Films explore women's rights, religion, drugs

The idea that a documentary can be both educational and entertaining seems to go without saying, but nonfictional films haven't always been given their proper due. Especially among academics. Between the years of 1936 and 1938, the late New York cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead helped chart new territory by using film to document her field work in Bali. She made several movies about Balinese dance and later produced films on cross-cultural child rearing and other subjects. Years later, on her 75th birthday, Mead was honored for her pioneering commitment. The American Museum of Natural History in New York City launched a documentary film festival and named it after her. The event continues today and has since branched out into a traveling festival. It is known as the longest-running showcase for international documentaries.

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