Subgenre Sampler

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James & Isey (James and Isey) (2021): Dir. Florian Habicht; Kiwi director Florian Habicht's deeply moving tribute to Northland life and aroha in the form of a documentary portrait of Isey and her son James,…
Girl on the Bridge, The (2020): Dir. Leanne Pooley; A brave and heart–wrenching documentary breaking the silence around New Zealand's mental health crisis, from the perspective of suicide…
63 Up (2019): Dir. Michael Apted; Continuation of the ground–breaking documentary series following the lives of 14 British people since 1964, providing yet another plethora of…
Celia (2018): Dir. Amanda Millar; Inspiring documentary written, directed and produced by former TV current affairs journalist Amanda Millar, which follows the career of Celia…
Generation Wealth (2018): Dir. Lauren Greenfield; Director Lauren Greenfield (THE QUEEN OF VERSAILLES, THIN) uses 25 years of experience documenting cultural movements to address the uniting theme…
In Search of Greatness (2018): Dir. Gabe Polsky; A perceptive documentary exploring greatness in sport, and what it takes to excel – nature versus nurture being an enduring theme. Includes…
In the Zone (2018): Dir. Robyn Paterson; Documentary about American Terrance Wallace who pioneered a scheme to strategically re–zone the families of disadvantaged Maori and Pasifika…
Three Identical Strangers (2018): Dir. Tim Wardle; Fascinating and moving documentary telling the incredible story of triplets who never knew they existed until they were 19, but after a joyous…
Won't You Be My Neighbor? (2018): Dir. Morgan Neville; The director of 20 FEET FROM STARDOM explores the life, lessons, and legacy of iconic children's television host, Fred Rogers, whose show "Mister…
Human Flow (2017): Dir. Ai Weiwei; Cherished iconoclastic artist Ai Weiwei directs this unflinching documentary exploring the global refugee crisis. With brilliant cinematography by…
I Used to Be Normal - A Boyband Fangirl Story (2017): Dir. Jessica Leski; A passionate and proud interrogation of music fan culture following the lives of four diverse women aged 16–64 who are self–confessed…
King, The (2017): Dir. Eugene Jarecki; Filmmaker Eugene Jarecki travels in a 1963 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud once owned by Elvis Presley and along his state–wide journey amasses a…
Quest (2017): A piercing insight into working class black America during the Obama years, this is an inspiring, tragic and universally relatable documentary that…
Soundtracks: Songs That Defined History (TV Series) (2017): An eight–part CNN series that incisively explores the music tied to iconic moments in history. Includes interviews with Pat Benatar, Melissa…
Story of Us with Morgan Freeman, The (TV Series) (2017): Feat. Morgan Freeman; 6–episode National Geographic TV Series presented by Morgan Freeman, which explores themes central to humanity such as love, belief and power,…
Unrest (2017): Dir. Jennifer Brea; A groundbreaking documentary about the mysterious condition known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Made a by Jennifer Brea, a woman who suffers from the…
Between Land and Sea (2016): Dir. Ross Whitaker
Feat. Fergal Smith, John McCarthey, Pat Conway; Unique surfing documentary following a community of surfers over the course of 12 months as they convene in the Irish town of Lahinch, known for it's…
Citizen Jane: Battle for the City (2016): Dir. Matt Tyrnauer; Documentary about urban theorist and activist Jane Jacobs, who campaigned in the 1960's against the building of mass high–rise accommodation…
Embrace (2016): Dir. Taryn Brumfritt; Empowering documentary follows Body Image Activist Taryn Brumfit on an extensive crusade to illuminate the global issue of women's body image and its…
Gender Revolution: A Journey with Katie Couric (2016): Journalist Katie Couric sets out across America to explore what it means to be a boy or a girl in the modern day, examining the role of science,…
heART of the matter, The (2016): Dir. Luit Bieringa; A valuable historical documentary tracing the remarkable shifts in educational philosophy in New Zealand during the post WWII years, in which…
Lo And Behold: Reveries of the Connected World (2016): Dir. Werner Herzog; Acclaimed Documentarian Werner Herzog approaches the internet as a curious outsider on an exotic vacation. Meeting the digital natives, getting…
