If there is one documentary you make sure to see before the year is over, let 180° South be it. The film follows Jeff Johnson as he embarks on the adventure of retracing the 1968 journey of Yvon Chouinard and Doug Tompkins to Patagonia in the aim of climbing Corcovado. Nothing short of beautiful with its amazing shots of some of the most breathtaking places on earth, 180° South is a celebration of the natural world around us and the call to protect it. There is one point near the end where the legendary Yvon Chouinard says that one of the most important things is to lead an examined life, and I love the way that this truth is captured on screen through the journey and wisdom shared. The soundtrack is great, too. 

One of my favorite documentaries is a beautiful film called The Philosopher Kings by Transcendental Media. It is a must-see film that allows for an insight into the lives of people who are often overlooked--the custodial staff.  It is a true testimony to the intricacies of human lives and the wisdom, beauty, hopes and dreams of those lives--regardless of social status or position of employment. 

I have never stopped thinking about this movie since the day I saw it, and one of the stories in particular had a powerful impact on me. His name is Josue Lajeunesse, and he works as a janitor at Princeton University during the day and drives a taxicab at night in order to support his family in Haiti. The talented filmmakers behind The Philosopher Kings could not forget Josue's inspirational story, either. They have been working on another documentary named after the town of Josue's family, La Source. This film tells the story of Josue and his brother and their determination and passion to bring hope to their village through a large scale effort. Hit hard by the global water crisis, getting water in La Source means either a dangerous journey or risk of contamination. This documentary will serve as a tool for an action campaign to bring clean water to the village and change the lives of the people who live there. 

That's where we all come in. Transcendental Media is currently raising the money needed to make this campaign a success, and even a $1 makes a difference. Holstee is thrilled to offer a free Manifesto poster to the first five people to donate $250 to support the La Source Social Action Campaign. You can learn more about the film and donate to the cause here. 

It is not every day that you see a preview for a film that brings chills to your spine like this one does. If there is one thing we love, it is the combination of beautiful filmmaking and the cultures (and people) of the world. Life in a Day is a collaborative documentary that is the result of over 80,000 submissions of 4,500 hours of footage from people in 192 countries all shot on July 24, 2010. Kevin Macdonald has taken this footage to create a film that serves as an absolutely beautiful insight on what it means to be human and the wonderful similarities that exist between us all. This documentary is a must-see, indeed.