We are living in a golden age for documentary films. Lately, when I ask people what they’re watching, almost everyone speaks with passion about a documentary. In the past month alone, friends have raved to me about How Can You Mend A Broken Heart, Finding Vivian Maier, Fantastic Fungi, Tiny Creatures, My Octopus Teacher, Honeyland, and Making North America: Origins. (Of these, I’ve seen My Octopus Teacher and How Can You Mend a Broken Heart both of which I thought were terrific.)
A good documentary film can remake the way you see the world. Now, when people tell me they can speak with their pets, I grimly recall the final scene of Werner Herzog’s Grizzly Man, perhaps the best warning ever against anthropomorphizing other species. Conversations about doing the impossible bring to mind Alex Honnold’s extraordinary climb of Half Dome filmed in Free Solo. My perception of racism in America is immeasurably more accurate thanks to 13th by Ava DuVernay. The Last Dance deepened my understanding of why my chosen home state so reveres Michael Jordan. All these were vastly enjoyable and, in their own way, life changing.
How about you? Do you watch documentaries? If so, what are your favorites? Why? Which ones are must sees?