OJ: Made in America (TV Series) (2016): Dir. Ezra Edelman; A hugely acclaimed, definitive exploration of the O.J. Simpson “Trial of the Century” from the producers of ESPN Films prodigious doco series "30…
Why Am I?: The Science of Us (2016): An internationally lauded four part series that details the findings of a 40–year study by the Otago School of Medicine that follows every baby…
Culture High, The (2015): Dir. Brett Harvey; Documentary that explores the deep–seated roots of the morally induced Marijuana campaign and reveals the fascinating path it has taken to get…
Free to Run (2015): Dir. Pierre Morath; The social history of running is chronicled with extraordinary passion and depth in this examination of the trajectory of running from an elitist,…
Hunting Ground, The (2015): Dir. Kirby Dick; A scorching exposé of the startling prevalence of sexual assaults and institutional cover–ups at college campuses across America. Through raw…
Landfill Harmonic (2015): Dir. Brad Allgood, Graham Townsley; Documentary portrait of Paraguayan music teacher Fabio Chavez and his Recycled Orchestra of Cateura, a children's orchestra which performs with…
Mask You Live In, The (2015): Dir. Jennifer Siebel Newsom; Seeking to inspire a society to raise a healthier generation of boys and young men, this cogent documentary identifies the pervasive cultural and…
Story of China with Michael Wood, The (TV Series) (2015): Feat. Michael Wood; Veteran historian and broadcaster Michael Wood follows his celebrated Story of India with this in–depth portrait of the most populous country…
Welcome to Leith (2015): Dir. Michael Beach Nichols, Christopher K. Walker; A living nightmare unfolds for the townsfolk of the North Dakota town of Leith (pop. 24) when a notorious white supremacist moves in with a nefarious…
Where to Invade Next (2015): Dir. Michael Moore; A good–natured comic polemic from film–maker Michael Moore, who this time "invades" a host of European nations in pursuit of progressive,…
Wolfpack, The (2015): Dir. Crystal Moselle; A poignant, stranger–than–fiction documentary about the six Angulo brothers, raised entirely within the confines of their Lower East Side…
From Scotland With Love (2014): Scottish history as told through a vast collection of real home movie and archival footage, this is a charming filmic tapestry of everyday family…
Generation Like (2014): Top quality and highly topical PBS documentary which posits the question "Are kids using social media or is social media using kids?" to explore the…
Irish Pub, The (2014): Dir. Alex Fegan; A warm celebration of Irish pub culture, featuring delightful character vignettes and insightful explorations of the family tradition of pub…
Italian Americans, The (Mini-Series) (2014): Documentary series that deftly explores the real history and impact of Italian Americans on America through archival clips and interviews from 1890…
Nigel Latta (TV Series) (2014): Clinical psychologist Nigel Latta goes in–depth on some of the most urgent problems facing New Zealand society today in this confronting…
Overnighters, The (2014): Dir. Jesse Moss; The burden of compassion is at the heart of this story of Jay Reinke, a church Pastor who runs the "overnighters" program in the oil pipeline…
That Sugar Film (2014): Dir. Damon Gameau; Damon Gameau embarks on a unique experiment to document the effects of a high sugar diet on a healthy body, consuming only foods that are commonly…
Grayson Perry: All in the Best Possible Taste (TV Series) (2013): Turner–Prize winning artist and renowned transvestite Grayson Perry visits the taste tribes of Britain, dissecting the class system into three…
Stuart Hall Project, The (2013): Dir. John Akomfrah; Personalised portrait of cultural theorist Stuart Hall, who is regarded as one of the founding figures of the New Left and a key architect of…
Source Family, The (2012): Dir. Jodi Wille, Maria Demopoulos; Utterly fascinating story of The Source Family, a 150–strong spiritual commune in the Hollywood Hills during the hippy era, presided over with…
Stories We Tell (2012): Dir. Sarah Polley; Indie actress turned director Sarah Polley investigates a long–held family secret in this absorbing personal documentary.
Bully (2011): Dir. Lee Hirsch; A shattering documentary on the difficult social problem of bullying, which gives a voice to the victims who suffer repeated physical and verbal…
Fry's Planet Word (2011): Dir. John Paul Davidson
Feat. Stephen Fry; This five–part BBC series joins Stephen Fry as he travel's the continents exploring the nuanced diverse world of human language.
