This Week In Documentary: 'The Rehearsal' & 'Secrets Of The Penguins'
Theatrical & Streaming Releases - New & Recommended - April 18-24, 2025
As we celebrate Earth Day this week, 55 years since the inaugural event, we can be grateful that the occasion is still (surprisingly) being recognized by the U.S. government. One of the few great things President Nixon did was propose the Environmental Protection Agency three months after observing the first Earth Day. Under the current administration, the EPA hardly represents the interests it ought to, but at least their website has a page for the holiday and even still promotes lowering one’s carbon footprint and being green, alongside urges to spend time outdoors.
This Earth Day — and the days around it for Earth Week — I recommend watching essential nature documentaries, great films about the environment, must-see films about environmental disasters, and our picks for the best documentaries about Earth. Also, watch some documentaries about climate change (another topic the EPA still addresses!), and check out the Cannes-winning short film The Flood (currently only available unofficially on YouTube), which is a forgotten masterpiece that feels relevant lately. Be sure to check out any Earth Day programming in our listings section, too.
Without further ado, 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.
Nonfics Pick Of The Week: The Rehearsal
In the first episode of the second season of The Rehearsal, someone asks Nathan Fielder if it’s a documentary. He says he’d use that term loosely. At other times in the episode, he refers to The Rehearsal as a comedy series. Regardless of its classification, the show has enough nonfiction elements to recommend it to documentary fans. I can’t always tell what’s genuinely observed versus what’s staged, but the general conceit of the series, even as it strays in its focus and often ventures into the absurd and surreal, seems to concern a level of truth about his subjects and subject matter.
The first season of The Rehearsal broadly deals with the idea of working out situations and dialogues before committing to them in real life, and it spirals toward something more and more fictional in its experiment as it goes on. The Rehearsal Season 2 is specifically interested in an issue involving communication between airline pilots and co-pilots. There are digressions relating to romantic relationships and, most amusingly, to previous Fielder shows, yet it always comes back to the original problem. Given recent air travel tragedies and near-tragedies, plus the cuts to the TSA, the prescience in the topic chosen for this season makes it even more nuts.
The Rehearsal Season 2 premieres on HBO and Max on Sunday, April 20.
Other Documentary Highlights
1-800-On-Her-Own (2024)
Remember Ani DiFranco? The documentary 1-800-On-Her Own reveals evidence for why you might have forgotten about the ‘90s folk rock sensation despite her continued output and constant touring. Her independence and candor as a music artist and public figure seem to have been pros and cons for her career, and this film portrays her as a complicated soul floating in a professional atmosphere she doesn’t always gel with. I should say that the portrayal is all on her, as the documentary itself doesn’t come off so pointed as a whole, but when it just lets her talk, it’s fascinating.
1-800-On-Her-Own opens in theaters on Friday, April 18.
Festival! (1967) & Pink Floyd At Pompeii - MCMLXXII (1972/2025)
It’s wild that these two classic concert films were released only five years apart, as they couldn’t be any more different. Murray Lerner’s Oscar-nominated Festival! is a historical work showcasing performances at the Newport Folk Festival over the years 1963-1966 and capturing the event’s relatively casual vibe overall. It’s mostly notable for the Bob Dylan moments, including some of his notorious electric set in 1965. Those and the scenes with Joan Baez are more significant now following these artists’ portrayals in the biopic A Complete Unknown. The film is lacking in temporal clarity, however, as well as context, exposition, narrative, and historical significance. There’s little reason to consider it on its own, separate from all the additional “deleted” performances now available on the Criterion Blu-ray and The Criterion Channel.
Pink Floyd: Live at Pompeii (being re-released as Pink Floyd at Pompeii - MCMLXXII) doesn’t just contrast with Festival! because it’s in color but because that color cinematography is vibrant and popping. It’s also about rock music so progressively advanced from the artists in Lerner’s film, and it’s a concert film so progressively advanced as well. Pink Floyd’s performance is not in front of a crowd. It’s staged amidst ancient ruins, giving it a ‘70s appropriate New Age feel (there are also some scenes shot in the studio and one filmed in a diner, plus talking head interviews with the band members). Unlike Festival!, this film is not best suited to your television and streaming service. If you’re a fan of the group, you need to see this on the big screen, and fortunately for you, it’s returning to theaters this week with a visually and sonically stunning restoration.
