# Documentary fans: What documentaries do you recommend
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-fans-what-documentaries-do-you-recommend/543843
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [June 20, 2010, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-fans-what-documentaries-do-you-recommend/543843 "2010-06-20T04:47:29Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 3
### Author:  [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)
#### Post date: [June 21, 2010, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-fans-what-documentaries-do-you-recommend/543843/41 "2010-06-21T16:48:17Z")
_American Dream_ was directed by Barbara Kopple, who also did _Harlan County U.S.A_. It’s about a bitterly divisive strike at a Hormel plant in Minnesota. Very engaging but sad.
_Convention_ is a recent documentary about the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver. It follows several reporters covering the convention, several city officials trying to keep things running behind the scenes, and several protestors trying to disrupt the show. Very interesting.
_A Year with the Queen_ is a great look at how the Queen does her job, and the hundreds of people who help with everything from preparing food, arranging flowers, planning events, sending out invitations, etc. Anyone interested in the British monarchy should see this.
The Jonathan Demme-produced documentary _Mandela_ is amazing, and a favorite of mine. It tells Nelson Mandela’s story eloquently and stirringly. I had tears in my eyes to see him released, forgiving those who jailed him and rising to lead his country.
_Garbo the Spy_ is a funny, intriguing look at a notorious double agent during WWII who, under the guidance of MI6, fed the Nazis massive quantities of false info and helped sustain the deception as to just where the D-Day landing would be. He was, it’s thought, the only man to be decorated by both King George VI and Adolf Hitler for his wartime service. The movie’s not perfect, and left me with several questions, but is still very much worth a look.
Richard Brookhiser’s _Rediscovering George Washington_ is a wry, funny, intriguing look at a great American, debunking the legends but also showing us how amazing a human being Washington really was.
Ken Burns’s PBS documentary series _The Civil War_ is simply a masterpiece. Many of his other films are very good, too.
I enthusiastically second (or third) the earlier recommendations of _Spellbound, Atomic Cafe, Roger & Me, Heart of Darkness_ and _Cosmos_.
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### Author:  [@Rrose\_Selavy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rrose_Selavy)
#### Post date: [June 21, 2010, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-fans-what-documentaries-do-you-recommend/543843/42 "2010-06-21T16:56:58Z")
Anything by Adam Curtis (many are on Google/You tube etc if you search)
> **[Adam Curtis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Curtis)**
>
> Adam Curtis (born 26 May 1955) is an English documentary filmmaker.
> Curtis began his career as a conventional documentary producer for the BBC throughout the 1980s and into the early 1990s. The release of Pandora's Box (1992) marked the introduction of Curtis's distinctive presentation that uses collage to explore aspects of sociology, psychology, philosophy and political history.
> His style has been described as involving, "whiplash digressions, menacing atmospherics and arpeggiated scores, ...
Specifically
Century of the Self
The Power of Nightmares (if you only see one , see this one)
The Trap
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### Author:  [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)
#### Post date: [June 21, 2010, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-fans-what-documentaries-do-you-recommend/543843/43 "2010-06-21T17:08:48Z")
Also forgot:
[**The War Room**](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108515/) and [**Maxed Out**](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiOVNWoWTAU).
Also also: [**…So Goes the Nation**](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47ytI4Ss32I) isn’t too bad.
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### Author:  [@Boulter\_s\_Canary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boulter_s_Canary)
#### Post date: [June 21, 2010, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-fans-what-documentaries-do-you-recommend/543843/44 "2010-06-21T17:25:36Z")
[**Deep Water**](http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/deepwater/film.html) an amateur yachtsman’s descent into his own personal heart of darkness.
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### Author:  [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfluous_Parentheses)
#### Post date: [June 21, 2010, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-fans-what-documentaries-do-you-recommend/543843/45 "2010-06-21T17:49:02Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#):
>
> Simon Schama’s done a couple of excellent documentary series: _A History of Britain_ and _The Power of Art_. He’s also done a couple of others, _The American Future_ and _Rough Crossings_, which I haven’t seen yet.
I haven’t seen much of him, but **The American Future: A History** was excellent.
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### Author:  [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)
#### Post date: [June 21, 2010, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-fans-what-documentaries-do-you-recommend/543843/46 "2010-06-21T17:58:57Z")
[My Kid Could Paint That](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0912592/) is specifically about a 4 year old abstract expressionist, and more broadly about the general public’s perception of modern and non-representational art.