Inside Child Poverty (2011): Dir. Bryan Bruce; Wellington documentary maker Bryan Bruce investigates the appalling level of child poverty in New Zealand, and travels to Sweden to found out why…
Interrupters, The (2011): Dir. Steve James; Another grim, yet by turns inspiring social documentary from dir. Steve James (HOOP DREAMS), who expands his chronicle of urban…
Louis Theroux - The Odd, the Bad, and the Godly (2011): A second anthology of intrepid reporter Louis Theroux's eye–opening BBC Two specials. Disc One: America's Medicated Kids, Law and Disorder…
My America (2011): Dir. Peter Hegedus; Documentarian Peter Hegedus draws on his unusual upbringing – as a child of socialist Hungary who used movies to form his image of the United…
Samsara (2011): Dir. Ron Fricke; The director of BARAKA expands our minds with another impressive, visually astonishing meditation on global spirituality and the human experience,…
Young Ones, The (2011): The latest in a series of age and era–based social experiments, this BBC documentary asks six elderly celebrities – among them, cricket…
Babies (2010): Dir. Thomas Balmes; The first year ahead of four newly born infants from different parts of the world (Namibia, Mongolia, Japan and California) forms the irresistible…
Catfish (2010): Dir. Henry Joost, Ariel Schulman; Astonishing documentary follows the interactions between a New York–based photographer and a young woman from rural Michigan who make contact…
Digital Nation (digital_nation) (2010): Dir. Rachel Dretzin; From the maker of GROWING UP ONLINE, this is another quality PBS documentary about the complexities of modern culture. The focus is how the web and…
Faces of America (2010): Henry Louis Gates, Jr. traces the cultural and ethnic roots behind America today in this salient social documentary. Participants keen to share their…
Freakonomics (2010): Dir. Alex Gibney, Eugene Jarecki, Heidi Ewing; The authors of 'Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist' pass on the baton to six documentarians in this diverse exploration of social phenomena through (and…
Michael Wood's Story of England (2010): Feat. Michael Wood; Michael Wood (STORY OF INDIA) embarks on an archeological profile of the village of Kibworth in Leicestershire in this fascinating,…
My Perestroika (2010): Dir. Robin Hessman; A playful and positive sense of nostalgia permeates through this enthralling documentary on the lives of five Moscow youngsters who grew through the…
Position Among The Stars (Stand van de Sterren) (2010): Dir. Leonard Retel Helmrich; Although the third part in a longing running trilogy, this engrossing documentary stands on its own as an eye–opening chapter in the life of…
Sweetgrass (2010): Dir. Lucien Castaing-Taylor, Ilisa Barbash; An unsentimental elegy to the American West, this follows the last modern–day cowboys to lead their flocks of sheep up into Montana's…
This Emotional Life (TV Mini-Series) (2010-2011): Self–improvement documentary series focussed on emotional intelligence, which each of three episodes weaving together personal stories with…
Video Nasties: Moral Panic, Censorship & Videotape (2010): Dir. Jake West; Fascinating documentary about the moral hysteria in 80's UK that led to the mass ban of 72 video tapes deemed too obscene by political and religious…
A Good Man (2009): Dir. Safina Uberoi; A strange and surprisingly beautiful documentary about an Australian sheep farmer who decides to cover his quadriplegic wife's medical expenses by…
Good Hair (2009): Dir. Jeff Stilson
Feat. Chris Rock; Comedian Chris Rock explores cultural identity by way of black America's obsession with hair in this warm and witty social documentary. More…
His & Hers (His and Hers) (2009): Dir. Ken Wardrop; A collection of straight–talking vignettes informs this sweet, affecting, often witty documentary in which Irish women of all ages talk about…
Hoarders (TV Series) (2009): Exploitative series tackles the obsessive compulsive disorders of various sad cases unable to part with their belongings. Taking its cues from…
Last Train Home (2009): Dir. Lixin Fan; A startling and vivid humanist documentary on China's ceaseless industrial growth, centred on one couple who make the annual migration from city to…
Louis Theroux - The Strange and the Dangerous (2009): More madness from Television's favourite faux–naif Louis Theroux, this time with our unfailing polite host coming face to face with some truly…
Love At The Twilight Motel (2009): Dir. Alison Rose; Curious peek behind the doors of Miami's seedy Twilight Motel, a rent–by–the–hour establishment frequented by all manner of…
Love, Lust & Lies (2009): Dir. Gillian Armstrong; The fifth film in the documentary series about the lives, hopes and dreams of three lively, working class Adelaide girls (now aged 47) since they…
Mexican Border Wars (TV Series) (2009): National Geographic series about American customs agents, whose job it is to curb illegal immigration and narcotics trafficking for a country…
Sisters from Siberia (2009): Dir. Russell Campbell; Wellington City Councillor Stephanie Cook is the subject of this insightful documentary on her successful adoption of sisters Katya and Nadia, who…
South (TV Series) (2009): Feat. Marcus Lush; Another "love story" from intrepid broadcaster Marcus Lush, who this time explores the South Island of New Zealand, an area he fell in love with…
