters)

Prisoners of Fire (2025) - A feature documentary about the deadly 1990 Dude fire in Arizona. (In Theaters)

This Is the Bowery (1941) - A short documentary about the titular New York City neighborhood. (TCM)

An Unfinished Film (2024) - A docufiction hybrid about the making of a movie during the outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China. (In Theaters)

The United States of Rugby Episode 4 - The latest episode of this docuseries about the Chicago Hounds. (The Roku Channel)

We Do It Because- (1942) - A short documentary about the origins of common customs, including shaking hands and kissing. (TCM)

Saturday, March 15, 2025

Ask Me, Don't Tell Me (1961) - A short documentary about San Francisco gangs participating in community service projects. (TCM)

The Background Beat (1965) - A short documentary about composer Lalo Schifrin’s score for the film Once a Thief. (TCM)

Can You Imagine? (1936) - A short documentary presenting curious and unbelievable stories, including those of a boy wrestling with his pet lion and a tree growing out of a courthouse roof. (TCM)

Color Scales (1932) - A short documentary in the “Fisherman’s Paradise” series about tropical fish on display at San Francisco’s Steinhart Aquarium. (TCM)

Incredible Northern Vets Episodes 11 & 12: “Meant to Be” & “Dogs Saving Dogs” - The latest installments of a docuseries following the work of three Indigenous veterinarians. (National Geographic WILD)

New York Homicide Season 3, Episode 7: “Royal Bloodshed” - The latest episode of this true-crime docuseries about recent murder cases in New York City is about a prince and princess found dead in their Park Avenue apartment. (Oxygen)

Prosecuting Evil with Kelly Siegler Season 2, Episode 8: “Evil at Large” - The latest episode of this true-crime docuseries involves a paroled serial killer. (Oxygen)

The Wonderful World of Tupperware (1965) - A short industrial film about Tupperware. (TCM)

Sunday, March 16, 2025

The Americas Episode 5: “The Gulf Coast” - The latest episode of this 10-part nature docuseries narrated by Tom Hanks continues to showcase the flora and fauna of North and South America. Read our review of The Americas. (NBC)

Crash Course Cuisine with Hudson Yang Episode 2: “Fired Up” - The latest installment of this new culinary docuseries starring former child star and budding chef Hudson Yang sees him travel to Houston to learn slow cooking. (National Geographic)

Fatal Family Feuds Season 2, Episode 5: “Last Seen in Nashville” - The latest episode of this true-crime series about murders committed due to family feuds involves a young mother’s death. (Oxygen)

The Food That Built America Season 6, Episode 4: “Empire of Convenience” - The latest episode of this foodie history docuseries focuses on convenience stores. (History)

Malawi Wildlife Rescue Season 2, Episodes 5 & 6: “A Pangolin’s Plight” & “Crocodile Caper” - The two latest episodes of this nature docuseries involve veterinary stories focused on pangolins, primates, crocodiles, and more. (National Geographic WILD)

The Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Story (1951) - A medium-length documentary presenting footage from new MGM movies of that year. (TCM)

No Taste Like Home with Antoni Porowski Episode 6: “Henry Golding’s Malaysian Adventure” - The latest episode of this new docuseries focuses on the culinary ancestry of actor Henry Golding. (National Geographic)

Twitter: Breaking the Bird Episode 2: “Unfollowing the Leader” - The second installment of a four-part docuseries about Twitter, from its origins to the eventual sale to Elon Musk. Read our review of Twitter: Breaking the Bird. (CNN)

United States of Scandal Season 2, Episode 2: “Enron” - The latest installment of this docuseries starring Jake Tapper about modern controversies focuses on the Enron scandal. (CNN)

WWE Rivals Season 5, Episode 5: “The Rock vs. Mick Foley” - The latest episode of this docuseries about pro wrestling rivalries. (A&E)

Monday, March 17, 2025

A Body in the Snow: The Trial of Karen Read Episode 1 - The first of a three-part docuseries about the woman who murdered Boston police officer John O’Keefe in 2022. (Investigation Discovery and Max)

The Calling: A Medical School Journey (2024) - A documentary following a group of medical students at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx. (PBS)

Celtics City Chapter III: “All Swept Up” - The third episode of this nine-part docuseries about the Boston Celtics looks at racial unrest and a couple of championship wins in the 1970s. Read our review of Celtics City. (HBO and Max)

Confessions of Octomom Episode 2: “The Hunt for Donor Dad” - The second installment of this six-part docuseries about Nadya Suleman, the mother of octuplets plus six other children. (Lifetime)

Gypsy Rose: Life After Lock Up Season 2, Episode 2: “Your House or Mine?” - The latest installment of this docuseries following Gypsy Rose Blanchard since her release from prison. (Lifetime)

Tuesday, March 18, 2025

The Battle of Chile: Part I (1975) - The first installment of Patricio Guzmán’s three-part chronicle of the Chilean military coup in 1973. Included in a box set from Icarus Films with the other two parts of the trilogy plus Guzmán’s The First Year. (DVD)