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### Author:  [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)
#### Post date: [June 21, 2010, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-fans-what-documentaries-do-you-recommend/543843/47 "2010-06-21T18:03:34Z")
Lots of great ones listed above! Two I haven’t seen mentioned so far:
[Startup.Com](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0256408/) – An internet startup crashes and burns in slow motion. Maybe avoid it if you don’t like _schadenfreude_.
[When Two Won’t Do](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0307660/) – A very interesting film about polyamory, including the experience of the two filmmakers. Thoughtful, funny, and poignant.
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### Author:  [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)
#### Post date: [June 21, 2010, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-fans-what-documentaries-do-you-recommend/543843/48 "2010-06-21T18:06:51Z")
I’ll just throw my support behind \*\*The Bridge \*\*and **The Power Of Nightmares** , and add **Man On Wire** into the mix.
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### Author:  [@Mister\_Owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Owl)
#### Post date: [June 21, 2010, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-fans-what-documentaries-do-you-recommend/543843/49 "2010-06-21T18:31:38Z")
The most fascinating grumpy old cook ever is found in [I Like Killing Flies.](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0390109/) It’s still available on Netflix’s Watch Instantly pages.
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### Author:  [@artemis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/artemis)
#### Post date: [June 21, 2010, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-fans-what-documentaries-do-you-recommend/543843/50 "2010-06-21T18:41:15Z")
I can recommend **The End of the Line** , which discusses the way humanity’s overfishing the oceans, and an oldie-but-goodie **Hoop Dreams**.
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### Author:  [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)
#### Post date: [June 21, 2010, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-fans-what-documentaries-do-you-recommend/543843/51 "2010-06-21T19:20:43Z")
_A Man Named Pearl_, about a man who spends hours painstakingly trimming and cultivating extensive shapes and elaborate designs in trees, hedges, etc.
_The Fog of War, Deliver us From Evil, Why we Fight, Bigger Stronger Faster_ also come to mind.
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### Author:  [@willthekittensurvive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/willthekittensurvive)
#### Post date: [June 21, 2010, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-fans-what-documentaries-do-you-recommend/543843/52 "2010-06-21T19:36:57Z")
oh I allmost forgot the greatest Doc of alltimes
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMJZ-_bJKdI)
The King of Kong: Fistful of Quarters
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### Author:  [@McDeath\_the\_Mad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/McDeath_the_Mad)
#### Post date: [June 21, 2010, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-fans-what-documentaries-do-you-recommend/543843/53 "2010-06-21T19:45:27Z")
Most of my favorites have been listed, but I have 2 more that were pretty good:
“This Film Not Yet Rated” - about the MPAA ratings system, very interesting.
“Ken Burns - Baseball” - Ken Burns documentary on the history of Baseball. A must see for any baseball fan.
MtM
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### Author:  [@Rrose\_Selavy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rrose_Selavy)
#### Post date: [June 21, 2010, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-fans-what-documentaries-do-you-recommend/543843/54 "2010-06-21T20:05:05Z")
“The Shock of the New” by Robert Hughes
Art & the Century of Change.
Compelling view of 20th Century Art, culture. and History.
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### Author:  [@puddleglum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puddleglum)
#### Post date: [June 22, 2010, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-fans-what-documentaries-do-you-recommend/543843/55 "2010-06-22T16:43:17Z")
[The pool scene from Decline and Fall of Western Civilization Part 2](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qKlZELdJh8&feature=related)
[The Dancing Outlaw explains what happens when breakfast is not to his liking.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uc3SEBA-9nU)
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### Author:  [@scamartistry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scamartistry)
#### Post date: [June 22, 2010, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-fans-what-documentaries-do-you-recommend/543843/56 "2010-06-22T16:44:50Z")
heres another batch of really good ones:
**The Kid Stays in the picture** On legendary Paramount pictures producer Robert Evans, this cat had some crazy life. very nice editing. Based on his autobiography
**Cocaine Cowboys** ttjhe true story of how Miami became the drug, murder and cash capital of the US, told by the people who made it all happen. The best drug doc IMO. There is also a sequel that is also worth checking out.
**Confessions of a superhero** Fun and sad doc about people making their living as cartoon characters on the sidewalks of Hollywood Boulevard.