This Way of Life (2009): Dir. Tom and Barbara Burstyn; Evocative, moving Kiwi doco which treats the viewer to an intimate glimpse of a family who reject modernity and live wild with six kids and fifty…
Trouble is My Business (2009): Dir. Juliette Veber; Keenly observational documentary about an empathetic assistant principal (Gary Peach) who battles to keep his students in school and out of trouble…
American Future - A History by Simon Schama (2008): Resonant look at the superpower filmed during the run up to the 2009 inauguration of Barack Obama with popular historian Simon Schama turning his…
American Teen (2008): Dir. Nanette Burstein
Feat. Hannah Bailey, Colin Clemens, Geoff Haase…; An intimate and often hilarious doco that was a surprise Sundance Festival hit that follows four high school seniors – 'the jock', 'the arsty…
Best Undressed (The Pageant) (2008): Dir. Martin Taylor; A documentary about Australia’s longest running beauty pageant, the Miss Nude Australia Pageant, told from the perspective of contestants and…
Cracking The Colour Code (TV Series) (2008): Dir. Hugh Piper; Stimulating series journeying across six continents to investigate how humans from different cultures and backgrounds view, make and take meaning…
Ganges (2008): A magnificent series exploring the life of the Ganges river, which runs through the heart of India and has extraordinary impact on the landscape and…
Global Metal (2008): Intriguing music doco, presented by metaller and anthropologist Sam Dunn, delving into the sub–culture of metal heads around the world and the…
India Reborn (2008): Fascinating and disturbing doco series that looks at India as the next superpower, and the juxtapositions to its mighty wealth that cloud its future…
Second Skin (2008): Dir. Juan Carlos Pineiro-Escoriaza; Compulsive insight into video game addiction, focused on a cross–section of young people who obsessively engage in what are known as MMOs (Mass…
What About Me? (2008): Dir. Duncan Bridgeman, Jamie Catto; A guide to better 21st Century living from the duo behind 1 GIANT LEAP, this kaleidoscope of philosophical and musical clips features contributions…
21 Up South Africa - Mandela's Children (2007): Dir. Angus Gibson; The enduring UP Series moves to South Africa, where six 21–year–olds, first filmed in 1992, reflect on their lives to date. By…
Beyond Our Ken (2007): Disquieting documentary exploring the inner workings of Australian spiritual group 'Kenya,' based on the principle of "energy conversion," accused of…
Bra Boys (2007): Dir. Sunny Abberton; Potent documentary that concerns itself with the cultural evolution and social struggle of a group of surfers from the Sydney suburb of Maroubra.…
Changing Climates (Changing Climates, Changing Times) (2007): Dir. Marion Milne; Docu–drama predicting how global warming will impact different social groups around the world in the year 2100. Although visually striking,…
Choir, The (2007): Dir. Michael Davie; Johannesburg's largest and most notorious prison is the setting for this inspiring documentary, which follows the fortunes of a convict choir who…
Cowboys and Communists (Cowboys & Communists) (2007): Dir. Jess Feast; Engaging culture documentary centred on a risque East Berlin bar and eatery (known as White Trash Fast Food), operated by an ex–pat 'cowboy'…
First Cry, The (2007): Dir. Gilles de Maistre; A beautifully observed documentary that portrays the miracle of child birth from varying perspectives around the globe. Shot over a 24 hour period,…
Heart Of An Empire (2007): Dir. Jay Thompson; Engaging doco taking a look into the lives of an ever–expanding network of Star Wars fanatics, known as 'Fighting 501st Legion,' who get their…
Here to Stay (TV Series) (2007): An enlightening, culturally pertinent reference point for the current make up of New Zealand society, this six part series revisits a number of key…
Ice Road Truckers (TV Series) (2007): Gritty reality show focusing on a group of hardened truckers attempting to make mega bucks by transporting loads of supplies across the treacherous…
Inside China (2007): Dir. Jonathan Lewis; Surprisingly candid portrait of live inside the increasingly influential super–power. Dir. Lewis makes the most of the unprecedented access…
Joseph Campbell - Mythos I (2007): Dir. Robert Walter
Feat. Susan Sarandon; This series comprises the lectures of mythologist Joseph Campbell, filmed shortly before his death and presented here by Susan Sarandon. The five…
Let's Say (On dirait que... ) (2007): Dir. Françoise Marie; A sweetly humble documentary in the vein of ETRE ET AVOIR, involving a group of French kids aged 8–13 asked to portray their parents’ jobs…
Music in Me, The (2007): Enriching documentary following an inspirational group of intellectually and physically disabled performers called 'The Merry Makers' as they prepare…
Night (2007): Dir. Lawrence Johnston; Thought–provoking cine–visual essay about how humans perceive night–time through striking cinematography of Australian city and…
Send A Bullet (Manda Bala) (2007): Dir. Jason Kohn; Unsettling doco exposing the corrupted underbelly of Sao Paulo, Brazil, where abduction, political fraud and torture runs rife. A protege of…
Story of India with Michael Wood, The (TV Series) (2007): Feat. Michael Wood; Acclaimed historian Wood takes to the destination du–jour – India – in order to acknowledge its history and research its…
