Next Big Thing: Three picks for a mini-Hot Docs film festival at home

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Toronto documentary film lovers will be in cinematic heaven this weekend as the Hot Docs festival gets underway in the city. But for the rest of the country, there are plenty of stellar docs ready to watch at home. Here’s a few film suggestions from previous Hot Docs lineups worth a look.

LET GO MY LEG, OH!

Fighting over the ownership of an amputated limb is strange in itself, but in “Finders Keepers,” there’s plenty more weirdness to go around.

The Hot Docs selection from last year begins when Shannon Whisnant, an “entrepreneur” from North Carolina, discovers he unknowingly acquired a mummified leg in a barbecue grill he bought at auction.

The detached limb quickly grabs the attention of local news reporters who turn the bizarre tale into a minor sensation.

With all eyes on the leg, Whisnant concocts an idea to charge admission for curious onlookers who want a peek.

That’s when the limb’s original owner swoops in to recover his foot, sparking a legal battle.

“Finders Keepers” treats its unusual subject as part comedy and part insightful study of mankind’s obsession with freakish events.

You can watch “Finders Keepers” on demand and on Netflix.

SLY REPORTAGE

High-stakes investigative journalism on the streets of Ghana fuels “Chameleon,” a gripping documentary from Canadian director Ryan Mullins.

His subject is Anas Aremeyaw Anas, an acclaimed local reporter who uses unconventional means to infiltrate local crime rings.

Known locally as the James Bond of Journalism, Anas lives his life in secrecy, rarely lifting the veil covering his face over concerns he could be assassinated.

Mullins chronicles how the reporter covered several big stories, including one where he infiltrated a religious cult and a sting operation to capture a doctor who was raping women who came to his clinic for abortions.

Despite its dark subject matter, “Chameleon” is a thrilling ride that captures the intensity of controversial reportage while pondering whether the journalistic ends are worth the questionable ethics along the way.

Mullins won the emerging Canadian filmmaker award at last year’s Hot Docs festival.

“Chameleon” is available to watch on demand via The Movie Network.

‘BLOOD’ RELATIONS

“Blood Brother” packs an emotional wallop.

But for some viewers, the 2013 film will quickly become an ethical tug-of-war over its perspective and possible agenda.

On the surface, the story of Rocky Braat — a young American who travels to India to volunteer at an orphanage for HIV-infected children — is a powerful tale that captures some truly moving scenes of human connection.

But the film leaves out a few potentially important facts, including that Braat is a Christian missionary.

The omissions raise questions about the film’s authenticity and the portrayal of Braat as a sort of Great White Hope for a small community.

Those questions make “Blood Brother” a compelling example of how a well-constructed documentary can both inspire and manipulate its audiences.

“Blood Brother” won the grand jury prize and audience award at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival before it screened at Hot Docs that same year.

You can see “Blood Brother” on Netflix.

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