Minding the Gap (Criterion) 01/22 Blu-ray (Rental)

This extraordinary debut from documentarian Bing Liu weaves a story of skateboarding, friendship, and fathers and sons into a coming-of-age journey of courageous vulnerability. Over the course of several years and with his camera always at the ready, Liu records the rocky paths into adulthood of Keire and Zack, two friends from his own skateboarding community in Rockford, Illinois. As he does so, deeper parallels gradually emerge that ultimately draw the filmmaker into a heartrending confrontation with his own past. With an eye for images of exhilarating poetry and a keen emotional sensitivity, Minding the Gap is a powerfully cathartic portrait of fledgling lives forged in trauma and fighting to break free. DIRECTOR-APPROVED BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES • New high-definition digital master, approved by director Bing Liu, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack • New audio commentary featuring Liu and documentary subjects Keire Johnson and Zack Mulligan • New follow-up conversation between Liu and documentary subject Nina Bowgren • New programs featuring interviews with professional skateboarder Tony Hawk and with Liu, Minding the Gap executive producer Gordon Quinn, and producer Diane Quon • Four outtake scenes with introductions by Liu • Nước (2010), a short film by Liu about two Vietnamese immigrants growing up American • Trailer • New English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing • PLUS: An essay by critic Jay Caspian Kang