Surfwise (2007): Dir. Doug Pray; Surprisingly confronting documentary following the ultimate surfer dude dad – Dorian Paskowitz – and his suffering family who forsake…
This American Life (TV Series) (2007-2009): Ordinary strangers share their extraordinary anecdotes which are compiled by the worldly host into explorations on a given theme. This collection of…
Unlikely Travellers (2007): Dir. Michael Noonan; A refreshingly open doco framing a group of intellectually disabled travellers on a once–in–a–lifetime holiday to Egypt, following…
Beales of Grey Gardens, The (2006): Dir. Albert Maysles, David Maysles; Comprised of new footage and fresh hindsight, the Maysles brothers revisit the iconic Beales immortalised in their 1976 verite classic GREY GARDENS.…
Cuba - A Lifetime Of Passion (2006): Dir. Glenn Gebhard; With unprecedented access on either side of the Florida Straits, this comprehensive, and beautifully shot documentary highlights the complexity of…
Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple (2006): Dir. Stanley Nelson Jr; The enigma of cultist Jim Jones is investigated in chilling detail as this documentary outlays the infamous ‘Peoples Temple’ cult and its…
Life in Loops (2006): Dir. Timo Novotny; This audio–visual companion piece to MEGACITIES remixes the documentary’s existing footage of global degradation with a throbbing electronic…
Naked on the Inside (2006): Dir. Kim Farrant; Affecting documentary narrated by Australian filmmaker Kim Farrant as she investigates the issue of 'body image' through the lives of an amputee…
Radiant City (2006): Dir. Gary Burns, Jim Brown; This account of a ‘typical’ nuclear family ensconced in America’s suburban wasteland doubles as a serious expose of consumption, sprawl, and…
Sign of the Times (2006): Dir. Victoria Manning, Paul Wolffram; In April 2006 the New Zealand Parliament recognised New Zealand Sign Language as the third official language of New Zealand. This short 'insider'…
49 Up (2005): Dir. Michael Apted; The seventh part of the extraordinary television documentary series that documents the attitudes, personalities and lives of 14 Britons of different…
51 Birch Street (2005): Dir. Doug Block; Filmmaker Doug Block goes looking for skeletons in his parents’ closet following the sudden death of his mother, and the unexpected remarriage of…
Geldof in Africa (TV Series) (2005): Dir. John Maguire
Feat. Bob Geldof; A six–part series in which Irish rock star–humanitarian Bob Geldof traverses the luminous continent of Africa exploring its natural…
In Search of Myths and Heroes (TV Series) (2005): Feat. Michael Woods; BBC presenter Michael Wood explores four of the most famous myths in the world – Shangri–la, the Golden Fleece, the Queen of Sheba, and…
Jamie's School Dinners (TV Series) (2005): Feat. Jamie Oliver; A heartening example of celebrity do–gooding, this sees the famous blonde chef Jamie Oliver engage in a campaign to transform the school…
Ladette To Lady (TV Series) (2005): Trashy reality show that places a group of rough–and–ready "tom boys" in a finishing school to try and turn them into proper ladies who…
Paper Clips (2005): Dir. Elliot Berlin, Joe Fab; Straightforward and rather touching documentary about a schoolroom project in the backwoods Tennessee town of Whitwell which aimed to raise awareness…
Protocols of Zion (2005): Dir. Marc Levin; An alarming examination of the widespread post–9/11 rumour that Jewish workers at the World Trade Centre, New York City, were forewarned of the…
Workingman's Death (2005): Dir. Michael Glawogger; Astonishing depiction of six of the most gruelling jobs known to man that soberingly conveys the extremes that certain members of the global…
Boy Who Plays On The Buddhas of Bamiyan, The (2004): Dir. Phil Grabsky; A picturesque and moving documentary which follows in the footsteps of an impoverished family living in Bamiyan, Afghanistan, where a gigantic stone…
Czech Dream (Ceský sen) (2004): Dir. Vit Klusak, Filip Remunda; A document of two young filmmaker's satirical stunt to promote a gigantic supermarket (hypermarket) to be supposedly constructed on the outskirts of…
Dogora (2004): Dir. Patrice Leconte; A filmic mediatation on Cambodia, loosely in the style of BARAKA, for which dir. Leconte travelled to the formerly wartorn country to capture the…
Guerilla: The Taking of Patty Hearst (Neverland: The Rise and Fall of the Symbionese Liberation Army) (2004): Dir. Robert Stone; An indepth examination of the Californian 'hippie–terrorists', the SLA, who rose to prominence in the 1970s attempting to change America with…
Michael Palin: Himalaya (TV Series) (2004): Dir. Roger Mills, John-Paul Davidson
Feat. Michael Palin; Michael Palin continues his globe–trotting in this 6–part series in which he travels to the wild places of the Himalayan region. Filled…
Scared Sacred (2004): Dir. Velcrow Ripper; Visiting sites of some of the world’s most horrible stories doesn’t seem like a relaxed night’s viewing, but this doco by the interestingly…
Sheilas: 28 Years On (2004): Dir. Annie Goldson, Dawn Hutchesson; Utilising the approach of Michael Apted's 7–UP films, this features encounters with the participants of the 1976 New Zealand TV series 'Women'…
Status Anxiety (TV Series) (2004): Writer and presenter Alain De Botton explores the myth that our level of material wealth and career success has a bearing on our happiness and…
