Plexifilm is a great little DVD label that has been releasing under appreciated documentary after under appreciated documentary. The label started out releasing low budget skateboard films (the terrific “Northwest” and “Fruit of the Vine“), but in recent years has become the DVD label for underground rock docs. They’ve released Sam Jones’ Wilco doc “I Am Trying To Break Your Heart,” as well as “Gigantic (A Tale of Two Johns),” and recently a pair of films about a pair of indie rock pioneers. One focuses on Death Cab for Cutie (“Drive Well, Sleep Carefully“), the other on Minnesota slowcore trio Low (“Low in Europe“). The label has also released films about Ted Leo, Galaxie 5000, and Pavement.

Our two favorite Plexifilm releases are “Friends Forever” and “5 Films About Christo & Jeanne-Claude.” “Friends Forever” follows a pair of musicians who decide to go on tour, only they don’t play inside rock clubs, they play outside rock clubs in their van. Armed with strobe lights, fireworks, amps and generators, the duo criss-cross the country in their VW van performing to stunned passersby at every stop. It’s a great underground documentary about an truly underground band. Our other fave is about famed environmental artists Christo and his wife Jeanne-Claude, who most recently installed The Gates in Central Park. The five disc set spans their 30-year career, and each of the collection’s five films was shot by the essential Albert Maysles (“Gimme Shelter“), one of documentary’s greatest filmmakers. His exquisite eye for compelling non-fiction moments is unparalleled. These, dear readers, are true art films.