5 Documentaries Dedicated To Fascinating And Important Subjects
Documentaries have the ability to shed light on issues people often don't talk about, and important figures whose stories might otherwise be lost to time. Each of these films zeroes in on a topic that viewers may not be familiar with, but will be glad they learned more about after watching an engrossing movie on the subject. This video was made with Ezvid Wikimaker.
5 Surprising and Truthful Documentaries
| Title | Director | Subject Matter |
|---|---|---|
| Heather Booth: Changing the World | Lilly Rivlin | The life of progressive activist and strategist Heather Booth and her political legacy |
| Finding Kukan | Robin Lung | Tells the story of Li Ling-Ai, the un-credited female producer of Kukan, a 1941 Academy Award-winning documentary about World War II China that was lost for decades |
| Screenagers | Delaney Ruston | Examines the complicated roles of social media, video games, and the Internet in the lives of young people |
| A Night at the Garden | Marshall Curry | Uses archival footage to expose the often-neglected truth of an American Nazi rally that attracted 20,000 people at Madison Square Garden in 1939 |
| Still Loved | Debbie Howard | Candid interviews with parents who have lost a child, confronting the difficult topic of stillbirth |
Watch the Trailer for Finding Kukan
Equipment That Aspiring Filmmakers Should Own
Marshall Curry Talks About A Night at the Garden
In Depth
Movies and television shows represent some of the most popular forms of entertainment, offering viewers enjoyable ways to venture into fictional worlds. For fans of nonfiction narratives, however, documentaries can provide a similar experience, telling real-life stories in a visually appealing format. Covering a diverse range of subjects, from progressive politics to technology addiction, these films often combine interviews, narration, and archival footage. If you are interested in learning more about some of these works, then here are, in no particular order, five insightful documentaries exploring thought-provoking topics.
Coming in at #1 is "Heather Booth: Changing the World." The third entry in a trilogy about female activists, this film covers the life and influence of Heather Booth, a community organizer who launched her career during the civil rights movement. Over the past fifty years, she has distinguished herself as a strategist on topics such as women's rights and immigration reform, and she has teamed up with well-known figures like Julian Bond and Elizabeth Warren.
Created by filmmaker Lilly Rivlin and distributed by Women Make Movies, this documentary gives a glimpse into the history of the progressive movement. Blending archival footage and personal interviews, it traces the progression of Booth's long career, which has seen her work with a diverse range of organizations, including the Midwest Academy, the AFL-CIO, and the Alliance for Citizenship.
Created by filmmaker Lilly Rivlin and distributed by Women Make Movies, this documentary gives a glimpse into the history of the progressive movement.
In the #2 spot is "Finding Kukan." This film details the little-known story of Li Ling-Ai, a Chinese American playwright and producer. On the brink of the Second World War, she partnered with Rey Scott, a photojournalist from Missouri, to document the increasingly aggressive actions of the Japanese in China. The resulting documentary, entitled "Kukan," was well-received in the United States, winning an Academy Award in 1941, but Li Ling-Ai's work as a producer was largely overlooked.
Robin Lung, the producer of "Finding Kukan," was inspired to research Li Ling-Ai's life after discovering, in 2009, a copy of "Kukan," which had previously been declared "lost" by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. This discovery took her on a seven-year quest, which resulted in the release of "Finding Kukan" in 2016. In recognition of its compelling story, the feature-length documentary has appeared in publications such as "Splinter" and the "Honolulu Star-Advertiser."
At #3 is "Screenagers: Growing up in the Digital Age." Conceived of by filmmaker and physician Delaney Ruston, this documentary explores the complicated roles of social media, video games, and the Internet in the lives of young people. Inspired by her own family dynamic, Ruston combines personal anecdotes and interviews with writers, psychologists, and scientists to illuminate the impact that technology has, particularly on our youth. "Screenagers" has been picked as an official selection at film festivals in St. Louis, San Francisco, and Stony Brook.
Conceived of by filmmaker and physician Delaney Ruston, this documentary explores the complicated roles of social media, video games, and the Internet in the lives of young people.
Since its release, "Screenagers" has been viewed by more than four million people and has received coverage in "The New York Times," "The Washington Post," and PBS NewsHour. Following this documentary's success, a sequel, entitled "Screenagers NEXT CHAPTER: Uncovering Skills for Stress Resilience," was released. This second installment builds upon many of the topics in the first documentary, such as finding balance and helping young people cope with stress, anxiety, and depression in the digital age.
Coming in at #4 is "A Night at The Garden." Directed and edited by Marshall Curry, this short documentary focuses on a previously forgotten episode in American history when, in 1939, 20,000 people gathered in Madison Square Garden in celebration of Nazism. Composed entirely of archival footage from the evening in question, "A Night at The Garden" offers viewers an unflinching glimpse of demagoguery and anti-Semitism in United States history.
Released by Field of Vision, "A Night at The Garden" is notable for its absence of narration and interviews. Upon its release, the documentary received positive reviews from a variety of publications, including "The New Yorker," "Rolling Stone," and "Los Angeles Times." It was also nominated for an Academy Award, and it was an official selection at the Sundance Film Festival.
It was also nominated for an Academy Award, and it was an official selection at the Sundance Film Festival.
Last but not least, at #5 is "Still Loved." Written, directed, and produced by Debbie Howard, this feature documentary confronts the difficult topic of losing a baby. Focusing on families in the United Kingdom, "Still Loved" features a number of candid interviews with people who have experienced stillbirth. Released in October 2016, its first viewings coincided with Baby Loss Awareness Week, an annual event that seeks to raise awareness about pregnancy and infant mortality.
"Still Loved" has garnered several favorable reviews, receiving coverage in "The Guardian," "The Lancet," and "VultureHound." It was an official selection at a number of festivals, including ones in cities such as Las Vegas, Cork, and Dubai. To complement the film, its website has its own blog, which contains posts on pop-up screenings and using "Still Loved" as an educational resource.
