6/26/2009

Like A Pig In Shit...


For a long time I've tried to put my finger on just why it is I like documentary films so much. I think there are many reasons. For one, documentaries are all about asking questions and we all know what a big fan I am of questions. I'm also a big fan of the underdog. Documentaries often focus on underdogs - people whose voices aren't often heard in the mainstream media. The films themselves are really the underdogs of the world of cinema. There are very few docs that receive a lot of attention or make a lot of money. Documentaries have exposed me to so many new and interesting things. Like one of the women in the video says, documentaries "have the power to make you empathize with things you never really knew you could empathize with."

I recently discovered an interactive website with 163 interview clips of 38 documentary filmmakers, including some of my favorites like Errol Morris, Werner Herzog, and Albert Maysles, discussing a wide range of topics. Apparently there is also a movie - a documentary about documentaries - which is not yet available on Netflix. I know this probably isn't as interesting to all of you as it is to me, but I can listen to these people talk all day. If this sort of thing interests you as well, you'll really want to spend some time exploring this site.

11 comments:

Mnmom said...

I love them too, for the same reasons. I knew I had done a good job of parenting when my then 7-year-old daughter said "Mom, I like those movies when you hear the guy's voice say 'and now you see the bear sleeping' ". She was talking about documentaries.

just a girl... said...

I just love the title!

SkylersDad said...

You make me wish I had more time to check this out.

Splotchy said...

I'm sure you've seen this, right?

Werner Herzog interview, where he is shot by an air rifle

Some Guy said...

Splotchy- Yeah, I had seen that. Herzog is one of my all-time favorites. I would love to just sit and listen to his stories. Something about his voice is very soothing.

Pyzahn said...

Are you going to see "Food, Inc."? I'm afraid to. I might never eat again.

Some Guy said...

Pyzahn: I have it in my queue, but, like you, movies like that make me nervous. I'm sure my curiosity will win out in the end.

Fancy Schmancy said...

I'm sure this is a stupid question, but did you see Grizzly Man? I like the occasional documentary, and I love anything to do with animals, but that one freaked me out. That dude was just not right, and it was very sad.

Some Guy said...

Fancy- Yep. I saw it. You're right. That guy was pretty out there. That was a Werner Herzog-directed movie.

Son of a Thomas said...

I too am a fan of the documentary. I think that's why I dislike "Reality T.V." so much.

They really don't try to document anything as much as spice it up for ratings.

By the way, there was one documentary which made a huge amount of money.

Passion of the Christ.

(Thank You I'll be here all week, try the beef.)

Coaster Punchman said...

Wasn't I one of your favorite documentarians? Although my preferred subject has died so I'm about dried up on material.