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The Best Episodes of Independent Lens Season 9

Every episode of Independent Lens Season 9 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Independent Lens Season 9!

Binge this in 1d 1h•Peaking at 7.6/10

This acclaimed Emmy Award-winning anthology series features documentaries and a limited number of fiction films united by the creative freedom, artistic achievement and unflinching visions of their independent producers and featuring unforgettable stories about a

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    Independent Lens Season 9 Episode 24 - Writ Writer
    7.6/10(7 votes)

    S9:E24

    Reveals a little-known battle of the Civil Rights Movement, led by an indigent, under-educated prisoner. Texas-born, Mexican American Fred Cruz came of age and found his life's calling in prison, where the sanctioned cruelty and brutality among inmates and guards moved him to fight the state prison system in the court of law.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. Independent Lens Season 9 Episode 2 - Please Vote for Me
    7.3/10(10 votes)

    S9:E2

    This film follows eight-year-old students in an elementary school in China as they campaign for school monitor. This is the first election for a class leader to be held in a school in China. The three candidates campaign, holding debates and showing their intellectual and artistic skills, until one is voted the winner.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. Independent Lens Season 9 Episode 11 - A Son's Sacrifice
    6.2/10(8 votes)

    S9:E11

    Dr. Jack Kessler, a prominent neurologist, shifts his diabetes research to stem cell research when his daughter is paralyzed from the waist down. The program brings the stem cell debate to the forefront and examines the constantly evolving interplay between the promise of new discoveries, the controversy of modern science and the courage of people living with devastating disease and injury.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. Independent Lens Season 9 Episode 14 - Banished
    5.9/10(11 votes)

    S9:E14

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Independent Lens Season 9 Episode 1 - Wordplay
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S9:E1

    Fifty million Americans do crossword puzzles each week, many in the venerable New York Times , where Will Shortz has been editor for 12 years. "Wordplay" presents an entertaining and informative look at Shortz' work and that of the puzzle constructors with whom he collaborates, as well as coverage of the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament, an annual competition founded by Shortz, that profiles a number of intelligent and ingratiating contestants.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. Independent Lens Season 9 Episode 3 - Storm of Emotions
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S9:E3

    This is a film explores the Israeli disengagement from the Gaza Strip and efforts to achieve democracy amidst great social and political turmoil. Told from the perspective of the Israeli police force, this film explores how these individuals try to balance their emotions, beliefs and conscience while attempting to maintain civil order and a democratic outcome.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  7. Independent Lens Season 9 Episode 4 - Red White Black & Blue
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S9:E4

    U.S. soldiers who fought on the island of Attu in Alaska during WWII journey back to the location.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. Independent Lens Season 9 Episode 5 - Miss Navajo
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S9:E5

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. Independent Lens Season 9 Episode 6 - The Creek Runs Red
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S9:E6

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. Independent Lens Season 9 Episode 8 - The Paper
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S9:E8

    Chronicles the pressure of a year in the life of Pennsylvania State University's Daily Collegian.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Independent Lens Season 9 Episode 9 - An Unreasonable Man
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S9:E9

    This program offers an unsparing look at Ralph Nader, one of the most important and controversial political figures of our time.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. Independent Lens Season 9 Episode 10 - Today's Man
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S9:E10

    No description available

    Director:Lizzie Gottlieb
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. Independent Lens Season 9 Episode 12 - American Made
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S9:E12

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Independent Lens Season 9 Episode 13 - How Is Your Fish Today?
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S9:E13

    While working on his latest screenplay in Beijing, Hui Rao experiences writer's block and begins to live the life of the character he is trying to create.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. Independent Lens Season 9 Episode 15 - Hard Road Home
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S9:E15

    Banished is a documentary film about four U.S. cities, which were part of many communities that violently forced African American families to flee in post-reconstruction America. In incidents which took place in Texas, Missouri, Georgia and Indiana between 1886 and 1923.

    Director:Marco Williams
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. Independent Lens Season 9 Episode 16 - Iron Ladies of Liberia
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S9:E16

    Follows two former felons in different stages of life "on the outside." / Examines the challenges faced by ex-convicts as they adjust to life after incarceration. The film focuses on the Exodus Transitional Community, a New York City-based organization (founded by Julio Medina).

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. Independent Lens Season 9 Episode 17 - Compañeras
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S9:E17

    With unprecedented access, this intimate documentary goes behind the scenes with Africa's first freelyelected female head of state, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, president of Liberia. The film explores the challenges facing the new president and the extraordinary women surrounding her as they develop and implement policy to rebuild their ravaged country and prevent a descent back into civil war.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. Independent Lens Season 9 Episode 18 - Water Flowing Together
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S9:E18

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. Independent Lens Season 9 Episode 19 - Water Flowing Together
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S9:E19

    Jock Soto, who is Navajo Indian and Puerto Rican as well as gay, retired in June 2005 from the New York City Ballet after a 24-year career; this story climaxes with his emotional retirement at age 40. This is not a film solely for a ballet audience; it is also an exploration of identity, heritage, transition and family.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. Independent Lens Season 9 Episode 20 - Na Kamalei: The Men of Hula
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S9:E20

    King Corn is a feature documentary film released in October 2007 following college friends Ian Cheney and Curtis Ellis as they move to Greene, Iowa to grow and farm an acre of corn. In the process, Cheney and Ellis examine the role that the increasing production of corn has for American society. The film shows how the industrialization of corn has all but eliminated the family farm, which is being replaced by larger and larger industrial farms. This trend reflects a larger industrialization of the North American food system, whereby, as was outlined in the film, decisions relating to what crops are grown, and how they are grown, are based more on economic considerations than their ramifications on the environment or the population. This is demonstrated in the film by the production of high fructose corn syrup, an ingredient found in many cheap food products, such as fast food. The two return to the same small town that was coincidentally home to both of their great-grandfathers.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. Independent Lens Season 9 Episode 21 - A Dream in Doubt
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S9:E21

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. Independent Lens Season 9 Episode 22 - New Year Baby
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S9:E22

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. Independent Lens Season 9 Episode 23 - The Cool School
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S9:E23

    This film follows one woman's quest to uncover the secrets of how her family survived the Khmer Rouge genocide. Socheata Poeuv's family survived the Killing Fields, escaped across the border and became Americans. She searches for the truth about what her family escaped from and why her history has been buried in secrecy for so long.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. Independent Lens Season 9 Episode 25 - Abduction: The Megumi Yokota Story
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S9:E25

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. Independent Lens Season 9 Episode 26 - Deep Water
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    S9:E26

    The amazing and compelling true story of the fateful voyage of Donald Crowhurst, an amateur yachtsman who enters the most daring nautical challenge ever - the very first solo, non-stop, round-the-world boat race. Through re-enactments and interviews with family and friends, the viewer witnesses Crowhurst's maritime inexperience and eventually an ending that shocked a nation.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Season 9 Ratings Summary

"Writ Writer" is the best rated episode of "Independent Lens" season 9. It scored 7.6/10 based on 7 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 6/3/2008. This episode is rated 0.3 points higher than the second-best, "Please Vote for Me".