With the winter holiday season having finally arrived, we find ourselves balancing the everyday with time to spend joyously with family and friends. To reflect upon this moment of the year, WORLD’s December slate focuses on introspection and desire in stories of creativity, adversity and the comfort of community.
Two new films this month introduce artists whose personal lives, individualism and revolutionary works are inherently intertwined – “UNVEILED: Joyce Tenneson and the Heroine’s Journey” (premiering Dec. 12; Local, USA) explores the photographer’s conflicting roles as mother and artist, tied together by a 45-year-old secret; and in “With Peter Bradley” (premiering Dec. 19; Local, USA), the abstract painter tells his often provocative story of an exceptional rise and exceptional fall, going back four decades.
To round out the end of 2024, watch Stories from the Stage episode every Monday that celebrate the spirit of the holidays, and stream more films sharing stories of the power of art, faith and companionship.
WATCH LIVE
Siqueiros: Walls of Passion | Doc World
December 5 on TV, online & on the PBS app
The story of Mexican visual artist David Alfaro Siqueiros, one of the great Mexican artists of the 20th century. As one of the primary advocates of modern public art, he was one of the first muralists to paint on the exterior of buildings to bring art closer to the people. SIQUEIROS: WALLS OF PASSION tells of this controversy-stirring revolutionary and activist who painted on an epic scale. Go Beyond the Lens with filmmakers Lorena Manríquez and Miguel Picker.
Fire Tender | Local, USA
December 9 on TV, online, the PBS app & on YouTube
Yurok people have been putting fire on the land since time immemorial...but this practice has been disrupted by California settlers. Catastrophic fires in the West, however, has policymakers rethinking their commitment to fire suppression. FIRE TENDER shares the work of Margo Robbins, a Yurok knowledge keeper, seeking to return practices to Yurok territory, and to restore the land and its people.
NEW UNVEILED: Joyce Tenneson and the Heroine's Journey | Local, USA
December 12 on TV, online, the PBS app & YouTube
As a groundbreaking female photographer pursues her artistic vision, she struggles to navigate diverging roles as mother and artist. UNVEILED explores Tenneson’s life as she fights to express her voice while suffering the fallout of a 45-year-old secret. In watching the film, audiences must contemplate the compromises that are inevitably made in seeking to live a full creative life.
Legacy of Love | Local, USA
December 16 on TV
LEGACY OF LOVE reveals the meeting, romance and intellectual relationship between Coretta Scott and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. With historical dramatizations and exclusive interviews, the film shows the surprising differences between their backgrounds. Featuring brief commentaries by Christian, Jewish, Moslem, Asian-American, African-American and Latin-American community leaders.
NEW With Peter Bradley | Local, USA
December 19 on TV, online & on the PBS app
When filmmaker Alex Rappoport met Peter Bradley in 2020, the abstract artist hadn't had a major show in over four decades - yet he still painted every day in relative obscurity. Over time, Rappoport recorded Bradley's life story and artistic process, both deeply inspired by modern Jazz music, over the course of changing seasons. In this intimate portrait, Bradley’s is the sole voice and figure on screen.
Brenda Lee: Rockin' Around | American Masters
December 22 on TV, online & on the PBS app
Discover the story behind singer Brenda Lee’s iconic songs and explore how her early fame and life of poverty shaped her artistry across pop, rock ‘n’ roll and country. Known for her Christmas classic and Billboard hit “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree,” she is still a force in music today. The film features interviews with Keith Urban, Pat Benatar, Neil Giraldo and many others.
Chinatown Auxiliary | Local, USA
December 23 on TV, online, the PBS app & YouTube | Available now on PBS Passport
For decades, Chinese residents have patrolled Manhattan's Chinatown as NYPD volunteer police to protect the few blocks they call home while finding belonging in a foreign, unwelcoming country. From the savage tribulation in the '70s to “Asian Hate” during the pandemic, these stories remind us of the hope the U.S. represented to the tired, the poor, and the huddled masses yearning to belong.
Ganden: A Joyful Land | Doc World
December 26 on TV, online, the PBS app & YouTube | Available now on PBS Passport, Apple TV+ and Prime Video
Likened by Buddhists to the Vatican City, Ganden is considered the most influential monastery of Tibetan Buddhism. Monks lived in the monastery for more than 500 years before a brutal invasion drove them to India. GANDEN: A JOYFUL LAND is a look at the lives and remembrances of the remaining generation of monks to have studied at the monastery in Tibet where the Dalai Lama’s lineage began.
Caretakers | Local, USA
December 30 on TV, online & on the PBS app | Available now on PBS Passport
CARETAKERS looks at the history of Filipinos in care work and profiles Filipino Americans on the front lines today. The film shows, as filmmaker Geena Rocero says, “Filipinos as we are," while telling the stories of all people providing vital care. Meet caretakers like nurse Belinda Ellis, therapist Aleksa Manila, Chef Channing Centeno, and phlebotomist Angel Bonilla.
WATCH ONLINE
The Perfect Gift | Stories from the Stage
December 2 on TV | Available now online & on the PBS app
It is often said that it is better to give than to receive. But no matter which side we’re on, gifts have the power to simply bring a smile or even save a life. Christine donates a kidney to a stranger; Stacey dreams of one gift but gets another; and on the night of her first high school dance, Mary gets an amazing gift from her dad.
The Funny Side | Stories from the Stage
December 9 on TV | Available now online & on the PBS app
Life can be serious, but when the tears dry and the scars fade, sometimes we can find the funny side. Jennifer shares the story of her parents’ marriage through the tale of a doomed onion; Steph explores the humor of life through the traditions of her family; and Jason gets busted for throwing down dance moves.
Quest | Stories from the Stage
December 16 on TV | Available now online & on the PBS app
A quest does not require you to be a knight in shining armor. But you do need a dream, courage, and a little luck. After fleeing Afghanistan, Zalaikha rebuilds her life in the U.S.; Karen makes a pilgrimage to Poland to learn about her mother's past; and Meg visits her daughter, who provides protection to Colombian farmers.
Holiday Spirit | Stories from the Stage
December 23 on TV | Available now online & on the PBS app
Top storytellers share stories that conjure the holiday spirit. David Dean Bottrell discovers his passion after stealing the school play's spotlight; Andrea Kamens’s bright menorah cuts through the darkness of anti-semitism; and Joe Charnitski tries to break a nightmare-before-Christmas bad luck streak.
Bucket List | Stories from the Stage
December 30 on TV | Available now online & on the PBS app
A bucket list is a way to keep track of our dreams. It also offers a look at who we are. Connie aims to close the gap with her heritage and language; KiM transforms a quest for perfection into a lesson in self-love and integrity; and Keith turns a Phoebe Bridgers concert into a bonding experience with his children.
Firelighters: Fire Is Medicine | Local, USA
Available now on TV, online, YouTube & the PBS app
For centuries, most landscapes in North America were shaped by fire between lightning strikes and Indigenous burns. Indigenous people had deep knowledge of the art of using fire, and still do today. FIRELIGHTERS follows the work of women leaders from the Yurok and Karuk Tribes who are building resources to share indigenous practices and create policies to take back indigenous burning rights.
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