Festival! airs on TCM on Tuesday, April 22. It’s also regularly streaming on The Criterion Channel, accompanied by several deleted scenes.
Pink Floyd at Pompeii - MCMLXXII screens in theaters in 4K on Thursday, April 24.
Henry Awards Winners & Peabody Awards Nominees
The inaugural winners of the Henry Awards for Public Interest Documentaries were announced last week, with the grand prize going to While We Watched (currently in theaters). Finalists included Four Daughters (streaming on Netflix, Kanopy, and Kino Film Collection), Hollywoodgate (Jolt), Queendom (Kanopy), and Three Promises, while Honorable Mentions went to Coconut Head Generation (OVID) and If We Burn.
This year’s Peabody Awards nominees were also announced in various categories. Contenders in the Documentary category include American Coup: Wilmington 1898 (streaming on the PBS Documentaries Amazon Channel), Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story, Black Box Diaries (Paramount+ with Showtime), Bread & Roses (Apple TV+), Daughters (Netflix), Hollywoodgate (Jolt), The Last of the Sea Women (Apple TV+), Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa (Netflix), Night is Not Eternal (Max), One With the Whale (VOD), Queendom (Kanopy), The Remarkable Life of Ibelin (Netflix), The Space Race (Disney+), Stax: Soulsville U.S.A. (Max), Sugarcane (Hulu and Disney+), Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story (Max), The Truth vs. Alex Jones (Max), Will & Harper (Netflix), and You Are Not Alone: Fighting the Wolf Pack (Netflix).
The sole nominee for the Arts category is the docuseries Photographer (Disney+, Tubi, and Prime Video). The sole documentary nominee in the Entertainment category is Alex Edelman: Just for Us (Max). News nominees include the Frontline documentaries China, The U.S. & The Rise of Xi Jinping (Apple TV) and South Korea’s Adoption Reckoning (Kanopy and PBS Documentaries Amazon Channel), the Somebody’s Hiding Something episode Driven to Death, and the Vice short Surviving Nova (Amazon). Frontline is also represented in the Public Service category with Breakdown in Maine (PBS Documentaries Amazon Channel). The Only Doctor is also nominated for that award.
Race For The Crown Season 1
The latest Netflix sports series from Box to Box Films (Formula 1: Drive to Survive, Full Swing, Sprint) takes us behind the scenes of the thoroughbred horse racing world, and it’s unsurprisingly just as enthralling as the others (well, maybe not quite on the level of their F1 show). Race for the Crown appeals even to those who don’t know anything about the sport, let alone follow it, because it’s incredibly unique. Plus, the series does a great job explaining the sport while spotlighting its most interesting and colorful characters, particularly on the owner side. Still, it won’t entertain animal activists.
Race for the Crown Season 1 debuts in full on Netflix on Tuesday, April 22.
Sea Lions Of The Galapagos (2025) & Secrets Of The Penguins (2025)
The Mouse House celebrates Earth Day with a new Disneynature feature and the latest docuseries in its Secrets of… franchise. I haven’t seen the former, the Brendan Fraser-narrated Sea Lions of the Galapagos. For better or worse, it’s probably the usual narrativization and near-anthropomorphization of animal behavior with exceptional cinematography. I have watched Secrets of the Penguins, and I have mixed feelings. When it lets nature cinematographer Bertie Gregory explain what he’s observing and capturing, especially when it’s never-before-seen behavior, the show is fantastic. However, when it relies on voiceover narration from Blake Lively, it’s ironically not as lively or interesting. This one is good, but it’s certainly no Secrets of the Octopus.
Sea Lions of the Galapagos begins streaming on Disney+ on Tuesday, April 22.
Secrets of the Penguins debuts on National Geographic on Sunday, April 20, then begins streaming on Hulu and Disney+ on Monday, April 21.
Street Fight (2005)
This week marks the 20th anniversary of the Tribeca Film Festival premiere of Street Fight. The film introduced us to now-Oscar-winning director Marshall Curry and his subject, now-U.S. Senator Cory Booker. The film follows Booker during his unsuccessful first mayoral campaign in Newark in 2002, but while he didn’t win that race, he proved, as is seen in Street Fight, that he was a major political figure. Recently, Booker broke the record for the longest U.S. Senate speech in history, continuing to confirm his stardom on the political stage. Street Fight shows us how it all started.
Street Fight is available to rent or buy via Amazon and Apple and is streaming for free on Kanopy.
