Don’t Sleep On Documentaries - Opinion
From Shane Conto
What is your first reaction to someone bringing up documentaries? Is it an adverse reaction? Do they remind you of school and sitting down to learn? Do they trigger the reaction of being bored? Do you wonder why you would want to watch people talking about stuff instead of watching an actual story come to life? These are certainly perspectives and reactions that exist amongst many people And you know what? That is a shame. There is a whole world of filmmaking that is included in documentary filmmaking and so much to get out of them. But there are reservations and biases towards documentaries which I hope you can get past because there are so many great films out there that take this authentic and real approach to telling stories.
What is the most accessible genre of documentaries in today’s cinematic landscape? True crime. Are you Gen X or a Millennial? If so…you have definitely watched true crime documentaries. Whether it is from hate watching or because it is lowkey your personality, there are so many eyes on every single true crime documentary out there. Whether they are cold cases getting a new spotlight or famous serial killers, these types of films and series have captured the attention of so many people. Even people who generally don’t watch documentaries watch true crime content. What is the fascination? There is something sleazy and fascinating about these stories. They capture a darkness about humanity that is hard to look away from. But if you are already watching all this content, you have taken the first step into this storytelling medium!
What are the most relatable and connective documentaries? Special interest ones. There are films or series out there for all of your interests. Who wouldn’t love to watch a film about their favorite hobbies or interests? There are plenty of films that I have watched that connected with me because of my interests. Watching Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage for the first time for me was a special moment. My love for Rush’s music is quite significant and getting the chance to learn more about their story and hear from fellow Rush fans and how their music connects to them. I have watched endless pro-wrestling documentaries and learned so much about the industry that I have loved since I was in middle school and the stars that I have watched on television for yeaI have also been a die hard baseball fan since I was 10 years old and projects like Ken Burn’s Baseball have expanded the love I have for that sport. When you have such a passion for something, why not learn all you can about it?
What particular special interests standout so much when it comes to documentaries? One most certainly has to be music. There is something special with what you can do with film while capturing the magic of the music experience. Sure you have plenty of music documentaries that act as biopics for these famous (or under appreciated) musicians. But the concert film is an interesting situation. The most basic approach is just recording a live performance. There isn’t anything in particular that stands out from a cinematic perspective but at least you capture the performance. That is probably most. But sometimes…you get a transcendent experience. Martin Scorsese (one of the greatest filmmakers of all time) is not just great with narrative films. He created one of the best music biopic type documentaries with his towering look at The Beatles’ legend, George Harrison. Living in a Material World is sprawling and pulls no punches. He also takes this energy when he created the greatest concert film of all time in The Last Waltz. Scorsese knows how to capture the small moments in a performance as well as the scale of being a concert made up of the most influential artists in the world with The Band welcoming the likes of Bob Dylan and Eric Clapton. One other such cinematic triumph just received a restored re-release, Stop Making Sense. The Talking Heads are one of the most influential arthouse bands ever and Jonathan Demme (of Silence of the Lambs fame) is able to maximize the camera work to capture the idiosyncrasies of David Byrne performance while making it feel intimate and engaging.
But if you love film and you are trying to find the value in documentaries… what is the obvious next step? Check out documentaries about films! There are so many films out there that pull back the curtain and provide more perspective on the artistic feats of some great artists. Documentaries about our favorite stars, filmmakers, and overall just the magic of the filmmaking process strike film watchers on another level. You have fascinating accounts of making films like Hearts of Darkness which capture the tumultuous and dangerous shoot that brought Apocalypse Now to life. You can watch endless documentaries about actors and filmmakers which show underneath the surface and what makes them tick. Whether they are deeply personal character studies or informative quests through aspects of film, they can add dimensions to any cinephile's experiences.
But should we be pigeon-holing documentaries into informative boxes? There are plenty of films that are there to inform for our enjoyment but to inform for our knowledge. Getting the opportunity to see some of the darker moments in human history can trigger important reactions that can inform our actions moving forward. They can tell us about the wrongful acts perpetrated on under-represented populations from the genocide of Native Americans to discrimination of Black people through American history. I have learned so much about the hidden events in history thanks to the great efforts of filmmakers who want to inform us about history in hopes to never repeat it. Documentaries are a great way to highlight those who made such big impacts in history and have unfortunately been lost to it. We can learn so much from the works of others and the passion they have for the events and individuals who have shaped the world we live in.
But do documentaries have to be a string of individuals getting interviewed or followed through their lives? There is so much we can do with documentaries to the point they can deliver experiences that feel just like a narrative film. One of my favorites recently, The Mole Agent, finds a man infiltrating a retirement home in Chile. It took me almost 30 minutes for me to realize it was actually a documentary! Honeyland is such a beautiful film as well and the wall between documentary and subjects is never crossed. These feel like the most authentic people you would ever find in a film as we follow their struggle to make a living. Some even mix narrative and documentary to impressive effect due to their dramatizations.
Are these enough reasons to convince you? Documentaries are such a powerful medium of telling stories. They are not only true as they are focusing on real events, people, or interests, but they have the power to convince and inform. There are films that have transcended this medium and made impressive impacts like An Inconvenient Truth and Bowling for Columbine. We learn and grow through our experiences and film can be an incredible teacher. Enjoy what you enjoy. Expand your perspective. Watch some documentaries.