Blockade, Landscape, Revue: 3 Films by Sergei Loznitsa (2003-2008): Dir. Sergey Loznitsa; Three documentaries from Ukrainian director Sergei Loznitsa (DONBASS). Landscape (2003, 60 mins) is set at a bus stop in a small village, with the…
Spellbound (2003): Dir. Jeffrey Blitz; Surprise hit documentary that struck a universal chord in following eight high–school hopefuls in their bid to succeed at the American National…
Super Size Me (2003): Dir. Morgan Spurlock
Feat. Morgan Spurlock; Entertaining expose of the evils of 'fast food', in which the filmmaker uses himself as a human guinea–pig by embarking on a 30–day,…
Weeping Camel, The (Story of the Weeping Camel, The) (2003): Dir. Byambasuren Davaa, Luigi Falorni; A lovingly filmed and touchingly simple excursion into the lives of a family of nomadic shepherds in the Gobi Desert, Mongolia, which blurs the line…
9/11 (2002): Dir. Jules Naudet, Gedeon Naudet, James Hanlon; What started out as an amateur documentary by two French brothers about the New York Fire Department turns into a vital, ground’s–eye view of…
Bus 174 (2002): Dir. José Padilha; A riveting analysis of an incident in Rio de Janeiro in June 2000 in which a lone, desperate gunman held hostage the passengers of a bus, while the…
Century of the Self, The (2002): Dir. Adam Curtis; An expertly assembled wealth of archival footage helps tell the complex story of the growth of the mass–consumer society and the role played by…
Cinemania (2002): Dir. Stephen Kijak, Angela Christlieb; An enthralling must–see for movie–buffs of any degree, this documents the daily rituals of five New York eccentrics whose lives are…
Coffee, Tea or Me? (2002): Dir. Brita McVeigh; An engaging lowkey look at the experiences of seven woman who worked as air hostesses in the 1960s and 70s. Similiar in tone to the documentaries…
Drowned Out (2002): Dir. Franny Armstrong; A forerunner, and now excellent companion piece to the much vaunted UP THE YANGTZE, this captures in sobering close–up the plight of an Indian…
Georgie Girl (2002): Dir. Annie Goldson; The unique and quite remarkable life story of Georgina Beyer, born George, a Maori transsexual and former sex–worker, who recently was elected…
I Don't Know Jack (2002): Dir. Chris Leavens
Feat. Jack Nance; Concerning the life, work and death of Jack Nance, star of ERASERHEAD and eccentric of other David Lynch films, whose self–destructive…
In a Land of Plenty (2002): Dir. Alister Barry; Described as ‘the story of unemployment in New Zealand,’ this serves as a strong companion piece for SOMEONE ELSE'S COUNTRY, dir. Barry’s…
Naqoyqatsi (2002): Dir. Godfrey Reggio; Dir. Reggio follows up KOYAANISQATSI and POWAQQATSI, with another spectacular and mesmerising montage of global imagery, with Philip Glass again…
Okie Noodling (2002): Dir. Bradley Beesley; An amiable glimpse into the American tradition of "noodling", whereby giant catfish in Oklahoma are lured and captured bare–handed. This…
Stevie (2002): Dir. Steve James; A provocative, uniquely intimate doco in which the director reknews his acquaintance with a troubled adoptee, now facing prison, whom he once…
American Mullet (2001): Dir. Jennifer Arnold; Less hair–raising than affectionate documentary about that most controversial of hairstyles; the mullet. Going on the road in her "mullet…
Hell House (2001): Dir. George Ratliff; Behind–the–scenes account of a small fundamentalist church in Texas whose "Hell House" serves as a tool to literally "scare the hell out…
Project Greenlight (TV Series) (2001): This outstanding documentary series about the making of a low–budget feature film is mandatory for anyone interested in film and the…
Startup.com (2001): Dir. Jehane Noujaim, Chris Hegedus
Feat. Kaleil Tuzman, Tom Herman; A supremely timely, as–it–happens recording of the boom–and–bust story of two naively ambitious internet entrepreneurs –…
Sweetest Sound, The (2001): Dir. Alan Berliner; Wry, speculative documentary on identity and genealogy finds dir. Alain Berliner turning the camera on himself – and twelve other ‘Alan…
Titless Wonders (2001): Dir. Gaylene Preston; “An upfront exploration of the emotional discoveries of women with breast cancer”, this bravely and valuably documents a subject most people…
Bouncer: Behind the Velvet Rope (2000): Dir. Steven Cantor; Those guardians of bars and nightclubs describe the perils and perks of their profession (and why for some there’s no difference between them).…
Cunnamulla (2000): Dir. Dennis O'Rourke; The provocative director of GOOD WOMAN OF BANGKOK turns his lense onto the Australian community of the title, a rag–tag small–town in…
Dark Days (2000): Dir. Marc Singer; A remarkable, compassionate document of homeless people condemned to living in underground shelters in the New York subway…
First Person (TV Series) (2000): Dir. Errol Morris; Errol Morris, the renowned cinematic observer of human testimony, nuance and eccentricity, here extends his patented "Interrotron" interview…
Natural History of the Chicken (2000): Dir. Mark Lewis; The dir. of CANE TOADS here uses the odd behaviour of the humble chook as a wryly comic springboard for examining the equally odd behaviour of their…
Notes from a Small Island (2000): The observant, ironic travel–writer Bill Bryson ambles through the United Kingdom making consistently amusing note of the oddities he discovers.