Water For Life (2023)
This is an essential documentary on three Indigenous activists with water-focused campaigns in different parts of Latin America, at least from a historical perspective. One of them was assassinated during the making of the film. Another saw his achievements reversed by the current government of El Salvador. The latter occurred after the completion of the documentary but is worth noting for context. Water for Life is not necessarily about what they changed during the decade or so chronicled here; it’s about the people working for change and visibility. They are/were inspiring, especially for their bravery against dangerous entities (the third activist showcased was imprisoned for a time). The film is fine in presenting that inspiration.
Water for Life airs on PBS on Monday, April 21, and streams on the PBS website, app, and YouTube channel afterward.
Documentary Release Calendar 4/18/25 - 4/24/25
Friday, April 18, 2025
1-800-On-Her-Own (2024) - A feature documentary about Ani DiFranco. Find our review of 1-800-On-Her-Own in the highlights section of this newsletter. (In Theaters)
A Dream of Love (1938) - A short biographical film by James A. FitzPatrick about composer Franz Liszt. (TCM)
Going to Blazes! (1948) - An Oscar-nominated short documentary from the This Theatre of Life series about fire safety and prevention. (TCM)
Light & Magic Season 2 - Three new episodes of the docuseries about Industrial Light & Magic. (Disney+)
Light of the Setting Sun (2024) - A feature documentary about one family’s history since the 1949 Chinese Communist Revolution. (In Theaters)
Martin Scorsese Presents: The Saints Season 1, Episode 7: “Mary Magdalene” - The latest episode of this docuseries exploring the lives and sacrifices of historical saints focuses on the titular follower of Jesus. (Fox Nation)
Metallica Saved My Life (2025) - A documentary by Jonas Åkerlund about Metallica fans. (In Theaters)
Oklahoma City Bombing: American Terror (2025) - A feature-length documentary about the 1995 Oklahoma City federal building bombing. (Netflix)
Star Night at the Cocoanut Grove (1934) - A short film in which MGM stars enjoy a music performance and fashion show. (TCM)
Youth (Homecoming) (2024) - The third installment in Wang Bing’s Youth trilogy involves migrant workers celebrating the new year with their families. (OVID)
Saturday, April 19, 2025
Arctic Roundup (1957) - A short documentary following an expedition to study musk ox in Canada. (TCM)
Easter in Art (2020) - An Exhibition on Screen event showcasing the depiction of the Easter story in art. (In Theaters)
The Giant of Norway (1939) - A short biographical film about Norwegian explorer and diplomat Fridtjof Nansen. (TCM)
Gypsy Rose: Life After Lock Up Season 2, Episode 7: “I’ll See You in Divorce Court” - The latest installment of this docuseries following Gypsy Rose Blanchard since her release from prison. (Lifetime)
Heart of the Osa (2024) - A short documentary about attempts to save the wildlife of the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica. (In Theaters)
Mighty Monkeys (2025) - A documentary about Japanese macaques. (In Theaters)
Natural Wonders of the West (1938) - A short documentary installment of James A. FitzPatrick’s TravelTalks travelogue franchise that showcases the Grand Canyon, Devil's Tower, and Mount Rushmore. (TCM)
New York Homicide Season 3, Episode 12: “Dangerous Work” - The latest episode of this true-crime docuseries about recent murder cases in New York City is about the murder of a prominent Latino journalist. (Oxygen)
Paris on Parade (1938) - A short documentary installment of James A. FitzPatrick’s TravelTalks travelogue franchise that showcases the Paris International Exposition of 1937. (TCM)
Wildlife Rehab Episodes 7 & 8: “Community” & “Balancing Act” - The latest two episodes of this docuseries about a wildlife rehabilitator in Saskatchewan and her team. (National Geographic WILD)
Sunday, April 20, 2025
America’s Most Wanted Season 3 - The return of this iconic crime series revival starring John Walsh. (Fox)
Animal Pride (2025) - A medium-length documentary exploring same-sex relationships in nature. (In Theaters)
Artificial Planet (2025) - A documentary about the use of generative AI in nature filmmaking. (In Theaters)
Cheech and Chong's Last Movie (2024) - A documentary about the legacy of the titular comedy duo. (In Theaters)
Fisticuffs (1938) - A short film from the Pete Smith Specialty series showcasing boxer Max Baer. (TCM)
