Documentary - FilmRoot

La Haine (Hate)

La Haine Film Difficulty Ranking: 3

This film was so provocative and great that the French Prime Minister at the time commissioned a mandatory screening for all entire French cabinet. The film brings social unrest to the big screen, showing us that Paris is not the romantic and happy city that Hollywood and beyond have portrayed it as. Here are the people we have forgotten. Like Taxi Driver and Do the Right Thing, La Haine gives a voice to the marginalised.

Why Watch La Haine?

You have been to Paris and seen the Eiffel Tower
If you love a good cinema verite film (other cinema verite favourites include Che, and Battle of Algiers)
For a male equivalent to Girlhood
Because just like Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing, this film is a timeless representation of social unrest

The Breakdown

I’m not even going to narrate the opening scene. Instead here’s the opening quote, read over the top of ‘documentary’ film of rioting in Paris.

Heard about the guy that fell off the skyscraper? As he falls, he tries to reassures himself by repeating:

“So far, so good. So far, so good.

It’s not the fall that matters. It’s the landing.

But it’s not just the powerful narrative that makes La Haine a great movie, the film is also full of incredible camera work. Pay attention to the introduction of Said. He is introduced, facing forward, in the middle of the frame with the housing projects behind him. His eyes are shut, but as the camera zooms into his face, they open. The director cuts to a POV shot with only the back of Said’s head in focus. As the camera moves towards Said, it focuses on what he is looking at, a bunch of policeman who are as static as the birds in Hitchcock’s Birds. They are not here to serve and protect. This sets up the rising tensions between Said and his crew and the police.

For all of you who are familiar with New York City hip-hop, this paragraph is for you. For all of those who aren’t familiar with New York City hip-hop, go listen to Nas’ Illmatic and tell me if it could be a soundtrack to La Haine. Here’s my reasoning:

Hip-hop culture is prominent throughout the film, from breakdancing to DJing, it’s all covered.
The words “The World is Yours” (the main track on Illmatic) feature on a billboard which Said changes to “The World is Ours” to claim the streets and city which he lives in despite their disenfranchisement.
Both portray teenagers trapped within urban poverty and categorised because of it – there is no way out.

Conclusion

This film garnered so much critical buzz at Cannes and beyond. It is a timeless portrayal of disenfranchised teenagers growing up in the forgotten realms of cities. In addition, the camera work is extremely innovative. This might be the earliest film you’ve seen which uses drone cameras. In fact, apart from the appearance of Francs in the film (France’s old currency), I would have believed someone if they said that this film was made in the last few years.

(For an excellent piece on this film I’d recommend reading Indiewire’s review of the film 20 years on right here, although beware of Spoilers!)

Edvard Munch

Edvard Munch Film Difficulty Ranking: 3

Unless you’re an art fan, you might be reading the title and thinking, “why would I want to watch a film about an old artist?” Well this isn’t just a film about an old artist. This is a film about an innovator, someone going against the zeitgeist (the ideas and beliefs of the time). Along the way you can learn about Norwegian society, conservatism in Europe, sexism, and of course art!

Why Watch Edvard Munch?

You like really good biographical films that are re-enacted perfectly
Ingmar Bergman, the King of Swedish directing said this film was a ‘work of genius’
Find out what it is like to be an innovator – complete with depression, rejection, and more…
You’re an art or history student

The Breakdown

Edvard Munch opens with a woman whispering into Munch’s ear, “you can meet me after dinner.” We later learn that the seductive woman is the elusive Miss Heiberg. However, instead of scenes of Munch with this woman, the director cuts to poor people dying of consumption in 19th Century Kristiana (the old name for Oslo). We find out that consumption is widespread in the city and that the poor work 11 hours a day.

The director (Peter Watkins) then juxtaposes the horrific life of the poor in Norway with the middle class. The middle class rules Norwegian society and are strongly conservative and protestant and seem to have a lot of free time. Munch is from the middle class, so understanding the lower classes sets a framework for us to judge him and his peers from.

