Recommended Documentaries


Better than Fiction Documentaries! 

The following are lists of documentaries that Ciera and I have either seen or want to see. Every Friday we do documentary days where the team gets together and we learn about something new through a documentary. I always recommend documentaries as a nice way to learn something new while being entertained!

Cultural/Social: 

Man on the Wire -- this real life story documents the like of Philippe Petit who walked across a wire connecting the two Twin Towers. Following his stunt, he was arrested for a crime dubbed "The Artistic Crime of the Century."

Jiro Dreams of Sushi -- After finishing The Act of Killing,you will want something to brighten your day. Jiro Dreams of Sushi is a documentary about an 85 year old man, who owns a Sushi restaurant with three Michelin stars (the only of its kind). While heartwarming to watch, the message of the story asserts that to truly be a master, one most devote their life to perfecting their skill.

Bowling for Columbine -- This documentary challenges capitalist American culture through question why we love guns so much.

The Invisible War -- Tackling an extremely difficult problem, the documentary chronicles accounts of rape and sexual assault in the U.S. military. Through intense interviews, The Invisible War documents an environment that allowed for sexual assault to fester. At the end, it posits what can be done to promote needed change in one of the most powerful institutions in the world.

Jesus Camp -- Even in secular countries, religious indoctrination is a problem. This documentary explores a summer "Jesus camp," where children become indoctrinated with the word of god. A thrilling look into an interesting world.

13th -- This documentary is great to earn about race relations and the prison system in America. highly recommend!

When Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts -- Following Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans was devastated. This documentary criticizes the response of FEMA and U.S. Army Corps. This documentary presents one side following the conflict. The documentary will show that the spirit and people of New Orleans are incredibly resilient.

International:

The Act of Killing -- In 1965, a military coup disrupted political stability in Indonesia. Nearly 1 million alleged communists were slaughtered. In this documentary, the members who committed these acts, now venerated community members, recreate their techniques.

Look of Silence  -- The companion to The Act of Killing, the Look of Silence asks what it means to commit a genocide. Moreover, this work also explores intimate scenes within the subject's life.

The Island President -- Present Mohamed Nasheed is President of the Maldives. While this documentary does not, for once, chronicle the Maldives as a hot honeymoon destination, it does discuss the heart-wrenching possibility that global warming will destroy this nation without serious intervention. The documentary provides great specific knowledge on a nation struggling against a global problem.

India Untouched  -- There are some aspects of Indian culture that are near impossible to change. One of those aspects is the caste system. In India Untouched,this documentary explores the roots of the caste system and its pervasive hold in Indian society.

Iran and the West -- Three part BBC series. It is absolutely fantastic! It explores the conflict between Saudi Arabia and Iran, the conflict in Yemen, and the conflict between the United States and Iran.

Africa: 

Fambul Tok -- Following a brutal civil war where family members killed other family members, this documentary explores the reconciliation practices of torn Sierra Leone. In this documentary, the people of Sierra Leone practice an ancient ritual that focuses on forgiveness and toleration of past crimes.

General Idi Amin Dada: Autoportrait -- This documentary follows the rule of Idi Amin in Uganda. It describes how Amin viewed himself in 1974. The director posts that "Amin is not just the result of colonialism but also a reflection of Western colonial ideology." It explores how a mass murder would present himself to humanity.

Security: 

Citizenfour -- Citizenfour takes viewers behind the scenes of the whistle-blower Edward Snowden who exposes the NSA's secret operations  to spy on its citizens.

Asia: 

BBC Documentary Our World Flash Point: South China Sea --  A bit old, but this documentary explores the growing tensions between China and the United States in the South China Sea.

Myanmar: The Hidden Genocide -- Produced by Al Jazeera, it explores the conditions of the Muslim minority group in Myanmar. This documentary provides great background on the Genocide. I would highly recommend it to anyone that has an interest in the conflict.

Hearts and Minds -- A harrowing account of the Vietnam war, this documentary explores accounts of the tragedies of war. This documentary does more than try to place blame or discover what went wrong in the war, it only provides a startling account of the horrors of war.

History: 

Night and Fog -- This documentary uses the power of art to explore the history of the concentration camps in Nazi Germany. It forces us to consider who is responsible for such atrocities. While short, this documentary packs a punch.

Feminism:

Miss Representation -- This documentary talks about the sexist portrayals of women in the media. We watched the documentary with the Freshmen. This documentary isn't as up to date as others.

Hot Girls Wanted --This documentary explores the world of amateur porn and how it exploits young women.

She's Beautiful When She's Angry -- this documentary paints a passionate pictures of the leader of the women's rights movement. Great for those who still need to learn more about the history of such an amazing movement!

A Ballerina's Tale -- explores Misty Copeland's history as the first principal dancer with the American ballet company.

The Hunting Ground -- This shocking documentary explores the epidemic of sexual assault on colleges. Feminist in this documentary are fighting for their safety!


War on Drugs/ Doping:

How Columbia's War on Drugs Escalated to a Full Blown Civil War -- Short, but fantastic documentary that shows how the War on Drugs has resulted in the destabilization of Columbia. This documentary is a must watch for anyone that wants to understand how national drug policies affect the international community.

Cartel Land -- This documentary examines the drug problem on the US/Mexico border. Personally, I thought that the documentary was over dramatized and it was not a very good source of information.

Breaking the Taboo -- Fantastic documentary from Brazil's perspective on the war on drugs. It explores the ways that the War on Drugs has failed and destroyed lives. I loved this documentary and would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about the war on drugs.

Icarus -- This fantastic Netflix thriller outlines a man's quest to fool the international doping agency. In his quest to become the best cyclist, he also uncovers an intricate plot used by the Russian government to manipulate their athlete's drug testing results.

Environment:

An Inconvenient Truth -- This documentary shows the ways that humans have destroyed the planet. Overall, it is very entertaining, but I do not know if you really learn anything.







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