Documentaries You Should Be Watching
To date, documentaries continue to be my favorite way of educating myself about people, places, and issues around the world and within my local communities. They are powerful learning tools combined with cinematic elements that capture hard and complex stories in beautiful ways. Here is everything I’ve watched so far, spanning almost every topic you can think of.
Hillary: I am not the biggest fan of her political history, and I can admit that it has been easy to jump on the Hillary Clinton hate train, however, this documentary series humanized her journey in the public eye as a woman and it really opened my eyes to the misogyny that deeply permeates politics. Can a woman actually ever become president? As someone who has considered running for political office, it is a question I ask myself daily and one that this documentary explores.
Athlete A: This documentary highlights a lot of key issues within competitive gymnastics— sexual assault and being a survivor, the grim history of gymnastics, and the abuse of young girls, the importance of investigative journalism (more importantly— local journalism), and the case of Dr. Larry Nassar. It is a film of immense bravery and a clear call to action to all of us who love to watch or engage with the sport.
McMillions: A film about an ex-cop who swindled millions out of the biggest fast-food corporation. There are a lot of elements that make this film thought-provoking, specifically how innocent people are preyed upon for their vulnerability when all they want is financial security.
Honeyland: Described as, “A woman utilizes ancient beekeeping traditions to cultivate honey in the mountains of North Macedonia. When a neighboring family tries to do the same, it becomes a source of tension as they disregard her wisdom and advice.” Such a beautiful film to watch.
Fishpeople: This film tells the story of a group of unlikely characters who have dedicated their lives to the sea. A must-watch for anyone who loves the ocean.
Becoming: Michelle Obama comes to life in this film that really explores her identity and her journey before, during, and after her time as First Lady.
College Behind Bars: Education is a human right endowed to all of us, and that right does not and should not disappear if you’re incarcerated. This film is “a four-part documentary film series, that tells the story of a small group of incarcerated men and women struggling to earn college degrees and turn their lives around in one of the most rigorous and effective prison education programs in the United States – the Bard Prison Initiative (BPI).”
Flint Town: Described as “This docuseries takes a look at the state of policing in America through the experiences of the Flint (Mich.) Police Department. Flint is consistently among the country's most violent cities and its residents have little trust in law enforcement officials in the wake of the coverup of citywide water contamination that brought the city into the national spotlight. In this series, filmmakers embed with FPD officers as they face infrastructure issues and decreasing resources while risking their lives to protect and serve the community of around 100,000 people.”
Salt Fat Acid Heat: Chef and food writer Samin Nosrat travels around the world to demystify and explore the central principles of what makes food delicious. I have the cookbook as well, and I love the idea of breaking food down into its simple components.
I Am Not Alone: An Armenian- American film about a single man who walks across Armenia to protest a corrupt regime—sparking a non-violent revolution.
In My Blood It Runs: A beautiful testament to what our children can teach us- a young indigenous boy wrestles with the discrimination of his education in Australia along with the trauma he has inherited from land deposition and generational suffering.
Fertile Ground: This short film highlights the need for local food systems, urban planning that tackles racism and classicism, and new policy that brings equity and justice to food and land access.
Leftover Women: “Leftover Women is how the Chinese describe educated, cosmopolitan women who are not married and settled by the time they reach their mid-twenties. Through marriage markets, matchmakers, and government-sponsored dating events, the film follows three hopeful singles who, under immense pressure, are determined to find love on their own terms.”
Love Child: Over 6 years, filmmakers follow the asylum journey of a couple outlawed by their home for a love affair and their struggles to build a new life for their child.
Born in Evin: “Born in Evin follows filmmaker and actress, Maryam Zaree, on her quest to find out the violent circumstances surrounding her birth inside one of the most notorious political prisons in the world.”
Radio Silence: This description captures the film perfectly: “To millions of people in Mexico, the incorruptible journalist and news anchor Carmen Aristegui is regarded as the trusted alternative voice to official government spin, fighting daily against deliberate disinformation spread through news sources, government corruption, and the related drugs trade. When she is fired by a radio station in 2015 after revealing a scandal involving then-President Enrique Peña Nieto, Carmen - with her dedicated journalist colleagues - decides to build a separate news platform. Facing threats of violence in the wake of a prominent journalist’s vicious murder, they must overcome fear for their personal well-being to continue in a shared fight for democracy and justice.”
Dead Donkey’s Fear No Hyaenas: This film features the internship I held last year, and explores land grabbing, community justice, and the importance of transparency and human rights within the world of shareholders/investors/and development projects.
Far From The Tree: “follows families meeting extraordinary challenges through love, empathy, and understanding. This life-affirming documentary encourages us to cherish loved ones for all they are, not who they might have been. Based on Andrew Solomon’s award-winning, critically acclaimed, New York Times bestselling non-fiction book “Far From the Tree: Parents, Children and the Search for Identity.”
Made in Bangladesh: an older film exploring garment workers’ rights and dignity in Bangladesh.
happy watching!
cover image by me