Pure Nonfiction: Inside Documentary Film

Pure Nonfiction: Inside Documentary Film


Latest Episodes

107: Rachel Lears on filming Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
May 02, 2019

“Knock Down the House” captures four working class candidates running for Congress in West Virginia, Nevada, Missouri and New York City. That last one is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who overcame enormous odds to become the youngest woman elected to Congr...

107: Rachel Lears on filming Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
May 02, 2019

“Knock Down the House” captures four working class candidates running for Congress in West Virginia, Nevada, Missouri and New York City.

106: Werner Herzog on “Meeting Gorbachev”
April 25, 2019

Werner Herzog talks about the history of Germany, the Soviet Union and dispenses marital advice on this episode. His latest film “Meeting Gorbachev” is based on interviews he conducted with the former Soviet leader over 2017-18.

106: Werner Herzog on “Meeting Gorbachev”
April 25, 2019

Werner Herzog talks about the history of Germany, the Soviet Union and dispenses marital advice on this episode.

105: Sam Green & David Harrington on Kronos Quartet
April 18, 2019

Kronos Quartet performs live for the documentary “A Thousand Thoughts” about the group’s history. The film is directed by Sam Green, who narrates the live performances, and Joe Bini. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviews Green and Kronos founder ...

105: Sam Green & David Harrington on Kronos Quartet
April 18, 2019

Kronos Quartet performs live for the documentary “A Thousand Thoughts” about the group’s history.

104: Penny Lane on “Hail Satan?”
April 11, 2019

“Hail Satan?” looks at the Satanic Temple that started six years ago as political provocation and grew into an international movement. Director Penny Lane (“Our Nixon,” ‘Nuts!”) and producer Gabriel Sedgwick got drawn into the topic by a Village Voice ...

104: Penny Lane on "Hail Satan?"
April 11, 2019

"Hail Satan?" looks at the Satanic Temple that started six years ago as political provocation and grew into an international movement.

103: Alison Klayman on Steve Bannon in “The Brink”
April 04, 2019

Director Alison Klayman (“Ai Wei Wei: Never Sorry”) spent a year on the road with Steve Bannon as he met with European right wing leaders to spread his nationalist ideology. That journey is captured in “The Brink.

103: Alison Klayman on Steve Bannon in “The Brink”
April 04, 2019

Director Alison Klayman (“Ai Wei Wei: Never Sorry”) spent a year on the road with Steve Bannon as he met with European right wing leaders to spread his nationalist ideology.