The Battle of Chile: Part II (1976) - The second installment of Patricio Guzmán’s three-part chronicle of the Chilean military coup in 1973. Included in a box set from Icarus Films with the other two parts of the trilogy plus Guzmán’s The First Year. (DVD)

The Battle of Chile: Part III (1979) - The third installment of Patricio Guzmán’s three-part chronicle of the Chilean military coup in 1973. Included in a box set from Icarus Films with the other two parts of the trilogy plus Guzmán’s The First Year. (DVD)

Butch Cassidy's Forgotten Outlaw (2025) - A documentary about the outlaw Bub Meeks. (DVD)

Butterfly in a Blizzard (2025) - A feature documentary about snowboarder Kimmy Fasani. (DVD & Blu-ray)

Centered: Joe Lieberman (2024) - A feature documentary about the titular American politician who served in the U.S. Senate from 1989 to 2013. (In Theaters)

The Class (2025) - A docuseries following six high school seniors as they plan for college during and after the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns. You can find our review of The Class in the highlights section of this week’s newsletter. (PBS)

Cutthroat: The Race to Save Yellowstone (2024) - A documentary about the attempt to save Yellowstone’s cutthroat trout population. (DVD)

The First Year (1972) - A documentary by Patricio Guzmán about Salvador Allende’s first year as President of Chile. Included in a box set from Icarus Films with all three parts of Guzmán’s The Battle of Chile. (DVD)

Leaving Neverland 2: Surviving Michael Jackson (2025) - A medium-length documentary about the two men who accused Michael Jackson of abuse. (YouTube)

McCartney: Now & Then (2021) - A medium-length documentary in which Paul McCartney talks about his contribution to The Beatles. (DVD and Blu-ray)

Port Protection Alaska Season 8, Episode 2: “Wet Future” - The latest episode of this docuseries about life in the titular Alaskan village. (National Geographic)

The Session Man (2023) - A documentary about session pianist Nicky Hopkins. (DVD)

Ski (2024) - A feature documentary about one man’s mission to climb and ski 27 mountains in Norway. (In Theaters)

There is Another Way (2025) - A medium-length documentary about Palestinians and Israelis working for peace. (In Theaters)

Wednesday, March 19, 2025

Aum: The Cult at the End of the World (2023) - A feature documentary about Aum Shinrikyo, the cult behind the Tokyo subway gas attack in 1995. You can find our review of AUM: The Cult at the End of the World in the highlights section of this week’s newsletter. (In Theaters)

Hans Zimmer & Friends: Diamond in the Desert (2025) - A concert film starring the titular film composer. (In Theaters)

Port Protection Alaska Season 8, Episode 2: “Wet Future” - The latest episode of this docuseries about life in the titular Alaskan village. (Hulu and Disney+)

Stadium Lockup (2025) - A docuseries following the security team at the Cleveland Browns' Stadium. (A&E)

The Twister: Caught in the Storm (2025) - A feature documentary about a devastating tornado during a high school graduation in Missouri in 2011. (Netflix)

Thursday, March 20, 2025

1989 (2014) - A feature documentary by Oscar nominee Anders Østergaard (Burma VJ) and Erzsébet Rácz about the fall of the Iron Curtain. (OVID)

Accused: Guilty or Innocent? Season 7, Episode 1 - The return of this docuseries following individuals charged with crimes told from their perspective. (A&E)

By Design: The Joe Caroff Story (2022) - A medium-length documentary about the titular graphic designer who created many logos and posters for Hollywood. (TCM)

On Location with Westworld (1973) - A short documentary on the making of the film Westworld. (TCM)

Producer's Circle - The Pneumafractalist (2025) - A documentary about the autistic artist Harmon dot aut. (In Theaters)

A RAD Documentary (2025) - A medium-length documentary about the cult ‘80s BMX movie RAD. (In Theaters)

Reconstruction of Occupation (2021) - An archival documentary depicting the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia. (OVID)

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Sneak Peak At What’s Coming Soon

3/31 - Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer - A three-part true-crime docuseries about the titular serial killer directed by Liz Garbus (I’ll Be Gone in the Dark). Watch the new trailer for the series here. (Netflix)

4/2 - Seventeen [Right Here] World Tour in Cinemas - A concert film showcasing the recent world tour headlined by the titular Korean boy band. Watch the trailer for the film below. (In Theaters)

4/7 - Fasting and the Longevity Revolution - A feature documentary narrated by Edward Norton about fasting diets. (In Theaters)

4/11 - One to One: John & Yoko - A documentary by Oscar winner Kevin Macdonald (One Day in September) about John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s One to One charity concert for special needs children. Watch the trailer for the film below. (In IMAX Theaters)

4/15 - Vitalik: An Ethereum Story - A feature documentary about tech and crypto visionary Vitalik Buterin. (In Theaters)

4/20 - Secrets of the Penguins - A three-part nature docuseries revealing never-seen behaviors of penguins. Watch the trailer for the series below. (National Geographic)