Fungi: The Web of Life (2023) - A medium-length documentary about a blue mushroom in a Tasmanian rainforest. (In Theaters)
The Last Mermaids of Korea (2025) - A documentary about the women deep-sea divers of South Korea known as Haenyeo. (In Theaters)
Lions of the Skeleton Coast (2025) - A medium-length documentary following three desert lion cubs in Namibia. (In Theaters)
The Little Archer (1949) - A short documentary about a four-year-old expert archer. (TCM)
Looking at London (1946) - A short documentary installment of James A. FitzPatrick’s TravelTalks travelogue franchise that explores London post-World War II. (TCM)
The Making of ‘The Americas’ (2025) - A making-of documentary about the docuseries The Americas. (NBC)
The Rehearsal Season 2, Episode 1: “Gotta Have Fun” - The return of this nonfiction series starring Nathan Fielder about people rehearsing their lives. Find our review of The Rehearsal Season 2 in the highlights section of this newsletter. (HBO)
Secrets of the Penguins (2025) - A three-part nature docuseries revealing never-seen behaviors of penguins. Find our review of Secrets of the Penguins in the highlights section of this newsletter. (National Geographic)
Monday, April 21, 2025
The Americas Episode 10: “Patagonia” - The final 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. (In Theaters)
Aqua Antics (1942) - A short documentary showcasing the water skiing talents of the California Water Bugs club. (TCM)
Celtics City Chapter VIII: “Ubuntu” - The eighth episode of this nine-part docuseries about the Boston Celtics focuses on the additions of Kevin Garnett Ray Allen and the 2008 NBA Championship. Read our review of Celtics City. (HBO and Max)
Holy Marvels with Dennis Quaid Season 2, Episode 2: “Sacred Strongholds” - The latest episode of this docuseries about sacred relics. (History)
Out of Plain Sight (2024) - A documentary about toxic waste dumped off the coast of Southern California. (In Theaters)
Pangolin: Kulu's Journey (2025) - A documentary feature by Oscar-winning director Pippa Ehrlich (My Octopus Teacher) about the rescue and rehabilitation of a pangolin in South Africa. (Netflix)
Secrets of the Penguins (2025) - A three-part nature docuseries revealing never-seen behaviors of penguins. Find our review of Secrets of the Penguins in the highlights section of this newsletter. (Hulu and Disney+)
Stewards of the Land Chapter 3: Summer Part 1 (2025) - A documentary about flora and fauna in Montana. (In Theaters)
Water for Life (2023) - A feature documentary narrated by Diego Luna about three Latin American Indigenous leaders who fought to save water sources from political and corporate interests. Find our review of Water is Life in the highlights section of this newsletter. (PBS)
Tuesday, April 22, 2025
Antarctica Unearthed (2025) - A documentary about the microscopic inhabitants of the titular continent. (In Theaters)
Bruce Springsteen: Live (2005) - A medium-length documentary about Bruce Springsteen’s music. (DVD)
The Class Episode 6: “Decision Day” - The final installment of this six-part docuseries that follows six high school seniors as they plan for college during and after the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns. Read our review of The Class. (PBS)
The Elk Forest (2021) - A medium-length documentary about elk hunters in Norway. (OVID)
Festival! (1967) - An Oscar-nominated concert film showcasing performances from the Newport Jazz Festivals of 1963-1966, including Joan Baez, Johnny Cash, Pete Seeger, Bob Dylan, and Peter, Paul, and Mary. Find our review of Festival! in the highlights section of this newsletter. (TCM)
Finding Groovopolis (2023) - A documentary by Wil Kristin about his father. (DVD)
Harry Warren: America's Foremost Composer (1933) - A short film starring the titular composer and showcasing performances of some of his tunes. (TCM)
The Invisible Mammal (2025) - A documentary about a team of scientists who set out to save bats from a deadly fungal disease. (In Theaters)
Ireland's Wild Islands Episode 2: “Edge of the Abyss” - This episode of the limited nature docuseries showcases the flora and fauna of Clare Island and the Aran Islands. (In Theaters)
Kiddie Revue (1930) - A short film showcasing musical performances by children. (TCM)
On the Road to Monterrey (1943) - A short documentary installment of James A. FitzPatrick’s TravelTalks travelogue franchise that explores three cities in Mexico. (TCM)