The style of this docudrama is what makes it great. It compares to the great cinema verite classics like Battle of Algiers and District 9. Firstly, there are interviews with some of the minor characters, snippets from art critics that lambasted Munch, and a narrator. This matches the usual layout for the documentary genre. Secondly, Munch looks at the camera all the time, making it seem that he knows that he is being filmed for a documentary, which makes it feel more real. Lastly, everything looks as if the film was filmed in the late 1800s. The costumes are great, the buildings fit, and the actors play everything perfectly. You could be forgiven for thinking that this was a real documentary.

The film also amazingly depicts the process of creating a piece of art. Watkins reveals Munch’s emotions whilst he paints and scratches the canvas through montages of old and new memories. As a result, we can see what Munch is trying to express with his painting, allowing us to understand him, unlike his shallow critics.

Conclusion

Edvard Munch is a great film. I love a good docudrama (Battle of Algiers and District 9 are two of my favourite films) and this is no exception. In addition, Edvard Munch takes us into the world of an artist. We see the creative process right from it’s original inspirations. Munch’s paintings are bleak and violent, and Watkins reveals why. This is where you learn about late 19th century Norwegian society and how it rubs off on an innovative artist.

Homeland: Iraq Year Zero – Life Before the Iraq War

Homeland Film Difficulty Ranking: 3

How much do you know about the Iraq War? You may know that it was a war between the U.S. and it’s allies and Iraq to overthrow Saddam Hussein and bring democracy. However, that’s just the account that you’ve probably been exposed to. Homeland is your chance to see the Iraqi perspective. Through the home footage of Abbas Fahdel’s family maybe your view of the war and it’s intentions may change.

Why Watch Homeland: Iraq Year Zero?

Because this is one of the only ways you can experience life in Iraq before the Iraq War started in 2003
You’ll pretty much become part of an Iraqi family for close to 6 hours
To hear some of the best stories, all from the simple act of people watching
You’ve seen Ahlaam or The Journey and want to see some real footage of life in Iraq to compliment these great fictional films

The Breakdown

You’ll join director Abbas Fahdel’s family in Iraq as soon as this film starts as if you’ve always been a part of his family. His nephew, Haidar, is watching a piece of state propaganda referring to Saddam Hussein as ‘our beloved leader.’

Outside of the short interruptions of unsubtle state propaganda on TV, life in Iraq is very familiar. Haidar and his friends are just like any other kids of their age, playing fun pretend war games and fooling around. Similarly, adult life goes on normally. People talk to their neighbours, go to the market to buy provisions, and spend a lot of time with their family.

However, their normal lives slowly disappear as the American invasion gets closer and closer. They all start preparing for war: stocking up provisions, preparing water pumps, and moving to the country in attempts to get out of the war zone. Then the war hits. You’ll then experience what it was like to live in the Iraq War. You’ll hear injustices, you’ll see cultural buildings ruthlessly bombed, and you’ll also witness the resilience of the Iraqi people.

Image result for homeland iraq year zero

Conclusion

Homeland: Iraq Year Zero is the film to watch to get a first-hand account of the Iraq War from the Iraqi perspective. You’ll get to experience how life was before the war and also how life changed when the war started.

It is less biased than you might expect because it is solely home footage rather than a more opinionated narrated documentary. But it’s a strong statement against war.

he shows his niece and nephews watching television one morning; a piece of state propaganda referring to Hussein as “Beloved Leader” soon gives way to a Looney Tune cartoon featuring Foghorn Leghorn.

Dear Diary (Italy)

Dear Diary Film Difficulty Ranking: 3

You may have seen Rome and Italy in a number of films, but you have never seen it like it is in Dear Diary. Nanni Moretti will guide you around the country like the best tour guides – one that doesn’t care what people think of him. He parodies the Italians whilst making fun of himself for our entertainment. It’s a bit Monty Python esque and a bit Quixotic! Go watch this man’s stream of consciousness!

Why Watch Dear Diary?

