Admission Free

The Last Space Voyage of Wallace Ramsel
John Keeler and Ruth Rotko choose the familiar “documentary” style of television to lend their fictitious material an air of authenticity. The outrageous tale of the abduction of two New York City policemen by a space ship comes across quite convincingly, for the format feeds out the necessary journalistic hype of television: interviews with eyewitnesses, aggressive reporters, and confident, ignorant newscasters.

• By John Keeler and Ruth Rotko. (1977, 45 mins, color)

The Abandoned Shabono
Juan Downey, long interested in the interrelationship of social systems and architecture, made a study of the shabono, the circular communal dwelling of the last primitive tribe of the Americas: the Yanomami Indians of the Amazon rain forest. The theatrically designed documentary expresses much of Downey's concern about conventional approaches to primitive customs, such as endo-cannibalism and violence, and metaphorically suggests the kinship and spiritual freedom of the inhabitants of this self-sufficient, unrestrained culture.

• By Juan Downey. (1978, 28 mins, color)

Sharon
Nancy Cain traces the portrait of a woman, letting the subject review her home life and the relationships she has with those around her. The naivete and malleability she demonstrates early on fade, as she develops more thoughtful control of her life.

• By Nancy Cain. (1977, 34 mins)

Happy Birthday America
In a sensitive portrayal of American traditions, Maxi Cohen and others show the bicentennial celebration of a tiny town, Cape May, New Jersey. The parades, dancing, marching drills, and the poetry of children interweave to express the closeness of the family clan and the loyal recognition of history.

• By Maxi Cohen, Joel Gold, Bill and Esti Marpet. (1976, 20 mins, color)