Philosophy: A Guide to Happiness (TV Series) (2000): Feat. Alain de Botton; Presented by respected modern–day philosopher Alain de Botton, this six part series features six historical thinkers and their theories on how…
Whirling Man, The (2000): Dir. Gretchin Mornin, James Hollings
Feat. Arnold Brooker; Brief compelling whirl through the world of Arnold Brooker, an eccentric fixture on the streets of Wellington who campaigns for the rights of the…
42 Up (1999): Dir. Michael Apted; The sixth part of the extraordinary television documentary series that documents the attitudes, personalities and lives of 14 Britishers of different…
Awful Truth, The (TV Series) (1999): Dir. Michael Moore
Feat. Michael Moore; Find out what's really going on in America with merciless media activist Michael Moore, fighting for the common man against the evil–doers of…
Buena Vista Social Club (1999): Dir. Wim Wenders; A handful of sprightly elderly Cuban musicians assembled in 1996 by guitarist Ry Cooder produced, with their soulful, melodic jazz sound, the biggest…
Hands on a Hard Body (1999): Dir. S.R. Bindler; Low–budget but enthralling chronicle of the annual ‘Hands on a Hard Body’ competition run by a local Texas radio station, in which 23…
Last Days, The (1999): Dir. James Moll; Accompanied by return visits to their homeland and the Nazi death camps, five Hungarian survivors of the Holocaust recount their remarkable stories…
Louis Theroux's - The Collection (Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends, When Louis Met....) (1999): Four disc set compiling the best of the affable Louis Theroux, drawing from his three series to date. More disarming than Borat, Theroux’s…
Pop and Me (1999): Dir. Chris Roe; A 'real life' documentary with a distinctive twist – would–be film–maker Chris Roe convinces his affluent divorcee father to not…
Cruise, The (1998): Dir. Bennett Miller; A wonderful insight into life in New York City in the late 1990's through one of the cities eccentric characters – Tim "Speed" Levitch, a tour…
Megacities (1998): Dir. Michael Glawogger; The dir. of WORKINGMAN'S DEATH reveals a global underclass with portraits of poverty and neglect, from Bombay to Moscow to Mexico City. Some may…
Road to Jerusalem + Roaring Forties (1997): Dir. Bruce Morrison; Affectionate biography/homage tracing the life of the late great NZ poet James K Baxter. Admirable recitals of his verse complement many candid…
Robinson in Space (1997): Dir. Patrick Keiller
Feat. Paul Scofield; Following up his widely–noted documentary LONDON, dir. Keiller again hits the road with his anonymous alter ego (voiceover by Paul Scofield)…
Sick (1997): Dir. Kirby Dick; Stunning, compassionate feature biography of the life of Bob Flanagan, whose 'super–masochism' and extreme performance art was born of his…
Fast, Cheap and Out of Control (1996): Dir. Errol Morris; Further pushing out a signature style that impresses technique as much as subject, dir. Errol Morris here takes real life as a mere starting point…
Gallivant (1996): Dir. Andrew Kotting; An engrossing ‘gallivant’ around the coastline of Great Britain (and the parameters of experimental documentary) with the filmmaker, his…
Kiwi As (1996): Dir. Shirley Horrocks; The second of dir. Shirley Horrocks journey into the delightful world of 'Kiwiana' – those often quaint artifacts of New Zealand's past –…
Kiwiana (1996): Dir. Shirley Horrocks; The first of two congenial excursions into the increasingly popular genre of 20th century New Zealand cultural artifacts, collectively known as…
Not Fourteen Again (1996): Dir. Gillian Armstrong; Inspired by the British 7–UP series, film–maker Armstrong completes(?) her anthropological documentary following the lives of three…
Putting Our Town On the Map (1995): Dir. Shirley Horrocks; An eye–opening documentary about how many New Zealand towns create prominent versions of local icons in their search for distinction and…
Human Animal, The (1994): Famed zoologist Desmond Morris' personal assessment of the human being spans the cultural globe to understand behavioural peculiarities that we daily…
London (1994): Dir. Patrick Keiller; The giant dichotomy that is London is exposed by counter–pointing post–card imagery with Paul Scofield's narration of the ironic,…
Baraka (1993): Dir. Ron Fricke; The cinematographer of KOYAANISQATSI montages gloriously filmed images from around the globe with modern world music and creates more than just an…
From the East (1993): Dir. Chantal Akerman
Feat. Natalia Chakhovskaia; Travelogue documentary shot on 16mm which describes the lives of people in Poland, Russia and East Germany before the collapse of the Soviet…
Palms (Ladoni) (1993): Dir. Artour Aristakisian; Examining the plight of Moscow’s homeless and adrift, dir. Aristakisyan’s jarring, but resolute formalism (unfussy 16mm black and white footage…
Lessons of Darkness / Fata Morgana (1992/1969): Dir. Werner Herzog; Two of dir. Herzog’s impressionistic documentaries on a double DVD. LESSONS OF DARKNESS investigates the aftermath of the Gulf War, with…
35 Up (1992): Dir. Michael Apted; The fifth part of the extraordinary television documentary series that documents the attitudes, personalities and lives of 14 Britishers of different…
Good Woman of Bangkok (1991): Dir. Dennis O'Rourke; A typical sex–worker reveals her experiences to illuminate the harsh reality and profound sadness at the base of Thailand's prolific sex…
Making Sense of the Sixties (1991): Fulsome documentary overview of the turbulent sixties, specifically in context with America, where John F. Kennedy, civil rights, the Vietnam War,…
Talk 16 (1991): Dir. Janis Lundman, Adrienne Mitchell; The transition of childhood to womanhood is revealed in this intimate, candid study of five 16–year–old girls over a five year period.
