Philadelphia Films: Videos from the Tri-Co Libraries

Streaming. At the Philadelphia abortion helpline, counselors field nonstop calls from women and teens who are seeking to end a pregnancy but can’t afford to, illustrating how economic stigma and cruel laws determine who has access to abortion in America.

Streaming. A film about three inspiring women fighting for social justice in an African American church in North Philadelphia. One day, a Mexican undocumented immigrant asks for sanctuary.

DVD and streaming. It's been called the greatest theft of art since the Second World War. Reveals how a private collection of paintings became the envy of the Louvre, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and other major institutions, and the prize in a battle between one man's vision and the forces of commerce and politics. Founded in 1922 by wealthy American drug developer and art collector Albert C. Barnes, the Barnes Foundation became the finest collection of paintings by Renoir, Cezanne, Matisse, and Van Gogh.

Streaming and DVD. Exposes the devastating impact of the corporate-driven reform movement in Philadelphia and other cities where public education, starved of resources, hangs in the balance. The film also showcases the everyday heroes fighting for public education and presents a working model for improving our schools

Streaming and DVD. Offers unprecedented access to the life, work and mesmerizing performances of renowned poet and activist Sonia Sanchez who describes herself as 'a woman with razor blades between my teeth.' A leading figure in the Black Arts Movement and inspiration to today's hip hop spoken word artists, Sanchez for over 60 years has helped to redefine American culture and politics as an activist in the Black, women's and peace movements

Streaming. Stories are assembled from live oral history interviews with historically significant African Americans: many have a Philadelphia connection. Founded in July of 1999, The HistoryMakers has grown into the nation's largest African American video oral history archive.

Streaming. A short documentary about the reunion and repair between Mike Africa Jr and his mother Debbie Africa, a formerly incarcerated political prisoner of the MOVE9. In 1978, Debbie, then 8 months pregnant, and many other MOVE family members were arrested after an attack by the Philadelphia Police Department.

Streaming and DVD. Pennsylvania-born filmmaker Ephraim Asili has been exploring different facets of the African diaspora-and his own place within it-for nearly a decade. His feature-length debut, THE INHERITANCE, is a vibrant, engaging ensemble work that takes place almost entirely within the walls of a West Philadelphia house where a community of young people have come together to form a collective of Black artists and activists.

Malcolm Kenyatta was born, raised, and still lives in North Philadelphia - one of the poorest neighborhoods in America’s poorest big city - where the median income is less than $10,000 per year and gun violence has surged to historic levels. The growing inequities that Malcolm experienced in his neighborhood inspired him to become involved in his community. After spending many years as an activist, Malcolm becomes the first openly gay person of color to win a seat in the PA House of Representatives in 2018. In the years following his victory, he becomes known for his tenacity, energy, and the way he deflects veiled racist attacks from his Republican colleagues.

Streaming. The fate of refugees to the US has been the subject of bombastic media headlines since Trump's inauguration. This cinema vérité style documentary follows the Kalajis-originally from the besieged city of Aleppo -allowing for a peek into the lives of those who seek a new life in America. The viewer becomes immersed in this family's journey, as they travel from Jordan to their new home of Philadelphia.

Streaming and DVD. A found footage film that unwinds like a great thriller about the 1985 feud between the city of Philadelphia and the radical urban group MOVE.

Streaming and DVD.. Follows a low-income South Philadelphia community as they mobilize to shut down all operations of the east coast’s largest and oldest oil refinery. After years of living on the fenceline of the refinery and suffering from several critical health issues -- including cancer, asthma, and COPD -- a bankrupting explosion at the PES (Philadelphia Energy Solutions) refinery on June 21, 2019 was the tipping point for the majority of residents. Philly Thrive, an organization of frontline residents and environmental activists, escalates their actions as they campaign to keep the refinery closed for good.

Streaming and DVD. The eight-part epic, inside look at the tumultuous first term of Philadelphia's unapologetic District Attorney, Larry Krasner. Philly D.A. explores the most pressing social issues of our time--police brutality, the opioid crisis, gun violence, and mass incarceration--through the lens of an idealistic team attempting fundamental overhaul from within the system.

Streaming and DVD. This New York Times Critics' Pick, filmed with vérité intimacy for nearly a decade, is a moving portrait of the Rainey family living in North Philadelphia. Beginning at the dawn of the Obama presidency, Christopher "Quest" Rainey, and his wife, Christine'a "Ma Quest" raise a family while nurturing a community of hip hop artists in their home music studio. It's a safe space where all are welcome, but this creative sanctuary can't always shield them from the strife that grips their neighborhood