I LOVE DOCUMENTARIES. There's just something about a real story that makes them better than movies, and something about watching the actual event, listening to the actual people, and seeing the actual places that makes them better than textbooks. I have two hopes for this blog-- my first hope is that you'll be as captured, moved, entertained, enlightened, and inspired by these films as I was. My second hope is that I haven't just ruined your life with 100+ hours of great film to watch... OOPS! :)
My Top 5
1. Every Little Step
A Chorus Line is one of my favorite musicals, but it doesn't have to be one of yours to enjoy this documentary. Following the process of creating the musical from gathering the true stories to casting the revival, Every Little Step gives an inside look into the life of an actor-- from desperately auditioning to working to tell a story and the impossible thought of the day when it all might disappear. Every time you step onto the stage, "it's opening, it's closing... it's everything." Love love love.
My Top 5
1. Every Little Step
A Chorus Line is one of my favorite musicals, but it doesn't have to be one of yours to enjoy this documentary. Following the process of creating the musical from gathering the true stories to casting the revival, Every Little Step gives an inside look into the life of an actor-- from desperately auditioning to working to tell a story and the impossible thought of the day when it all might disappear. Every time you step onto the stage, "it's opening, it's closing... it's everything." Love love love.
2. The Mask You Live In
The Mask You Live In examines the society, expectations, and stereotypes into which we raise our boys. A sequel to Miss Representation, the documentary looks at media, education, and culture, and the issues that America's narrow definition of masculinity can create. I think the work does a great job of creating understanding and provoking thought without being too cynical or critical.
The Mask You Live In examines the society, expectations, and stereotypes into which we raise our boys. A sequel to Miss Representation, the documentary looks at media, education, and culture, and the issues that America's narrow definition of masculinity can create. I think the work does a great job of creating understanding and provoking thought without being too cynical or critical.
3. Living on One Dollar
These guys are awesome. They travel to rural Guatemala and live on $1 a day, struggling with and learning about hunger, inconsistent income, parasites, and extreme poverty. The film started as little youtube videos and has since won many awards.
These guys are awesome. They travel to rural Guatemala and live on $1 a day, struggling with and learning about hunger, inconsistent income, parasites, and extreme poverty. The film started as little youtube videos and has since won many awards.
4. It's A Girl
I think the most accurate word I can use to describe this film is mind-boggling. That, or horrifying. All over the world, girls are aborted, killed and abandoned simply because of their sex. The United Nations estimates as many as 200 million girls are missing in the world today because of this so-called “gendercide”. This violence is rooted in tradition and culture, and accelerated by government policy.
I think the most accurate word I can use to describe this film is mind-boggling. That, or horrifying. All over the world, girls are aborted, killed and abandoned simply because of their sex. The United Nations estimates as many as 200 million girls are missing in the world today because of this so-called “gendercide”. This violence is rooted in tradition and culture, and accelerated by government policy.
5. Winter On Fire: Ukraine's Fight for Freedom
I think what struck me most about this film was the currentness of it all-- and the fact that I wasn't even aware of the calamity and tribulation in Ukraine as I stressed over which song to sing at my auditions or how many pencils to bring to the SAT. Nominated for an Oscar in 2015, the documentary looks at the Euromaidan protests, demonstrations, and revolution, creating a portrait of terror, anger, desperation and resolve.
I think what struck me most about this film was the currentness of it all-- and the fact that I wasn't even aware of the calamity and tribulation in Ukraine as I stressed over which song to sing at my auditions or how many pencils to bring to the SAT. Nominated for an Oscar in 2015, the documentary looks at the Euromaidan protests, demonstrations, and revolution, creating a portrait of terror, anger, desperation and resolve.
Honorable Mention: The Imposter
This is an incredible piece of art. An unconventional documentary, the film uses bits of real footage in combination with actors to recreate the unbelievable story of the 1997 case of the French confidence trickster Frédéric Bourdin, who successfully impersonated Nicholas Barclay, a Texas boy who disappeared at the age of 13 in 1994. As entranced as I was with the film making and the story, that didn't stop me from admiring the incredible acting-- so honest that at moments I forgot they weren't the actual people. I encourage you to read about more about the case before/as you are watching... seriously crazy.
This is an incredible piece of art. An unconventional documentary, the film uses bits of real footage in combination with actors to recreate the unbelievable story of the 1997 case of the French confidence trickster Frédéric Bourdin, who successfully impersonated Nicholas Barclay, a Texas boy who disappeared at the age of 13 in 1994. As entranced as I was with the film making and the story, that didn't stop me from admiring the incredible acting-- so honest that at moments I forgot they weren't the actual people. I encourage you to read about more about the case before/as you are watching... seriously crazy.
Here are the rest of my favorites in approximate ranked order:
Categories (some fit in multiple):
Arts/Media
Health/Nature/Travel
Culture/Society/History
Education/Development
Crime/Justice/Conspiracy
Categories (some fit in multiple):
Arts/Media
Health/Nature/Travel
Culture/Society/History
Education/Development
Crime/Justice/Conspiracy
- In the Heights: Chasing Broadway Dreams (workshopping and opening In the Heights)
- Jonestown (Jim Jones' mass suicide cult)
- Half the Sky (girls in 3rd world)
- Miss Representation (Girls and portrayal of girls in society)
- Hitler's GI death camp (American GIs in a concentration camp)
- Propaganda game (North Korea)
- Hitler's Children (Descendants of Nazis, one hugs an Auschwitz survivor... incredible)
- Making a Murderer (Netflix series on justice system and innocent incarceration)
- Inside North Korea (Eye doctor and reporter allowed in)
- The Man in the Machine (Steve Jobs)
- Ubuntu (Street theatre in Ghana)
- Sweet dreams (Ice Cream Shop in Rwanda)
- Waiting for Superman (American education)
- Race to Nowhere (Modern education and stress)
- Crossing borders (Moroccan student exchange)
- E-Team (Human Rights Watch emergency)
- Stuck (orphanages and adoption)
- Maidentrip (14 sailing around the globe)
- The Source Family (hippie cult)
- Five Broken Cameras (war and protests on West Bank)
- The Dark Matter of Love (adoption)
- The Seventies (series: best ones on terrorism, crime and cult, there is also a Sixties series)
- Playground (sex trafficking)
- India's Daughter (Gang rape in India)
- The Falling Man (9/11 suicide jumper)
- Cropsy (Real life boogeyman)
- The Hunting Ground (College campus sexual assault)
- Escape from Alcatraz (He carved his decoy out of soap!)
- Fame High (LA County High School for the Arts)
- Hungry for change (Health and diet)
- Happy (around the world)
- Babies (4 from around the world)
- Acceptance (Ivy League college admissions)
- Auschwitz: Inside the Nazi State (about the concentration camp)
- Forgiving Dr. Mengele (Nazi doctor)
- Ugly (taboo, modeling agency)
- Myanmar (life in Myanmar)
- The Dancing Boys (Afghanistan)
- A Sloth Named Velcro (Uh, it's about sloths... what more could you ask for?)
- Tiny (living in a Tiny House)
- One day on Earth (footage from the same day around the earth)
- Chicago Girl (Syrian rebellion & social media)
- Nine at Little Rock (Education/desegregation story of Little Rock Nine)
- The Great American West (Lots of beautiful images and video of America)