For a visual stream of consciousness portrayal of Rome and Italy
It’s also a great comedy with plenty of parody
There’s a great soundtrack featuring Juan Luis Guerra and Cheb Khaled!
To see director Nanni Moretti dancing in a cafe

The Breakdown

Chapter 1. On My Vespa

‘Dear diary, there’s one thing I like the most.’ And cut to Nanni Moretti riding down the back streets of Rome on his Vespa. There’s music, there’s no cars, and the streets are beautifully lined with trees!

You know those moments when you are walking on your own and your mind starts to wander? Then a few minutes later you realise that you’ve walked a mile without paying attention to what you’ve walked past. Well, the only way I can describe this film is by comparing it to one of those moments. Nanni Moretti guides us around Rome, but as he keeps getting distracted as he is doing so and takes us on his tangents.

What’s even more amazing is that he even interrupts the improvised tour he takes us on. For example, in one scene he turns up at a group dancing merengue in a square in Rome. He walks up to the band singing and starts singing along with the lead singer. He’s kind of like a Don Quixote making his way around Rome. One thing is for sure, you’ll never get a tour of Rome like this!

Conclusion

Just like The Great Beauty this great Italian film just seems to flow naturally. But unlike The Great Beauty this film is funny as well! Where else are you going to see a Director riding around Rome on a Vespa while dancing to Cheb Khaled’s ‘Didi’. Plus, I haven’t even talked about the hilarious second chapter or the darkly funny third chapter. This is one to watch!

Icarus (U.S.) – Are All Sports Stars on Drugs?

Icarus Film Difficulty Ranking: 2

As the World Cup continues in Russia, the Tennis stars of the world play at Wimbledon, and the world’s premiere cycling tour kicks off in France, there’s no better time to watch Icarus. You’ll learn about the effects of doping, start doubting the even playing ground of all sports, before asking yourself: “what if they’re all doping?” To find out more about doping in sport and the political stakes of doping, watch Icarus on Netflix.

Related image

Why Watch Icarus?

If you’re a sports fan
If you like conspiracies
Meet a friendly Russian doping expert
Because it won the Best Documentary at the 2018 Academy Awards

The Breakdown

Meet Bryan Fogel. He’s an amateur cyclist who was on the brink of turning professional when he was hit with an injury. Whilst he didn’t get to cycle alongside Lance Armstrong like some of his friends, he still idolized the best cyclist from his country and generation for his 7 Tour de France wins. But, his view of professional cycling and Lance Armstrong came crashing down when Armstrong finally admitted to doping in 2013.

How did Fogel react? By choosing the toughest 7-day amateur cycling race available and riding it twice. Firstly, he rode it clean, and secondly on performance enhancing drugs to analyse their effect.

Long story short, he finished in the top 20 clean, but couldn’t improve his positioning whilst doping. But, what might have been a movie about how doping won’t immediately make you the best in any sport luckily doesn’t end there.

That’s because the guy helping Fogel to dope was the director of the Russian anti-doping laboratory, Grigory Rodchenkov. They both become friends as Rodchenkov helped him through his doping process. Rodchenkov gives him plenty of advice and laughs, and even hosts him at his home in Russia.

However, Rodchenkov later drops a bombshell: he oversaw the state-sponsored doping programme for the 2012 Olympics in London and the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. This confession turns Icarus into an investigation into the worldwide doping scandal that banned all Russian athletes from competing in the 2016 Olympics and rocked the sporting world.

Conclusion and What to Watch Next

Icarus is one of the most gripping documentaries out there, especially if you’re a sports fan. It’s got an interesting premise (how much does doping help) which sets up the story, but the twist lands in Fogel’s lap because of Rodchenckov’s confession. From there it’s the two of them versus the Russian State and the U.S. court system.

If you’re looking for more great documentaries, check out the equally thrilling Citizenfour about Edward Snowden. Like Icarus it contains a whistleblower vs. the state, but instead of sport’s doping, it’s a worldwide spy network.

Or, if you’re looking for a sport documentary which focuses more on the sport, check out the brilliant basketball documentary, Hoop Dreams. It’s like Boyhood meets Basketball.