Race for the Crown (2025) - A horse racing docuseries from the producers of Formula 1: Drive to Survive. (Netflix)
Sea Lions of the Galapagos (2025) - The latest Disneynature documentary, narrated by Brendan Fraser, showcases the titular mammals. (Disney+)
A Shepherd (2024) - A documentary about a shepherd in the French Pre-Alps. (OVID)
Six Hits and a Miss (1942) - A short film showcasing musical performances by the titular singing group. (TCM)
Unleashing Hope: The Power of Service Dogs for Autism (2025) - A documentary starring Rosie O’Donnell showcasing Guide Dogs of America’s program to pair service animals with autistic children. (Hulu)
Wednesday, April 23, 2025
The American Southwest (2025) - A documentary narrated by Quannah Chasinghorse about the wildlife of the American Southwest. (In Theaters)
Carlos Alcaraz: My Way (2025) - A three-part docuseries about the titular tennis prodigy. (Netflix)
Changing Planet: River Restoration (2025) - The fourth season of Changing Planet looks at the restorations of the Klamath and Seine rivers. (PBS)
The Children of October 7 (2025) - A documentary in which Israeli children share their experiences of the October 7 terrorist attacks. (Paramount+)
Dean Martin: King of Cool (1921) - A feature-length documentary about the titular actor and crooner. (TCM)
Expedition Files Season 2, Episode 2: “Deadly Adventures” - The latest installment of this docuseries investigating unexplained mysteries from history. (Discovery)
Ghost Adventures Season 29, Episode 2: “The Houdini Seance” - The latest installment of this docuseries investigating haunted places involves the titular magician and the Winchester Mystery House. (Discovery+)
Jaipur, “The Pink City” (1938) - A short documentary installment of James A. FitzPatrick’s TravelTalks travelogue franchise that explores the titular Indian city. (TCM)
Life or Death: The Negotiators Episode 1: “Pirate Hijack” - The first episode of this new docuseries about hostage negotiators involves Somali pirates. (National Geographic)
Mysteries of the Abandoned: Hidden America Season 4 - The return of this docuseries about abandoned and forgotten ruins in America. (Discovery Channel)
The Quincy Avery Effect (2025) - A feature documentary about the titular NFL coach. (Hulu)
A Tragedy Foretold: Flight 3054 (2025) - A three-part docuseries about Latin America’s worst airline disaster. (Netflix)
Where God Is Not (2023) - A documentary in which former political prisoners reenact their interrogation and torture. (OVID)
Thursday, April 24, 2025
5 Broken Cameras (2011) - An Oscar-nominated documentary feature about a Palestinian farmer’s nonviolent protest against the Israeli army. (Kino Film Collection)
Accused: Guilty or Innocent? Season 7, Episode 7: “After the Verdict: Taiz” - The latest episode of this docuseries following individuals charged with crimes as told from their perspective. (A&E)
First Word on Horror Episode 5: “Mariana Enriquez” - The final episode of this docuseries focuses on the titular author. (Etch Studio Substack)
How Deep Is Your Love (2025) - A documentary about the undiscovered species of the oceanic abyss. (In Theaters)
Pink Floyd at Pompeii - MCMLXXII (1972/2025) - A restored version of the classic 1972 concert film. Find our review of Pink Floyd at Pompeii in the highlights section of this newsletter. (In IMAX Theaters)
Sneak Peek At What’s Coming Soon
4/27 - Southern Fried Lies - A documentary special about the death of a wealthy Arkansas man. (Oxygen True Crime)
4/29 - Free for All: The Public Library - A feature documentary about the importance of public libraries. (PBS)
5/1 - 100 Foot Wave Season 3 - The return of the Emmy-winning surfing docuseries. Watch the new trailer for this season below. (HBO and Max)
5/2 - Pavements - A hybrid feature about the titular rock band. (In Theaters)
5/12 - Hung Up on a Dream: The Zombies Documentary - A documentary about the titular rock band. (In Theaters)
5/15 - Deaf President Now! - A feature documentary by Oscar-winning filmmaker Davis Guggenheim and Nyle DiMarco about the push for a deaf person to be hired to be president of Gallaudet University, a school for the hearing-impaired. (In Theaters)
5/19 - Mr. Polaroid - A documentary about the inventor of the Polaroid camera. (PBS)
6/20 - Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore - A documentary about the titular actress. The film was just picked up for distribution by Kino Lorber last week. (In Theaters)