S1.E31 ∙ Staying Afloat

The 200-year-old history of Arab-Americans and their contribution to the American fabric. The documentary chronicles the Arab-American experience through interviews with prominent Arab-Americans.

Summer vacation is over and 26 kids arrive to school fearful of their notoriously strict new teacher, Irena. Russian born Irena immigrated to Israel with her son and husband who died shortly after. She faces the challenge of teaching the third grade in one of the most difficult neighborhoods in Jerusalem where poverty, violence and unemployment are widespread. Using her unique approach, combining uncompromising discipline and love she propels a real change in the lives of her students. Following the course of the school year the film offers a window into the confines of a classroom.

On November 7, 2007, 18 year old Pekka shot and killed eight people at a high school in Jokela, a peaceful Finnish commuter town just north of Helsinki. Conversations with classmates, teachers and Pekka's parents lead into to a haunting reconstruction of the oppressive circumstances that led to this tragic act. We come to see that these circumstances are not necessarily unique to Pekka's life in Jokela.

A documentary on Jonathan Caouette's cross-country road trip with his mentally ill mother.

The year was 1999, and a couple of schools four hours apart were embarking on a season-long journey to become the best high school baseball team in Michigan. The Sturgis Trojans and the Pinconning Spartans were schools that were built from the ground up by communities that were unapologetically determined to do one thing - WIN. Both schools were championship caliber baseball teams that didn't know a thing about each other when they took the field at Battle Creek's Bailey Park to face-off in the 1999 MHSAA state championship. Finally, 22 years later, we have uncovered fascinating details about both teams, their run to the state finals, and the emotional thoughts and feelings behind one of the most memorable final innings in MHSAA history.