The BEST episodes of HBO Documentary Film Series season 2007
Every episode of HBO Documentary Film Series season 2007, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of HBO Documentary Film Series season 2007!
HBO presents a full spectrum of non-fiction programming by leading documentary filmmakers. Taking viewers from the hidden corners of America to the shocking reality of global issues, these powerful, uncompromising and award-winning films never fail to leave an impact. Now, with HBO Podcast, listen to interviews with many of our award-winning filmmakers - and even some of their documentary subjects!
#1 - Nanking
Season 2007 - Episode 6 - Aired 12/12/2007
A powerful, emotional and relevant reminder of the heartbreaking toll war takes on the innocent, Nanking tells the story of the Japanese invasion of Nanking, China, in the early days of World War II. As part of a campaign to conquer all of China, the Japanese subjected Nanking – which was then China’s capital – to months of aerial bombardment, and when the city fell, the Japanese army unleashed murder and rape on a horrifying scale. In the midst of the rampage, a small group of Westerners banded together to establish a Safety Zone where over 200,000 Chinese found refuge. Unarmed, these missionaries, university professors, doctors and businessmen – including a Nazi named John Rabe – bore witness to the events, while risking their own lives to protect civilians from slaughter. The story is told through deeply moving interviews with Chinese survivors, chilling archival footage and photos of the events, and testimonies of former Japanese soldiers. At the heart of Nanking is a filmed stage reading of the Westerners’ letters and diaries, featuring Woody Harrelson, Mariel Hemingway and Jurgen Prochnow. Through its interweave of archival images, testimonies of survivors, and readings of first hand accounts, the film puts the viewer on the streets of Nanking and brings the forgotten past to startling life. Nanking is a testament to the courage and conviction of individuals who were determined to act in the face of evil and a powerful tribute to the resilience of the Chinese people – a gripping account of light in the darkest of times.
#2 - White Light, Black Rain: The Destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Season 2007 - Episode 3 - Aired 8/6/2007
On August 6th and 9th, 1945, two atomic bombs vaporized 210,000 people in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Those who survived are called "hibakusha"--people exposed to the bomb--and there are an estimated 200,000 living today. Today, with the threat of nuclear weapons of mass destruction frighteningly real- the world's arsenal capable of repeating the destruction at Hiroshima 400,000 times over, Oscar® award-winning filmmaker Steven Okazaki revisits the bombings and shares the stories of the only people to have survived a nuclear attack.
#3 - Little Rock Central - 50 Years Later
Season 2007 - Episode 1 - Aired 1/1/2007
A look at the lives of various students attending the historical school, and the racial, social, and economic divisions that exist between them.
#4 - I Am an Animal: The Story of Ingrid Newkirk and PETA
Season 2007 - Episode 5 - Aired 11/19/2007
A candid and introspective look at the extreme beliefs and motives of Ingrid Newkirk, the British-born co-founder and driving force behind People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), the world's largest animal-rights organization.
#5 - Michigan vs. Ohio State: The Rivalry
Season 2007 - Episode 4 - Aired 11/13/2007
Each year, the football programs at Ohio State and Michigan gear up with a common goal: to beat their archrival on the third weekend in November, no matter the rankings, no matter the score. Widely considered college football's biggest rivalry, these two Big Ten powerhouses frequently dominate the standings, and attract game-day crowds that exceed 100,000 rabid followers. Steeped in a rich tradition dating back to their inaugural meeting in 1897, this rivalry extends beyond the pursuit of a Big Ten title, and is renewed each year through the pageantry and colliding cultures that distinguish the two schools. Presented four days before the Ohio State Buckeyes take on the Michigan Wolverines at Ann Arbor, HBO Sports will present its first college football documentary.
#6 - Taxi to the Dark Side
Season 2007 - Episode 2 - Aired 4/30/2007
An in-depth look at the torture practices of the United States in Afghanistan, Iraq and Guantanamo Bay, focusing on an innocent taxi driver in Afghanistan who was tortured and killed in 2002.