S22.E7 ∙ Episode #22.7

The streets of Latin-america's big cities are crammed full of cars. Justified by poor public transportation or having chosen isolation, people drive one car each. Outside, a diversity of urban characters take the traffic light, a mere traffic control device, and turn it into their own meeting place.

Three high rise apartment buildings are under construction.

The film follows the story of five women, "Sanaz, Saedeh, Tala, Ladan and Beheshteh", each with a unique story, but one thing in common: they all live in a women's shelter in the south-end of Tehran, either by choice or by force. But now they all aim to change their lives for better, even if it is just for a tiny bit.

Joan is a committed, warm-hearted social worker and psychotherapist who works with derailed teenagers. In the documentary 'Joan's Boys' we see her efforts to help two of these kids -15 year old Alaa and Adil from a Moroccan family- to get back on track. The twins drop out from school, play violent video games all day and fight among each other about who can hold the PlayStation controller. In the midst of the heat they incidentally hit their mother, who goes knock-out on the floor. The boys are placed in custody. Can Joan save her boys by playing on their conscience? Or is her 'soft' approach deemed to fail? And what about Joan herself? Does her work with these kids replace her own unfulfilled child-wish?

From early on, Jim Hoy was involved with the Symphony in the Flint Hills that helps bring attention to preserving the tallgrass prairie near Clements, Kansas. He and countless other Kansans are working to protect this picturesque part of our landscape so that the next generation would be able to enjoy its beauty.

A documentary survey of urban night life and insomnia. Following several characters who inhabit the dark world of 24-hour bars, slot machine dives, night clubs and casinos, this film offers a glimpse into the world of people who live in an eternal night.