**The Workshop** Rather creepy hippie-alien-nudity-sex-camp somewhere out in California. Lots of nudity is to be expected
**The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia** Amazing doc by Johnny Knoxville (of Jackass fame) about the eccentric redneck-family White. Starring Jesco White from Dancer Outlaw.YEE-HAAW
**Talhotblond** (sic!) True story of a love triangle that takes place entirely online. Lies lead to murder in real life. INSANE
**Paradise lost 1: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills
Paradise lost 2: Revelations**
A must see if you somehow managed to missed these.3 teenagers are accused of a horrific crime of killing three children, supposedly as a result of involvement in Satanism. Things turn out to be more complex than initial appearances and this film presents the real-life courtroom drama to the viewer, as it unfolds. Another sequel is currently in production.
\*\*Mr. Death: The Rise and Fall of Fred A. Leuchter, Jr. \*\* An Errol Morris classic. documentary about Fred Leuchter, an engineer who became an expert on execution devices and was later hired by revisionist historian Ernst Zundel to “prove” that there were no gas chambers at Auschwitz. Other things about this man: he drinks about 60 cups of coffee and smokes 6 packs of ciggarets a day. This man is arguably the biggest piece of work I have ever seen.
**White Light/Black Rain** Great HBO doc on hiroshima. first-hand accounts from those who survived and whose lives were forever changed by the atomic bomb.
**Exit through the Gift Shop** New doc. About the infamous graffiti artist Banksy whose work can be seen on walls from post-hurricane New Orleans to the separation barrier on the Palestinian West Bank.
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### Author:  [@scamartistry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scamartistry)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2010, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-fans-what-documentaries-do-you-recommend/543843/57 "2010-06-23T00:13:48Z")
**Dogtown and Z Boys** the birth and evolution of modern skating in the drained swimming pools of Southern California. Beautiful pice of work.
**The Trials Of Henry Kissinger** Based on Hitchens book.thoughtful re-examination of Kissingers career. Kissinger is depicted as sly, manipulative Machiavellian figure that even his former aides speak out against.
**Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired** Very insightful doc about the infamous Polanski case.
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### Author:  [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2010, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-fans-what-documentaries-do-you-recommend/543843/58 "2010-06-23T03:33:13Z")
[QUOTE=Tangent;12598715 **Crumb** - I second Siam Sam’s recommendation. I knew nothing about the subject beforehand, but I found this film really captivating.[/QUOTE]
I recall reading a follow-up article years afterward. Crumb really did end up moving his family to France and seemed quite happy there.
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### Author:  [@Panurge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Panurge)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2010, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-fans-what-documentaries-do-you-recommend/543843/59 "2010-06-23T10:15:09Z")
I second the mentions of Errol Morris’ films. And **The King of Kong**.
Werner Herzog’s **In the land of Silence and Darkness** and **Burden of Dreams** are both wonderful. The first is about people who are both deaf and blind, the second about the filming og Fitzcarraldo. I much prefer it to **Mein Liebster Fiend**.
Michael Glawogger: [**Workingman’s Death**](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0478331/).
Geyrhalter: [**Our Daily Bread**](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0765849/) about food production in the EU.
Ulrich Seidl has made some great ones too:
[**Jesus, You know**](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0373941/)
[**State of the Nation**](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0332835/) (with other parts by compatriots Michael Glawogger and Michael Haneke.
Last but not least: [\*\*Tierische Liebe / Animal Love \*\*](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114669/) (not about beastiality). Herzog said “Never have I looked so directly into hell”.
Hmm. So many Austrians. Weird.
Also: Anders Østergaard’s [**Burma VJ**](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1333634/) about the 2007 rebellion in Burma.
Janus Metz’s: [**Armadillo**](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1640680/) that follows a group of Danish soldiers during their 6-month stint in Afghanistan.
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### Author:  [@Buford\_was\_no\_angel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buford_was_no_angel)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2010, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-fans-what-documentaries-do-you-recommend/543843/60 "2010-06-23T11:22:52Z")
I too have to chime in to recommend Errol Morris, specifically _Gates of Heaven_. Also, as far as musical documentaries go, _Be Here to Love Me_, about Townes Van Zandt, is excellent.
Not exactly conventional documentaries, but Bruce Brown’s \*The Endless Summer \*and _On Any Sunday_ are very entertaining films, if you can handle his goofy-at-times narration.
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