Recommended Documentaries

BTW the NFB also has a free iPad/iPhone App which you can use to stream movies to your TV

http://www.nfb.ca/free-downloads/nfb-ipad-app/

Done.

I'm really inspired by the shooting in these older c1950/60's short films. They're shot so deliberately and they seem to hold their shots forever (the number one criticism from every documentary editor). I'm guessing part of the reason is that in the 50's the only folk that were commissioned to go out and shoot on film were the ones that had really done their time in the trenches. I'm lapping up Director/DP Wolf Koenigs work.

The Area...Amazing and powerful work from the good folks behind "The Grid" project, based out of Chicago. Dont know who did what on this one, but Brian Ashby who did scrappers was one of the people involved. So gritty and real, and I love the style and the voices that are featured, definitely check this out...https://vimeo.com/59895906

wow John, thanks so much for posting the "Landfill Harmonic" trailer. Incredibly inspiring.

Documentary/Metafilm/Musical/Ididn'tknowthisshithappend/itsbizarre

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQhIRBxbchU

see dir.cut/longversion

The Act of Killing which I saw on Sunday at NDND is excellent filmmaking though I have major qualms about giving voice to the perpetrators without any voices of the victims. In a way, it felt like propaganda for the victors with only a few moments that reveal the insanity, e.g. the scene with the talk show host.

Here is a full set of links to the seminal 70's BBC series of John Berger's "Ways of Seeing", directed by Mike Dibb.

In reply to Robert Goodman's post on Tue 26 Mar 2013 :

Word around the campfire says, that they will start production off part two soon... the victim's point of view

Not sure that's true. Given this was 7 years in process and it's still not safe there for victims. I think the thought is there to do something.

Fascinating film about American Roma, more commonly refereed to as "Gypsies". There are quite a few documentaries about Roma including Roma in America, but this is perhaps the only one made by a Roma filmmaker.

You can see the full version at www.vimeo.com/ondemand/4thnail

Here's a classic for anyone who loves the movies: Angela Christlieb & Stephen Kijak's CINEMANIA

Don't just take my word for it:

We loved it! These characters in Cinemania, have clearly crossed over some line and can no longer be considered normal or sane. After watching your film, we are ready to cross that line ourselves. (D.A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus)

It's for free on Vimeo, but if you enjoy it please make a contribution to their tip jar

More information in hidden section

http://www.screendaily.com/news/production/oppenheimer-developing-act-of-killing-follow-up/5054716.article?blocktitle=Latest-News&contentID=1846In reply to Robert Goodman's post on Thu 4 Apr 2013 :

More great freebies from Doc Alliance – Dutch master Bert Haanstra

http://dafilms.com/event/123-retrospective-of-bert-haanstra-filmmaker-holding-a-mirror-to-the-society/

If you haven't seen American Movie (1999), then check it out. It is hilarious! You can find the trailer at the top of this page: http://www.jakevanvuuren.com/docs.html

I have 10 favorite docs on my site. Not my Top 10, just docs that's worthy of checking out!
http://www.jakevanvuuren.com/docs.html

A classic short now made available online by the Criterion Collection, Alain Resnais' 1956 Toute la mémoire du monde

Anyone else seen Dark Days?

It's a film many here on The D-Word appreciate. Why would you recommend it?

I'd recommend it because it's damn interesting. The filmmaker actually enlisted homeless subjects and trained them to use the camera equipment. It's set in the "Freedom Tunnel",which in this context is an ironic name. There was a whole underground subculture down there. You haven't seen it yet? Or you just wanted my opinion?

Well the purpose of this Public Topic is to recommend films to a wider public so it's of interest to hear why a particular film has been chosen. As it happens, it's been on my watch list for years but I've yet to see it.

Go watch it then what are you waiting for? Movies don't age like wine. They don't go bad either.

I'll bear that in mind.

Professor Burgan, your equanimity is admirable.

It comes with the territory.

Meanwhile, another great offer from Doc Alliance – a clutch of films streaming for free by French master filmmaker Nicolas Philibert – including the celebrated ”Etre et Avoir”

http://dafilms.com/event/125-retrospective-of-nicolas-philibert/

In reply to Jake van Vuuren's post on Thu 30 May 2013 : interesting list. are those actually your favorites, or ones you think are important for reasons other than watchability or enjoyment?