New releases on DVD: 'Salt of the Earth,' 'Dovekeepers,' and more
New German Cinema pioneer Wim Wenders, who established himself in the 1970s and 1980s with a series of classic dramas such as The American Friend, The State of Things, and Paris, Texas, also has become one of Europe's premiere documentary filmmakers, with
New German Cinema pioneer Wim Wenders, who established himself in the 1970s and 1980s with a series of classic dramas such as
The American Friend
,
The State of Things
, and
Paris, Texas
, also has become one of Europe's premiere documentary filmmakers, with fascinating, no-nonsense pictures that profile other artists, including fashion designers (
Notebook on Cities and Clothes
), musicians (
Buena Vista Social Club
), and other filmmakers (
Lightning Over Water
,
Tokyo-Ga
).
His latest entry in the genre, and possibly his most sublime documentary, The Salt of the Earth offers a deeply moving and thoughtful portrait of Brazilian photographer and social activist Sebastião Salgado. It's due Tuesday from Sony Home Entertainment.
Wenders distinguishes himself not only by providing a lucid and beautifully presented biography of Salgado, but also by presenting deep readings of some of the photographer's most noteworthy pieces.
The film has Wenders conduct in-depth interviews with Salgado, his wife Lélia Wanick, and their son, filmmaker Juliano Ribeiro Salgado. It methodically works its way through the more than half a dozen major projects Salgado has mounted during his 40-year career, including Workers: Archaeology of the Industrial Age, Migrations, and The Children: Refugees and Migrants, showing in each case how Salgado used his work to further social change around the globe.
The Salt of the Earth is a wondrous piece of filmmaking that will help you see the world through the eyes of a great artist and humanitarian.
(www.sonypictures.com/movies/discanddigital/; $38.99; rated PG-13)
Other titles of note
Clouds of Sils Maria. French writer-director Olivier Assayas (Summer Hours, Carlos) assembles a trio of singular actresses - Juliette Binoche, Kristen Stewart, and Chloë Grace Moretz - for this intimate drama about art, identity, gender, and age set in a gorgeous locale in the Alps. It's due Tuesday. (www.paramount.com/movies/home-media; $29.99; rated R)
The Dovekeepers. This CBS miniseries tells the story of the Roman siege at the fortress of Masada in A.D. 70 from the viewpoint of some of the women who took shelter in the Jewish compound. Based on the Alice Hoffman best-selling novel, it stars Cote de Pablo, Rachel Brosnahan, and Kathryn Prescott. It's currently available exclusively on Amazon and will hit other retailers Aug. 11. (www.paramount.com/movies/home-media; $39.99 DVD; $42.99 Blu-ray; not rated)
Bitten: The Complete Second Season. Follow the adventures of North America's sexiest werewolf (Laura Vandervoort) in this satisfying fantasy yarn from Syfy. (http://entertainmentone.com/films; $34.98; not rated)
Kung Fu Killer. Hong Kong martial arts phenom Donnie Yen may be 51, but he's as dynamic and powerful as ever, as he shows in his latest actioner, a fast-moving thriller about a con (Yen) who persuades cops to let him hunt down a psychopath who is targeting the world's greatest martial arts masters. (www.wellgousa.com/home-entertainment; $24.98 DVD; $29.98 Blu-ray; not rated)
No Way Jose. Adam Goldberg (Fargo) wrote, directed, and stars in his outrageous comedy about a man who isn't quite ready for middle age. (www.sonypictures.com/movies/discanddigital/; $26.99; rated R)