September 2019 Releases: Documentaries

Coming this September, with the release of no fewer than seven documentaries, your eyes will be opened to something seriously extraordinary. While documentaries might not be your cup of tea, there is possibly something in the following line up of releases that you will find both educational and entertaining.

In the early days of the Indianapolis 500, motorsport wasn’t known for safety. If anything, motorsports were the least safe forms of sports one could engage in.

Rapid Response, co-directed by Roger Hinze and Michael William Miles, reveals in great detail how Stephen Olvey is responsible for transforming the motorsports safety record to what we see today.

In 1966, back when Olvey was a medical student, he was fortunate to get the opportunity to volunteer on the medical team at that year’s Indianapolis 500. For the medical student, the event quickly turns from one of excitement and pleasure to something terrifyingly horrific as he comes to realise that the degree of medical support afforded to drivers is non-existent.

With a singleness of purpose at the heart of his quest, Olvey begins a mission, which would see the formation of a dedicated team that would apply science to the problem of motorsports safety. Consequently, because of their work during the next three decades, huge strides in motorsports safety are seen to become a reality.

Hinze and Miles, with the release of their co-directed documentary, brings to our attention the much-needed work that had to be done by the Indy 500 doctors who pioneered safety. This work subsequently helped numerous race car drivers cheat death on the track.

Staying with a 1960s theme, with previously unseen childhood photographs and archival footage, the Rob Epstein/Jeffrey Friedman co-directed Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice revolves around folk-rock music singer Linda Ronstadt, and her emergence onto the music scene.

The Rob Epstein/Jeffrey Friedman co-directed documentary premiered at America’s Tribeca Film Festival on Friday, April 26, 2019.

Blink of an Eye, directed by Paul Taublieb, delves deeply into the events surrounding 2001’s Daytona 500.

Because of a major accident, which was initially triggered by Sterling Marlin losing control of his vehicle, that year's Daytona 500 saw the death of legendary race car driver Dale Earnhardt Sr.

Rapid Response, Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice and Blink of an Eye are all scheduled for release in these United States on Friday, September 6, 2019.

Liam: As It Was, co-directed by Gavin Fitzgerald and Charlie Lightening, follows musician Liam Gallagher, as he attempts to make a solo comeback.

The Manchester-born William “Liam” Gallagher, best known for having been the lead singer of the rock band Oasis, and later serving as the singer for Beady Eye, has a well-known dubious history, which the singer would like to leave in the past.

Liam: As It Was is scheduled for release in these United States on September 13, 2019. A week later, the singer will see his second solo album, Why Me? Why Not, become available.

Quintessentially personifying the darkest aspects of American politics, from Joseph McCarthy to Donald J. Trump, the infamous Roy Cohn is frequently credited with “turning empty vessels into dangerous demagogues.”

With no dot left unconnected, this Matt Tyrnauer directed documentary explores deeply how Cohn manipulated the American political landscape to become the nightmare Americans are now living.

With excerpts taken from over 500 hours of previously unseen footage, this Asif Kapadia-directed documentary revolves around football icon Diego Armando Maradona. Regardless of whether you view the football player as being famous or infamous, he remains one of the world’s most celebrated sporting stars.

Because of a bounty placed on Afghan director Hassan Fazili's head by the Taliban, the filmmaker is forced to flee with his wife and two daughters from their home. During an uncertain journey, Fazili shows the dangers that face refugees seeking asylum.

Where's My Roy Cohn?, Diego Maradona and Midnight Traveler are all scheduled for release in these United States on Friday, September 20, 2019.