This is a list of documentary films I watched and would watch again. Its not a list of the besxt x documentaries or even my favourite. It just list of films I am really glad I watched and others may enjoy. I have decided to not include anything made by anyone I know as that would just upset people;). This page is a work in progress.
1922, Nanook of the North, Robert J. Flaherty Generally considered to be the first ever documentary ever made but a fascinating and butterfly made. An extraordinary, intimate and sometimes amusing look in to the life of Eskimos. Flaherty may of been criticized for his manipulation of reality but its not as if the rule book at been even started.
1929, Man with a Move Camera, Dziga VertovThis playful film is at once a documentary of a day in the life of the
Soviet Union, a documentary of the making of said documentary, and a
depiction of an audience watching the film. The editing of this film uses many of the techniques of modern films and is excellently executed. It took the rest of the world years to catch up and make films this expertly.
1936, Night Mail, Harry Watt, Basil Wright GPO Film Units poetic and fascinating look at the Mail Train. Great example of linking visual elements to poetry, uses the rhythms of the sound of the steam trains.
1971, Punishment Par, Peter Watkinsk
This may be a mokumentery so probably should not be in this list but is perfectly executed. By the maker of The War Game but the performances are excellent even thought it does not use actors. Covers the trials of atavists and hippies who rather than go to prison are sent to punishment park for a fatal flag game. Never shown on TV probasbly because it ins too close to the trough of what many thought the government would love to be able to get away with doing.
1978, The Battle of Chile, Patricio Guzmán5 house epic showing chronicling Chile's open and peaceful socialist revolution, and of the violent counter-revolution against it.. Helped by the media who lied about the result. An incredible story which includes a cameraman filming his own death. By comparison what happened in Venezuela in The Revolution Will not be Televised is mild.
1983, Special Bulletin, Edward Zwick - watch for freeAnother mockumentery (so strictly speaking should not be on this list) but excellently executed. Had me going almost to the end.
2002, Lift, Marc Isaacs, 2002 - watch for freeFilmed mainly in a lift in a high in London, you get as often amusing insight into the characters that use the lift.
2002, Blue Vinyl,
Daniel B. Gold, Judith Helfand Part family comedy and part horrifying investigative reportage, Blue Vinyl can make one simultaneously laugh and shiver with fear in the same, deceptively low-key moments.
Capturing the Fredimans, Andrew Jarecki, 2003Grizzly Man, 2005 Deep Water, Louise Osmond ,Jerry Rothwell, 2006 Beautifully shot and conducted interviews and excellent use of Archive footage, some that they found that had never been seen before. A masterpiece of Archive led film making.
Dixie Chicks, Shut up and Sing, Barbara Kopple, Cecilia Peck, 2006The story of how one of the most popular country bands in America has there whole trajectory changed after a single anti Bush comment at one of there concerts. They were dumped by the right wing country music scene but rather than try to patch things up they decided to take the bull by the horns and meet there critics head on. A spirited story of how the most unlikely people are prepared to face the establishment regardless of the consequences.
The King of Kong,
Seth Gordon, 2007Collapse (with Michael Rupert), Chris Smith, 2009 Who Killed the Electric Car, Chris Paine, 2006 Enron, Smartest Guy in the Room, 2005 A look at Enron and the lunacy that led to its collapse. Excellently made and full of surprises. Inside Job may of won an Oscar this film was ahead of the curve and the story is expertly told. A warning we did not head. Spike Lee's insightful look at the New Orleans floods, why they happened and the people they affected. Made with a mixture of archive footage and personal testomy. The whole thing may be 4 hours long but is totally engaging.
Man on a Wire, 2008
The Cove, 2009, Louie Psihoyos - trailer The Cove referred to in the title of this film is in Japan and it is where Dolphins not chosen by theme parks are taken. This film is the story of how atavists managed to film what happens in The Cove as well as raise awareness of what happens there. This is an interesting way of making a 'campaign' film, which this clearly is. It does do it in an original way and introduces us to Flippers trainer along the way. There is some extraordinary camera and sound work including some wonderfull night nision footage of dolphin and breaking into a dolphin Park.
Last Train Home, 2009, Lixin Fan A couple embarks on a journey home for Chinese new year along with 130
million other migrant workers, to reunite with their children and
struggle for a future. Their unseen story plays out as China soars
towards being a world superpower. This film tells the story with humanity and introduces us to a world we rarely see, that of the migrant workers who make the cheap goods we but. The observational style works well and its political message is under the radar rather than in your face.
Into Eternity, Michal Maderson, 2010This ponient and sometimes chilling film tells the story of Onicre, the hiding place for Finland's Nuclear waste and those who designed it. This is no worthy campaign film but a keep and poetic look at how we deal with something that will last 100,000 years. beautifully made with a playfulness and looking sometimes like alian this film will take you on a thought providing journey that will give you a new insight into our relationship with nuclear power.
Armadilo, Janus Metz Pedersen, 2010Life in a Day, Kevin Macdonald, 2011 |