The Panic Manual

Hot Docs Review: Spreadsheet Champions (Kristina Kraskov, 2025)

Posted on

5 May 2025

Paul

As my colleagues at Panic Manual can attest, I am not the most technologically inclined individual. As such, I did not expect to enjoy a film about Microsoft Excel as much as I did. And I most certainly did not expect to get in any way emotional while watching a film about spreadsheets. Yet here we are.

In Spreadsheet Champions, director Kristina Kraskov follows a handful of competitors from around the world as they congregate in Orlando, Florida to compete in the Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship. And make no mistake – this is a serious competition. These kids are competing at the highest level and going through all the emotions in the process. And while it can be a stressful time, they clearly know their stuff and they all seem to handle it relatively well, especially those who face some unexpected obstacles.

A spreadsheet competition seems like an unlikely subject for a documentary, but then again, it generally seems like an unlikely event in the first place. Regardless, it makes for a compelling and satisfying doc, regardless of your level of interest in spreadsheets.

Hot Docs Review: They’re Here (Daniel Claridge, Pacho Velez, 2024)

Posted on

4 May 2025

Paul

A healthy dose of skepticism is a good thing and for many, I’d argue it’s a natural response to question and challenge things. But it’s also natural for people to look for something to believe in. For some it’s religion or a certain philosophy, while others might dig deep into conspiracy theories which help them to make sense of the world. For many though, it’s the belief that we’re not alone in the universe and that there’s some form of alien life out there.

They’re Here follows a number of such individuals as they speak out on their alleged experiences with UFOS, from sightings to abductions, and the impact these experiences have had on their lives. And while directors Daniel Claridge and Pacho Velez seem to approach it all from a position of skepticism, they also give their subjects space to express their beliefs without judgment.

And while the film is unlikely to convince any skeptics that UFOs are in fact proof of alien life, what it does offer up is an interesting look into the psychology of its subjects. In their pursuit of evidence of alien life, all of them seem to also be looking for something else, whether it’s a sense of belonging to a community, a better understanding of their past and themselves, or a hope for a better life somewhere else. That’s something we can likely all relate to, regardless of what we may believe.

Hot Docs Review: Crossing the Divide (Chrisann Hessing, Ashley Brook, 2025)

Posted on

2 May 2025

Paul

Amongst the many problems facing modern society these days, political polarization is certainly one of the big ones. Having a civil conversation with someone who doesn’t share your perspective on things can often be challenging. We could just accept that this is the way things are now or we could make the effort to look for another way to deal with differences of opinion, one that maybe even helps us come to a better understanding of the other perspective and possibly even move on from there to find some solutions. Not the easiest thing to do for sure, but it’s the path that Amanda Sussman and Kathleen McGill choose to take.

Showing as part of Citizen Minutes, the Hot Docs-commissioned series of short docs on the topic of civic engagement, Crossing the Divide follows Sussman and McGill as they take a trip to the U.S. for the Braver Angels conference, whose only requirement for attendance is that you must be paired with someone with the opposite political point of view. While there, they take part in several workshops and discussions on the idea of “depolarizing yourself,” with a focus on topics such as stepping outside your bubble, sharing your POV and, hopefully, finding some common ground. As one of the other participants point out at one point, “If we don’t start listening to each other … we’re in for a bleak future.”

Ultimately, the goal of listening to each other, sharing ideas, and hopefully finding some common ground is the ideal in any democratic society and should be the key to working towards the common good. It’s a noble goal, but it’s certainly not going to be easy and it’s definitely not happening overnight. But there’s always hope, I suppose. The first big step is finding someone on the other side who’s willing and open to having those conversations.

Hot Docs Review: Selena y Los Dinos (Isabel Castro, 2025)

Posted on

2 May 2025

Paul

Though her life was cut tragically short at the age of 23, Selena Quintanilla devoted most of her life to performing and making music. That life is examined in Selena y Los Dinos, a warm and loving tribute to the woman known as the “Queen of Tejano Music.” And though her story has been told many times over, from the 1997 biopic to numerous documentaries to no less than two TV series based on her life, director Isabel Castro offers a fresh and compelling take, offering up plenty of archival footage alongside interviews with her bandmates and family members.

Those interviews are really the heart of this film, giving viewers an inside glimpse into her life, from her earliest days of performing at her father’s restaurant as a child to her days as an emerging star on the Tejano scene to her breakthrough success and ultimately to her tragic end. The latter comes as a gut punch towards the end of the film, even though you know it’s coming. But happily, the film doesn’t dwell on the tragedy, focusing more on Selena’s impact on those closest to her and her lasting legacy as a cultural icon.

Hot Docs Review: Life Invisible (Bettina Perut, Iván Osnovikoff, 2025)

Posted on

30 Apr 2025

Paul

One of the major public health risks in recent years has been the rise of antibiotic resistant “superbugs.” It’s a frightening scenario and one for which many have been hoping to find a solution. One such person is Dr. Cristina Dorador, the subject of Life Invisible.

In this short documentary, directors Bettina Perut and Iván Osnovikoff follow Dorador as she ventures into the Andean salt flats in search of new antibiotics which might stand a chance against these superbugs. And while the region is ideal for her purposes due to its microbial biodiversity, it’s also a key source for lithium, complicating matters matters considerably. The question arises then, of what we value more as a society – the comfort of having cellphones, electric cars and all the other lithium battery-powered things we enjoy or preserving a region that may hold the key to combating illness and saving lives.

Despite the urgency of its subject matter and its brief 20 minute timespan, Life Invisible unfolds at a relaxed pace, often taking time to linger on panoramic shots of the landscape. This is hardly surprising, as the scenery is quite breathtaking and furthermore, by drawing our attention to it, the filmmakers help to emphasize the importance of the region. As Dorador states at one point, “The salt flats are life. And they are the key to saving life in the future.”

Song of the Day: Scowl – Fantasy

Posted on

27 Apr 2025

Paul

“Fantasy” is the latest single from Scowl, taken off the Santa Cruz band’s latest Are We All Angels, out now via Dead Oceans. Check it out.