David Farnor | On 13, Nov 2018

Five outstanding documentaries have been released on VOD this week, as Walk This Way continues its quest to bring together films from across the world. The scheme releases straight-to-VOD in the European Union, Latin America, the USA and Japan, with support from the European Commission, Studio Canal and more. This month, non-fiction stories enter the frame, shining a light on the aftermath of the Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear meltdown, the struggles of dancer Bobbi Jene Smith and the Free Lunch Society.

All of the films are available on iTunes, Google Play, Amazon Prime Video (to buy and rent), Sony PlayStation Store and Microsoft Store.

Fukushima: A Nuclear Story

August 2013 : finally a pool of foreign journalists are allowed to enter the Fukushima-Daiichi power plant: two years awaiting a hidden truth. Manga animations represent Japan’s history, digital reconstruction permits grasping the darker side of a complex story. A compelling story narrated by William Dafoe.

Step Up to the Plate

In 2009, the three-Michelin-stars French chef Michel Bras decides to hands his restaurant over to his son Sebastien, who has been working with him for 15 years. ‘Step up to the plate’ tells the story of these extraordinary dishes prepared by a father and a son, in the hilly landscape of Aubrac region. We follow this gastronomic transmission, and enter intimately in their family ties. Between Jonathan Nossiter’s Mondovino and Raymond Depardon’s La Vie Moderne, this documentary draws a moving and joyful portrait of this outstanding family devoted to the Haute Cuisine for three generations.

Bobbi Jene

A love story portraying the dilemmas and inevitable consequences of ambition. It is a film about a woman’s fight for independence, trying to succeed with her own art in the extremely competitive world of dance. Featuring cult actress Laura Dern, this docu-drama explores the life and struggles of dancer Bobbi Jene Smith. The documentary won the Best Documentary Award at Tribeca Film Festival 2017.

Free Lunch Society: Come Come Basic Income

Just a few years ago, an unconditional basic income was considered a pipe dream. Today, this utopia is more imaginable than ever before – intense discussions are taking place in all political and scientific camps. FREE LUNCH SOCIETY provides background information about this idea and searches for explanations, possibilities and experiences regarding its implementation.

Heart of Glass

‘Heart of Glass’ is a journey. A road trip through several countries on two continents in pursuit of a story. The story of a young glass blower with a singular talent: Jeremy Maxwell Wintrebert. The film follows him in his daily life–working in the studio and on the road. Jeremy recounts growing up in Africa, where he drew inspiration for his first pieces. He speaks of his family of Franco-American origin, difficult events he faced, the challenges of returning to Europe. He speaks of his first encounter with glass at age 19. The first time he saw the hot glass moving at the end of a blow pipe was his seminal moment. The way the glass, fluid, delicate and mysterious, danced that day has forever changed him. The film reveals how passion can undo a tragic fate.

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