Deep diving into documentaries:

You, right there.

Yes, you.

This won’t be as boring as you think it will be, or at least not as boring as the google results shown when you search “documentary”

What is a documentary?

In simple words, a documentary is a non-fictional film showcasing reality, this can be for educational, instructional, or historical purposes. The longest documentary called ‘logistics’ lasts for fifty-one thousand four hundred and twenty minutes.

But don’t worry. The average estimate of the most popularly watched documentaries can range from about thirty minutes to one hour and forty-five minutes.

Documentaries weren’t always this long, early documentaries lasted for about a minute and were called “actuality films”. Over time, documentaries have unfolded to become longer, and to include more categories; some examples being: educational, observational, and docufiction.

Documentaries are derived from facts, which is why the filmmaker has to be truthful to their vision of the world without intentionally misleading a topic.

Why are they beneficial?

In today’s “post-truth” world, educating ourselves about important issues and finding reliable information sources is as crucial as ever. We must step up and seek out quality sources of information about our world and what is happening in it.

Documentary films are in-depth and offer a platform to bring important issues to light, this sparks alarm bells in people’s minds resulting in social movements.

It serves as a powerful tool that brings important topics to the table in a captivating way, hearing and seeing these real experiences through the dedicated work of documentary filmmakers helps us put ourselves in other’s shoes, building bridges of empathy in a world that desperately needs our engagement and compassion.

With social media channels at our fingertips, we often miss out on face-to-face conversations, yet these conversations are needed. Documentaries provide an opportunity to understand and connect with the world, they are also a great way to gather together with friends to watch and engage around the important issues of our times.

Film clubs put the great resource of documentary film together with real-time conversations. It is another version of a book club where people get together to exchange their resources, knowledge, and energy to spread awareness. 

Recommendations :

If you enjoy watching films that inspire you to change the world, ‘The Square’ is a good option for ages 15 and above. This Oscar-nominated movie about the Arab Spring prominently features the modern communication tools teens love so much: YouTube, camera-phone videos, and social media posts. It’s raw, but it authentically chronicles events in real-time, showing the power of people to initiate change.

Another great option is ‘Minimalism’, this film opened the door to a variety of conversations such as advertisements and marketing, popular brands at school, and what happiness means to us.

‘42 grams’ shares the story of Chef Jake Bickelhaupt and how he turns his life around by going from running an illegal restaurant in his home to becoming a culinary celebrity. This story is perfect for showing that anyone can turn their life around and make a name for themselves.

By: Hania Nasir