Paper Tigers

May 28, 2015

1h 42m

★ 7.7

One high school's unlikely success story.

Overview

Follows a year in the life of an alternative high school that has radically changed its approach to disciplining its students, becoming a promising model for how to break the cycles of poverty, violence and disease that affect families.

Genres

Documentary

Production Companies

KPJR Films

Paper Tigers Trailers

Cast

Himself

Steven

Herself

Dianna

Himself

Aron

Herself

Eternity

Herself

Kelsey

Himself

Gustavo

Principal

Jim Sporleder

Intervention Specialist

Brooke Bouchey

Science Teacher

Erik Gordon

A newspaper clip of a 30-year-old movie makes our middle-aged protagonist in the middle of his peak years to look for his best childhood friend. The journey leads him back to his teenage years in the 1990s depression, over-generational substance abuse and past encounters. This partly essayistic, autobiographical documentary tells the story of friendship and generational experiences while also pondering on the causes and effects of destinies in the judgmental atmosphere of our society.

10.0

Namaste Nepal

Jan 1, 2009

American high school students from the privileged Silicon Valley travel to Manang, Nepal in this documentary about how travel and life experiences can change personal perceptions. Together with a group of Manangi high schoolers, the students expand their cultural knowledge and experience a slice of life as a citizen of the globe.

6.0

The Salt Mines

Oct 1, 1990

Explores the lives of Sara, Gigi and Giovanna, three Latino transvestites who for years have lived on the streets of Manhattan supporting their drug addictions through prostitution. They made their temporary home inside broken garbage trucks that the Sanitation Department keeps next to the salt deposits used in the winter to melt the snow. The three friends share the place known as "The Salt Mines".

6.3

American Teen

Jul 25, 2008

A documentary on seniors at a high school in a small Indiana town and their various cliques.

5.3

TMZ Presents: The Downfall of Diddy

Apr 28, 2024

A series of lawsuits and allegations have legendary rap mogul P. Diddy on the ropes. TMZ has the troubling inside story from people who were there.

6.6

Young Solitude

Nov 14, 2018

Claire Simon portrays an important time for any individual, from 16 to 18 years of age. Set in the Paris suburbs in high school (for those lucky enough to go), teenagers chat after and even during class, sitting in the hallway or outside on a bench, looking at the city below them.

9.0

From Paseo To Pembroke: Kansas City's Golden Age

Sep 30, 2021

From Paseo to Pembroke is a Kansas City documentary retrospective on the golden age of high school basketball. From '88 to '98—from the Dotte all the way to Raytown. Told by the era's premier coaches, players and media personalities.

7.2

Science Fair

Sep 14, 2018

Filmmakers follow nine high school students from around the globe as they compete at an international science fair. Facing off against 1,700 of the smartest teens from 78 countries, only one will be named Best in Fair.

7.3

More than a Game

Sep 6, 2008

This documentary follows NBA superstar LeBron James and four of his talented teammates through the trials and tribulations of high school basketball in Ohio and James' journey to fame.

10.0

Voices of Central

Dec 9, 2022

Students of the high school show choir Voices of Central take a look back on the emotional journey they endured during the 2021-2022 school year.

7.2

Resolved

Jan 1, 2007

The fascinating complexity of high school debate gives way to a portrait of the equally complex racial and class bias of American education in Greg Whiteley's riveting documentary.

8.0

This Is Going to Be Big

Aug 9, 2023

Peer behind the curtain as a cast of neurodivergent teens prepare to come of age and hit the stage in their school’s time-travelling, John Farnham–themed musical.

8.0

Killer Bees

Jul 27, 2018

A championship high school basketball team provides pride, tradition and hope for an African American community struggling to survive in the middle of one of the wealthiest communities in America - The Hamptons.

6.1

Freakonomics

Oct 1, 2010

Some of the world's most innovative documentary filmmakers will explore the hidden side of everything.

6.6

How to Dance in Ohio

Jan 25, 2015

In Columbus, Ohio, a group of autistic teenagers and young adults role-play this transition by going through the deceptively complex social interactions of preparing for a spring formal. Focusing on several young women as they go through an iconic American rite of passage, we are given intimate access to people who are often unable to share their experiences with others. With humor and heartbreak, How to Dance in Ohio shows the daily courage of people facing their fears and opening themselves to the pain, worry, and joy of the social world.