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Underground > Film, TV & Theatre >

Recommendations for documentaries

  
 
SMS
22:55 / 19.04.02
I'll give details for the knds of documentaries floating around in my mind, but I don't think I want to restrict subject too much. I'm looking for documentaries, primarily, that really stick out in your mind as being excellent works. I don't want a long list. I'd like to hear about what makes these films work.

What I'm thinking of. I'd like new perspectives on various cultures, including my own. I'd like films that try out new techniques in filmmaking and do them well.
 
 
uncle retrospective
23:21 / 19.04.02

The tittycut follies. Its about a asyulm in the 50/60's america. I'm not big on Doc film making but this left its mark. I've tried goggling it to get you more details but my brain has broken and I can't get any.
Some one else here will have seen it.
Eh,
Help!
 
 
Utopia
23:30 / 19.04.02
can't go wrong with direct cinema. try the maysles bros (gimme shelter, grey gardens, salesman) or d.a. pennebaker (don't look back). how about older soviet work?look at dziga vertov's the man with the movie camera and move on from there.
 
 
Margin Walker
00:41 / 20.04.02
Yeah, "Salesman" is a great documentary. The best way I can describe it is if "Glengarry Glen Ross" was set in the 60's and they sold bibles instead of land of dubious worth. And speaking of D.A. Pennebaker, has anyone seen "Down From The Mountain" yet?

And I can't recommend Errol Morris enough. He reminds me of the Coen Bros. in the way that each film is very diferent from the last one, but he's able to make each film his own. Old Errol Morris thread here. And although it's not a film documentary, check out the book Robert Frank: The Americans (or his Rolling Stones documentary "Cocksucker Blues" if you can find it).
 
 
Utopia
02:01 / 20.04.02
has anyone seen "Down From The Mountain" yet?
no, is this connected to the "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?" touring music show?

and how could i have forgotten Triumph of the Will? Leni Reifenstahl's super heavy propaganda film about a Nazi rally in Nuremberg, commissioned by Hitler himself. this film is...intense, to say the least. it just goes to show how everyday life can be manipulated to warp the minds of the audience. available at most good video outlets, on VHS & DVD.
 
 
ill tonic
02:09 / 20.04.02
Waco : The Rules Of Engagement
 
 
ill tonic
02:35 / 20.04.02
What a hoser eh? I, uh, like forgot to list the reasons why I liked The Rules Of Engagement? It was more for the subject matter then technique or anything. The movie provides pretty convincing evidence that the FBI and the ATF cold bloodedly murdered the Branch Davidians to destroy evidence and cover up a botched raid that turned into a media fiasco.

Although you've probably seen it, my favorite documentry is HEART OF DARKNESS - the making of the greatest war movie ever made, APOCALYPSE NOW. I second Margin Walkers recommendation of Errol Morris - THIN RED LINE and DR. DEATH were great stuff.
 
 
videodrome
05:25 / 20.04.02
Errol is notable for presenting documentary subjects in a very dynamic manner. If you're looking for ways to broaden the spectrum, he's a good place to start. Intriguingly, he seems to take a lot of cues from films about insects; many of his lighting and camera inspirations appear to originate in that milieu. He's also completely insane, which makes everything more interesting.

Speaking of insects, I'll throw in The Hellstrom Chronicle, a bit of a mockumentary with stunning insect footage. The idea behind the film is that insects will rule us and the world if we don't stop them - think Microcosmos meets The Tenant. Very entertaining, but not the most useful reference.

The Maysles have been mentioned, but Utopia's mention of "direct cinema" doesn't really do them justice. Think documentary work as inspired by the French New Wave. It seems obvious, but then realize that documentaries had either been:
a) fluff/newsreel pieces
b) comissioned with a bias
c) staged to some extent (see 'travelogues')
and the Maysles' work gets more interesting. (That list generalizes, I know, but it's close to the truth.) They're not without their share of critics - Grey Gardens had some aiming at the Maysles for 'exploiting' the Beales. The question is certainly open for discussion, despite the fact that the Beales were fully complicit and aware, though their mental stability comes into question...

The point is that the Maysles got very close to their subjects, and in doing so removed a lot of the old journalistic barriers, but created new questions in terms of the documentarian's relation to subject. Good films all round, though - the three Utopia mentioned are essential and out in very nice Criterion DVD (region-free!) editions. I'd extend MW's comments about Salesman to say that it was a direct inspiration to Mamet, and that several sections of Glengarry Glenross were lifted srtaight from the Maysles.

