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Danielson: A Family Movie
"Danielson: a Family Movie" follows multi-media artist and musician Daniel Smith as he creates a musical phenomenon using his siblings and friends, eventually facing the struggle to realize his solo identity once the family members begin their own adult lives. Co-starring Sufjan Stevens and featuring cameos by Rick Moody, Daniel Johnston, and Steve Albini, the feature doc takes on issues such as creativity vs accessibility, Christian faith vs popular culture and family vs individuality.
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JL Aronson, Director, Danielson: A Family Movie
"I'd seen Danielson play a few times around New York and was fascinated with the contradictions of an earnest group of country kids wearing their faith on their sleeves and playing to a room full of cynical, atheistic city-dwellers. What was the audience getting out of it? For that matter, what did the band get out of it?" MoreWhat the Critics Say...
Joshua Land, Village Voice
"It's a delight even for the uninitiated, although those not raised in a conservative Christian environment may not fully comprehend the cosmic implications of the moment when the band earnestly prays to God, 'Thank you for Steve Albini.'" More
J. Freedom du Lac, Washington Post
"What to make of a sincere South Jersey indie-rocker who sings God's praises in a squeaky, nails-on-the-chalkboard falsetto while wearing homemade white hospital scrubs, if not a gigantic tree suit bearing the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit?
You make a documentary, of course." More
SFist
"This film is an intriguing meditation on religious missions vs. secular acclaim, artistic vision vs. realization (or, so many ideas, so little time) and the trials of being the unsung inspiration to your ultimately more successful peers." More
Amanda Petrusich, Paste Magazine
"A refreshingly steady examination of how the Famile functions on both spiritual and practical levels, as members drift in and out, juggling professional and personal obligations with lofty religious and artistic aspirations." More
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Learn more about the famile and the film
- Danielson: A Family Movie website
- Danielson Band Website
- Secretly Canadian Record Label
- Asthmatic Kitty Record Label
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'Darfur Now' is a story of hope in the midst of one of humanity's darkest hours - a call to action for people everywhere to end the catastrophe unfolding in Darfur, Sudan. In this documentary, the struggles and achievements of six different individuals from inside Darfur and around the world bring to light the tragedy in Sudan and show how the actions of one person can make a difference to millions.
Watch Excerpt (6:12)
Watch Interview with Don Cheadle
Watch Darfur Now PSA
'Angels in the Dust' is the story of a courageous, self-sacrificing, fiercely loving woman who chooses a spiritual path over a material one; it tells of the life-changing power of one compassionate heart. For a nation overwhelmed by an epidemic of HIV/AIDS, orphans, rape, violence, and Apartheid's legacy of social and political unrest, the film offers a clear pathway of hope and a replicable paradigm for the future.
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On his first weekend back after serving in Iraq, Mike Deerfield (Jonathan Tucker) goes missing and is reported AWOL. When Hank Deerfield (Tommy Lee Jones), a former military MP and his wife Joan (Susan Sarandon) get the phone call with the disturbing news, Hank sets out to search for their son. Local police detective Emily Sanders (Charlize Theron) reluctantly helps him in his search and soon finds herself in a fight with the military brass. When the truth about Mike's time in Iraq finally begins to emerge, Hank's entire world is challenged and he's forced to reevaluate long-held beliefs to solve the mystery behind his son's disappearance.
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"I can still hear him hollering and coaching.."
-- William Haley (L) and his brother Glen remember their father, Joseph Howard Haley, founder of Jackie Robinson West Little League in Chicago. More
'Fears of Your Life', by Michael Bernard Loggins, read by Tom Wright
What are you afraid of? Michael's afraid of exactly 183 things. He counted. More
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Indiewire
Daniel Smith, Member of Danielson
"We call upon the Holy Spirit to come and fill this place, fill us, fill everybody in the place so it actually pours out. And we take no credit. It's not by us, for us, to us, about us. So we just keep pointing to the creator of music, the maker. Tonight, We're just going to call upon the Lord and see what he does."
Daniel Smith, Member of Danielson
"Hello folks, this is Daniel from Danielson. I am here in Utrecht (NL) writing this first blog. I'll give you a quick run down how the European tour has been going so far..." More from the Danielson Blog
Rachel, Member of Danielson
"Hello everyone. This is Rachel from the Danielson Famile and I have to confess that I just saw the Danielson Famile movie for the first time in its true form two weeks ago in Los Angeles. I drove up with my friend from San Diego, fought 3 1/2 hrs. of Friday afternoon traffic, ate a quick dinner (not the luxurious sit-down I was hoping for in LA) and then quickly ran to see the movie..." More from the Danielson Blog
Megan Smith, Member of Danielson
"We were working together as a team for the glory of God, to bring truth and light to the places you wouldn't expect it."
Steve Albini, Recording Engineer
"There are some people within the straight rock scene that feel like 'it's okay if you read some of them weird books on religion, you can do that if you want, just don't start singing about it, dont' let the whole God thing enter the rock.'"
Aaron Lazar, The Giraffes
"I'm in a metal band and they scare me. So they're doing something right, I guess."