The Netflix recomendation thread - No Spoilers

"10 Questions for the Dali Lama"

A documentary film maker making a film about India decides on a lark to see if he can interview the Dali Lama. To his amazement, his is given 45 minutes and is allowed to ask 10 questions. And he's warned that the Dali Lama knows when someone is shining him on, and will dismiss the person after the first question if he thinks it's not a sincere interview. The author figures this would be the lowest point in his life if this were to happen, so he makes a great effort to not be seen as a failure here.

It's a sometimes depressing and fun story, and reminds my why I like the Dali Lama and why he's one of my favourite authors (and from his hard copy of 'Cosmos' on his apartment table, some of my favourite authors are some of his favourite authors too!). His infectious laugh, kindness and child like sense of fun, as well as his wisdom really show in this film.

Call the Midwife

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1983079/

Based on the memoirs of Jennifer Worth; the story follows twenty-two year old Jenny, who in 1957 leaves her comfortable home to become a midwife in London's East End slums. She expects to find a hospital, and is surprised to find that the clinic is a convent: Nonnatus House. Working alongside her fellow nurses and the medically-trained nuns, Jenny has her eyes opened to the harsh living conditions. But she also discovers the warm hearts and the bravery of the mothers; each one a heroine in Jenny's eyes. Written by L. Hamre

Available via Netflix. An enjoyable series.

Brand new episodes of the a Trailer Park Boys.

"Bojack Horseman". A retired TV comedy Actor (a horse) on his life after TV success.

Very funny!

"Virunga"

Damn!

In the Eastern Congo is a wildlife park that has survived for 100 years. Because of the Rwandan Genocide, and the Congolese civil war, it's now caught between the M23 Rebels in western Uganda, corrupt Congolese officials and a shady Oil company who will bribe their way to fat profits to mine the minerals and oil the park sits on, wildlife be damned.

It reads like every bad film about Africa for the last 50 years. Trouble is that it's a documentary.

This film is about the Park Rangers who must defend the park from all those wanting to destroy what it stands for, and their efforts trying to preserve the remaining 800 endangered Mountain Gorillas left in the park against Big Oil, corruption and poachers.

Seeing an adolescent gorilla laughing their face off at being tickled changed them for me, from animals to 'people'. I hope it does for you too. And seeing people carry off a male silverback after it had been killed by poachers was just sad, and amazing. I knew they were big, but holy shit!

There is a trailer you can watch here:

http://www.netflix.com/Virunga‎

A couple recent things:

"Black Ops". It's re-enactments of Special Forces teams around the world, and their role in world events. Like the Mumbai Attacks in 2008. Neat to see the things we don't normally hear about.

Bill Burr: "Sorry you feel that way" Very funny guy, he definitely had me laughing. especially with the "Helicopter Tours" part.

Right now Im really into;

"Salem"Bad ass show about the "witch town" and how it all started.

"Jack Taylor" GREAT series!

Enjoying all those episodes of Foyles Law I missed.

"The Mind of a Chef"

It's a PBS series, and follows around a few Chef's and explores their passions and influences. Narrated and Produced by that Bourdain fellow, it definitely has it's 'food porn' moments.

Sean Brock's trip to Senegal to trace the origins of Southern Cooking was very interesting to me.

If you happen to be able to get the UK version of Netflix we found that Wentworth is very well done, sort of a cross between OZ and Orange is the new Black.