And directly influenced by the Maysles are Berlinger and Sinofsky. Yes, that Berlinger who did the second Blair Witch film. Too bad. But their docs are great, particularly Brother's Keeper, with Paradise Lost a strong second. Both of those films take the Maysles' approach and apply it to the intersection of public life and the American judicial system. Rough going at times, but stunning and revelatory, even if there is more of a bias than ever displayed by the restrained Maysles.
 
 
Harold Washington died for you
06:56 / 20.04.02
"Baraka" 1992. Directed by Ron Fricke. Hard to explain, but it is basically several dozen shots of different parts of the globe. Hits every continent except Antarctia I think. Some New-Agey instrumental type of music playing along in the back, but no narrator. The cinematography is awesome, shot on 65mm film. Try to get the DVD if you can.

I call it a love letter to the planet. Has a quasi-Gaia theme to it, with some cool pictures of nature, religious ceremonies, city bustle and so on. Don't have the words to do the movie justice, but afterwords I felt somehow transported. And I wasn't even on anything.
 
 
videodrome
07:28 / 20.04.02
Baraka is very much influenced by Koyaanisqatsi and it's successor, Powaqqatsi. In fact, Ron Fricke shot the former, so Baraka is, I suppose, and obvious step. He wasn't fortunate enough to get a bunch of new Philip Glass music, though. And there appears to be a thrid -qatsi film in the offing: Naqoyqatsi, dated 2002.

I don't know if I'd refer to any of the above as documentaries so much as photo albums. I'm not aiming to belittle any achievement by saying that anyone with a 70mm camera and a few million bucks (and Philip Glass) could make these films, but deep in my heart I kinda think that's true. But at the same time, my experience is limited to Koyaanisqatsi after which I was not at all hungry for more; it's beautiful to be sure, but also too broad to really catch me.

But this has made me think of another film which is in a similar vein - For All Mankind (ok, I admit it - I'm looking at my DVD shelf, here) which is constructed from footage taken on the Armstrong Apollo missions. The footage from space is immense and awe-inspiring, and it makes me cry every time I watch it. There's some voice-over from radio communication during the mission, but very little editorializing. What comes across is a rare portrait of pure human achievement, and it's very humbling. In terms of craft, it's very simple, built as it is from footage shot by astronauts, automated cameras and whoever was in mission control at the time. Instead of Philip Glass, you get music by Brian Eno, appropriately minimal and quite effective. The film is well-edited, but the primary power lies in the raw footage and the juxtaposition of mounted cameras looking at the earth as the astronauts tumble inexpertly without gravity. It's a rare documentary that actually makes us look good.
 
 
The Strobe
14:42 / 20.04.02
One Day in September

Won the Documentary Oscar a couple of years back; it's about the terrorist attacks on the Israelis at the '72 Olympic games. It's very chilling, simply executed, and riveting; not knowing anything about the subject, I was fascinated and horrified in equal parts. It deserved the Oscar, though it had iirc some good contenders. Good stuff.
 
 
Utopia
14:59 / 20.04.02
Errol Morris' film was The Thin Blue Line, both versions of The Thin Red Line are based on a novel (by the same name) about World War 2.
 
 
Saint Keggers
17:38 / 20.04.02
Uncle Retrospective mentioned it but Titticut Follies is one of the best Doc fils ive seen. Harsh and hard to watch at times...just shows what legth 'doctors' will go to with the inmates.

There was this other film I cant recall the name but it was basicaly a day in the life on an American Zoo. Ill let you know when I think of it

And there was a series the originally started with 7-Up and went on to 14-up 21-up ect..each installement docking the life of 5 7 yearold girls and then them at 14 ect...

We saw all these films in my documentary film class back in college.

Also you may want to check out the NAtional FIlm Board of Canada's documentaries. Top notch award winning stuff. I think they may loan them out..
 
 
The Strobe
22:00 / 20.04.02
7-up was a BBC series, think it was in the (excellent and now defunct) QED strand on BBC1; it began in 1989, focusing on the lives of a group of children who would be adults (18) in 2000. It revisits them every 7 years. That's what I can remember; always had good reviews and a pretty interesting project.
 
 
Utopia
22:08 / 20.04.02
good call on the National Film Board of Canada. they're actually the world's leading producer of documentaries. their site may have some worthwhile stuff on it.
 
 
Saint Keggers
03:47 / 21.04.02
You're welcome..my tax dollars are paying for those docs. NFB..my money well spent.
 
  
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