In Vanda's Room

It's 3 hours long and you will watch ALOT of crack smoking, but In Vanda's Room is art, and it might have a strong effect on those of us watching public housing come down. Director Pedro Costa lived with the residents of the Fontainhas slum in Lisbon for 6 months, as it was being demolished, working with them to create a - I can't really call it a story -- a portrait that blends documentary and narrative uniquely. Shot on DV and blown up to 35 mm, it's a revelation. A follow-up film with mostly the same characters is Colossal Youth, another gem of DV work and impeccable compositions, and long, long shots that rarely cut away or move into a close up. For more info about the film, here's a link to a review and a lengthy interview.