Expedition to the End of the World, directed by Daniel Dencik, follows a group of scientists and artist aboard a schooner who explore northeast Greenland. They set out for their expedition with an open mind and the hope of finding new species. The scenery looks breathtakingly gorgeous, just as expected, but the real surprises here are twofold: one, the interesting transitions from a classical music soundtrack to heavy metal music from Metallica as you watch the landscapes, and, two, the formlessness and aimlessness of the doc's content. That first surprise pays off because it makes you step back and contemplate why the director chose that music in particular. However, the second surprise doesn't pay off, though. The doc covers a wide variety of themes and issues while jumping from one to the other very quickly sans any particular purpose. Dencik asks the schooner's crew members to explain they perspectives on the purpose of life, but he asks them that question at the very end of the doc with only 10 minutes left to go. A loaded question like that needs much more time for analysis and further exploration. You can't help but wonder what Werner Herzog would've done with this documentary: at least it would've probably been much more than just pretty scenery and interesting music. Argo Pictures opens it at Film Forum. Kabbalah Me can best be described as a Reader's Digest version of Kabbalah. Co-directors Steven Bram and Judah Lazarus barely scratch its surface while interviewing a variety of individuals, including, not surprisingly, Orthodox Jews and rabbis, each of whom has found spiritual guidance in the practice of Kabbalah. Bram travels from Brooklyn to the Wailing Wall in Jeruselem to find answers as to the meaning of Kabbalah. It would have been helpful if he were to have some kind of thesis, multifaceted arguments or at least more provocative questions in order for audiences to gain insight or revelation. It's interesting, though, to observe how Bram's friends and family react to him practicing Kabbalah for the first time. Without exploring Kabbalah more profoundly, Kabbalah Me, is amusing, much like its title, but often shallow and incomplete. First Run Features opens it at the Quad Cinema. Also via First Run Cinema at the Quad is K2: Siren of the Himalayas, far superior to any of the other docs opening this week. Director Dave Ohlson follows a group of mountain climbers, namely, Fabrizio Zangrilli, Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner, Jake Meyer and Chris Szymiec, as they try to ascend Mount K2, the second highest mountain in the world in hopes of reaching the summit or at least beating the record of 7,654 meters set by The Duke of Abruzzi back in the early 20th Century. These men and women risk their lives for doing what they love to do best, so it's equally inspiring and thrilling to watch them ascend K2 while braving the elements. The footage that Ohlson captures is quite breathtaking in a way that no Hollywood production would be able to replicate. It's also beneficial that he doesn't film it in 3D like the recent mountain-climbing doc Beyond the Edge. K2 might not be as powerful and brilliant Touching the Void, but, at a running time of only 1 hour and 15 minutes, it's thoroughly captivating, and demands to be seen on the big screen.

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Are You Here
Directed by Matthew Weiner