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When formerly incarcerated men are released from the Texas State Penitentiary at Huntsville, their first step into freedom is usually the local Greyhound bus station, located only a block away. The short documentary Huntsville Station captures a handful of these recently released men – some of whom have spent decades locked up – at a surreal crossroads, as they smoke cigarettes, call loved ones, chat with one another and quietly reflect on the moment. Making excellent use of their observational style, the US filmmakers Jamie Meltzer and Chris Filippone explore the far-ranging spectrum of emotions present at the scene – some spoken, others expressed with widened eyes or the hint of a smile – with subtlety and sincerity.
Directors: Jamie Meltzer, Chris Filippone
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Wellbeing
Born in China, Zee seeks a gender-affirming life in the American Midwest
11 minutes
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Rituals and celebrations
A whale hunt is an act of prayer for an Inuit community north of the Arctic Circle
8 minutes
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Music
The peculiar beauty of a song caught between composition and improvisation
3 minutes
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Rituals and celebrations
A beginner’s guide to a joyful Persian tradition of spring renewal and rebirth
3 minutes
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Politics and government
How it looked to Afghan women to see the Taliban return to power
33 minutes
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Love and friendship
Love looks a bit different for a chain-smoking couple in a small apartment
11 minutes
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Biography and memoir
Passed over as the first Black astronaut, Ed Dwight carved out an impressive second act
13 minutes
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The ancient world
The six priestesses who kept the flame of ancient Rome alight at risk of death
5 minutes
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Engineering
A close-up look at electronic paper reveals its exquisite patterns – and limitations
9 minutes