One of my very favourite films from last year has been released in a deluxe two-disc DVD set. Trembling Before G-d is the landmark feature documentary about Orthodox and Hasidic Jews who are struggling to reconcile their faith and communities with their queer orientations.

Director Sandi Simcha DuBowski approaches his subjects with respect, and his winning of their trust leads to some remarkable doc moments, in which interviewees torn between their faith and their sexual identities bear their souls. Often incredibly heavy, the film also has its lighter moments of gentle humour.

Extras include so many of the outtakes that illustrate just how difficult the editing decisions were for DuBowski and his crew. (As well, there are bits of archival footage, including one person's stint on the old Donahue show.) This one could easily have been an entire miniseries. DuBowski includes Trembling on the Road, a short film about the impact his feature had on communities around the world when it toured for screenings followed by town-hall style discussion groups. This is an essential part of any documentary enthusiast's home vid library. » Matthew Hays