The weekend offerings of the NHDocs festival include two films at two live events — the first in the Park of the Arts on Saturday, featuring a local legend and the literary pursuits that defined her and many others; and the second at Whitneyville Cultural Commons on Sunday, featuring the story of a man and the legendary donut empire he created.
Remembering Shakespeare is an endearing collection of real life characters with one thing in common: their love for the works of William Shakespeare and their recollections of various pieces of that work, which they have memorized and made a part of their everyday lives. Though most of the film is centered in New York, New Haven’s own Shakespeare Lady, the late and beloved Margaret Holloway, is featured prominently — her passion for the bard felt as exquisitely on film as it was live on the streets of the city.
As each participant is asked what lines of Shakespeare they remember and why, the viewer is taken on many individual journeys of self-discovery and revelation, while gaining a newfound respect for and appreciation of a writer whose timeliness seems to be eternal. The vitality of memorization is also highlighted, a skill underappreciated and underutilized in an age where anything and everything can be looked up at a moment’s notice.
Donut King traces the enigmatic story of Ted Ngoy, from war-torn Cambodia to Orange County, Ca. and back again as he builds his doughnut empire, raises his family, and sponsors other Cambodian families as they make their own way to America. He eventually owns around 25 donut shops in the area and amasses a fortune while changing the way donuts are made, marketed and revered.
Directed by Alice Gu, the story’s twists and turns are plenty, but the focus remains on not only “Uncle Ted” himself, but the many families he had a part in helping to realize their own American dreams. Their stories of surviving turmoil in Cambodia — and the efforts made to keep their legacy intact as their donut businesses morph along with changing times and the cruel hand of fate — are studies of perseverance, pride, loss, and, at the heart of it all, love.
Both films are part of the final two days of the festival, which also include a variety of online and live events. There are films about everything from what people put in their coffee to Felix the Cat, as well as filmmaking workshops and the awards ceremony for the student film competitions.
Further details about NHDocs including the full schedule of films and events as well as ticket purchases can be found on their website here.