Since it can often be hard to see some of the Oscar-nominated documentaries in theaters, it's nice to get a taste of them before Oscar night — not to mention that it might help you when you fill out your Oscar ballot. So this week I'll feature as many of the Best Documentary previews as I can.

The New York Times writes that while the topics in The Betrayal are big and heavy (war, revolution, immigration), the film maintains an "intimate mood and a lyrical tone." The review goes on to say that the movie "is quiet, contemplative, and impressionistic, which makes the story it has to tell all the more powerful."

The documentary was shot over 23 years and follows the life of Thavisouk Phrasavath whose father was a Laotian military officer who fought alongside Americans and faced execution after the US military withdrew. Thavisouk's family decided to escape to America where they'd hoped to find safety, but instead they found the difficult reality of life on the streets. From the war in Vietnam to gang violence in America, the scope of the movie looks enormous but the buzz is it's one of the most intimate documentaries you'll see all year.

To check out the trailer for yourself, just read more.