I’m grateful for the ability to access films and shows via streaming, but a part of me still wishes cable and physical media were still the most prominent way to access them. Z Channel is especially fascinating, given how it pioneered the concept of the director’s cut, and led to more obscure, often foreign and arthouse films, gaining a wider audience. The documentary itself is solid, due to its focus on both the channel and Jerry Harvey. It’s just as much a study on Harvey as it is a tribute to the channel, and a fascinating and tragic one at that.  This doc was where I first found out about his story, and I was pretty shaken by the end of it.  However, I’m glad that the documentary doesn’t try to glorify the disturbed Jerry Harvey, the more uplifting moments focusing on Z’s programming.  I might not be thankful for Jerry Harvey the person, but I am for Z Channel’s contributions to film history and the way we are able to access films.

I’m grateful for the ability to access films and shows via streaming, but a part of me still wishes cable and physical media were still the most prominent way to access them. Z Channel is especially fascinating, given how it pioneered the concept of the director’s cut, and led to more obscure, often foreign and arthouse films, gaining a wider audience. The documentary itself is solid, due to its focus on both the channel and Jerry Harvey. It’s just as much a study on Harvey as it is a tribute to the channel, and a fascinating and tragic one at that.  This doc was where I first found out about his story, and I was pretty shaken by the end of it.  However, I’m glad that the documentary doesn’t try to glorify the disturbed Jerry Harvey, the more uplifting moments focusing on Z’s programming.  I might not be thankful for Jerry Harvey the person, but I am for Z Channel’s contributions to film history and the way we are able to access films.