A film by Frederick Wiseman following the ins and outs of 7 ballets by the Paris Opera Ballet.

CANAL ZONE is about the people who live and work in the Panama Canal Zone and shows both the operation of the Canal and the various governmental agencies — business, military, and civilian — related to the functioning of the Canal and the lives of the Americans in the zone. The film includes sequences of ships in transit, the work of special canal pilots, aspects of the civil government, work of the military, and the social, religious and recreational life of the Zonians.

Direct cinema pioneer Frederick Wiseman takes an in-depth look at the preeminent American university during a fall semester that saw a vigorous debate taking place over tuition hikes, budget cuts, and the future of higher education in the United States.

The famous New York City landmark is given the spotlight, as well as the variety of ways in which people make use of it: running, boating, walking, skating, music, theatre, sports, picnics, parades and concerts. Further illustrated are the complex problems the NYC Parks Department deals with in order to maintain and preserve the park and keep it open and accessible to the public.

An exploration of the inner workings of the New York City-based American Ballet Theatre, one of the most prestigious ballet schools in the world. All facets are explored, from dancers Julio Bocca, Alessandra Ferri and Susan Jaffe in their relentless rehearsals to the managers and businesspeople who keep it running. The dancers' lives outside are represented as well, as they balance the strict demands of professional ballet with their personal lives.

Famous in the 19th-century for silver mining, Aspen is now better known for its scenic splendor, skiing, hiking, and fashion. One typical winter, the destination plays host to the daily activities of people who visit, live and work there.

During the summer of 1970 at Fort Knox, Kentucky, a group of men going through infantry training show how they're transformed from civilians into soldiers. As well as being a unique portrait of the US army at work, it's also a fascinating snapshot of a time and place at a defining moment in American history.