Though Jessica Sanders' rambling documentary about the damaged lives of wrongfully imprisoned men would have made a better subject for an hour-long "Dateline" special, it's still a powerful indictment of a judicial system too anxious to close cases, and then close ranks when someone tries to reopen them.

The film focuses on seven "exonerees" trying to restart their lives after spending from 6 1/2 to 23 years behind bars. All of them were freed after DNA evidence showed beyond any doubt that they were innocent of the charges that juries had found them guilty of "beyond a reasonable doubt."

While all have a reason to be furious and bitter, some are more so than others. What should come as shocking — and unacceptable — to Americans is that exonerated inmates are released with no remuneration for their lost years, and without even the benefits that are awarded to parolees. And they have to fight — at their own expense — to get their records expunged.P> Shame!

A visually lush and eerily enigmatic parable of female sexuality, Lucile Hadzihalilovic's ominous fairy tale raises questions you'll be wondering about for days.

At a mysteriously isolated French boarding school, perfectly turned-out little girls are being carefully groomed for ... what, exactly? That's up to you to decide, but Hadzihalilovic offers several unsettling clues, from the sudden disappearance of older students to the hushed conversations of secretive teachers. You'll need patience and a yen for heavy metaphor, but consider this — how often do you get a chance to see a film that is genuinely original?

The wildfire rumor — received as fact in much of the Arab world — that no Jews died during the 9/11 attacks prompted New York filmmaker Marc Levin to set out on a personal journey to gauge the range and acceptance of blind anti-Semitism. He got an earful of hatred from Arab-Americans, white separatists, black nationalists and those always reliable Holocaust deniers.

In other words, he learned nothing that should surprise anyone who is both sentient and sane. But in tracing much of this contemporary anti-Semitism to a phony 19th-century document in which Jewish leaders lay out plans for taking over the world, we at least get some understanding of how some twisted people justify their hatred and fear of Jews.

At the Landmark Sunshine and Lincoln Plaza (1:31). PG: Mild language and alcohol use. In Hebrew with subtitles. Even if you can't relate to the specifics, you'll be charmed by Giddi Dar's tale of a hapless Hasidic couple preparing for the joyous Jewish holiday of Succoth in Jerusalem. Somehow, despite prayers for a peaceful week, Moshe and Malli end up harboring criminals, scandalizing their neighbors and, finally, splitting up. Though they're convinced that God's hand is at work, love and perseverance have to bolster even their vast reserves of faith.

A rare glimpse into a very private community, "Ushpizin" is the first collaboration between Israel's secular and ultra-Orthodox populations. Gentle and affecting, it offers an introduction to a mostly unfamiliar world while touching on issues recognizable to all.

In Ghana, physical disability is considered a sure-fire route to poverty and debasement. But ever since Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah, a penniless orphanwith a deformed leg, was a teenager, he was determined to challenge his country's attitude. A naturally confident athlete and public speaker, he began traveling across Ghana and America, raising awareness and effecting visible change.

Yeboah is so levelheaded about his own accomplishments that the swelling score and emotional narration from Oprah Winfrey feel embarrassingly sentimental. His story should have been told in a more sensible manner — but then, given the obstacles he has had to face, it's a wonder it was told at all.

A journey into the original heart of darkness, Peter Bate's uneven but immensely important documentary examines the shameful history of Belgium's King Leopold II, whose colonial reign at the turn of the 20th century resulted in the deaths of millions of Congolese. Despite exposure by authors like Joseph Conrad, Leopold's monomaniacal sadism has been regrettably overlooked in both Europe and Africa.

Unfortunately, Bate saddles his otherwise compelling chronicle with awkward re-creations and an aggressively overbearing narration. He should have had more faith in both his subject and the audience. No one could hear this story and deny the horror.

There are some amusing moments, and it's always fun to play spot-the-paycheck-chasing-adult (targets include George Wendt, Rosanna Arquette, Adam Arkin, Elizabeth Perkins and, in an underwhelming debut, Nicole Richie).

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