American Dream (1990): Dir. Barbara Kopple; An Oscar–winning documentary about the effects of trade–union–company conflict at a meat–packing plant in Minnesota in…
Maria's Story (A Portrait Of Love And Survival In El Salvador's Civil War) (1990): Dir. Monona Wali, Pamela Cohen
Roger and Me (1990): Dir. Michael Moore
Feat. Michael Moore; A brilliantly irreverant personal odyssey by the film–maker who, equipped with a mic and a camera, endeavours to extract comment from General…
Ilé Aiyé (The House of Life) (1989): Dir. David Byrne; David Byrne documents the Candomblé, the African–influenced spirit cult of the Bahia region of Brazil, exploring the ways in which they have…
Shakers, The (1989): Dir. Ken Burns; Documentary about the religion often characterised by their ecstatic dancing, pacifism and belief in non–conventional medicine. Ken Burns…
Bingo, Bridesmaids and Braces (1988): Dir. Gillian Armstrong; Taking a cue from the British 7–UP series, Gillian Armstrong's anthropological documentary follows the lives of three working–class…
Cane Toads (An Unnatural History) (1988): Dir. Mark Lewis; Since 1935 these noxious green freaks have been multiplying rapidly throughout Australia. Lewis tackles them and their absurd human foes head on in…
Powaqqatsi (1988): Dir. Godrey Reggio; Extending the themes and montage techniques of cult favourite ‘Koyaanisqatsi’, this sequel introduces media culture excess and the plight of the…
Power of Myth - Joseph Campbell, The (1988): Dir. Bill Moyers; Enlightening journey through the mind of myth–guru Joseph Campbell, compiling six hours of interviews by Bill Moyers in the 2 years preceding…
Swimming to Cambodia (1987): Dir. Jonathan Demme
Feat. Spalding Gray; Recounting his experiences in Thailand, while acting in THE KILLING FIELDS, arch–raconteur Spalding Gray whips up a verbal storm, with Laurie…
Matter of Heart (1986): An inspired film portrait of Carl Jung that weaves together interview, home movie and archival footage of the famous psychoanalyst to deliver an…
Sherman's March (1986): Dir. Ross McElwee; A wonderfully oddball chronicle of the disastrous and wacky lovelife and times of the film–maker. Intending to make a historical doco, he veers…
28 Up (1985): Dir. Michael Apted; The fourth part of the extraordinary television documentary series that documents the attitudes, personalities and lives of 14 Britishers of…
All American High (All American High Revisited) (1985-2014): Dir. Keva Rosenfeld; Excellent 'time–capsule' account of a year at an affluent American High School in Los Angeles, California in 1984. The film's key character…
Private Practices: The Story of a Sex Surrogate (1985): Dir. Kirby Dick; The debut feature from bold documentarian Kirby Dick (SICK) is this fascinating and humane portrait of a sex surrogate Maureen Sullivan, who is…
Shoah (1985): Dir. Claude Lanzmann; Claude Lanzmann's epic documentary on the Holocaust – 10 years in the making – is everything Resnais' 'Night and Fog' isn't; rough,…
Chicken Ranch (1984): Dir. Nick Broomfield; Astonishing expose of a famous legal whorehouse in Texas on which a popular Dolly Parton movie was based. What is revealed, however, is far from the…
Koyaanisqatsi (1983): Dir. Godfrey Reggio; This unique visual and aural masterpiece looks at our earth and 20th Century 'progress' through the eye of time–lapse camera. The…
Vernon, Florida (1982): Dir. Errol Morris; An early gem from dir. Morris (THE FOG OF WAR) that ambles around the small backwater town of the title, documenting the eccentricities and humour of…
Gates of Heaven (1980): Dir. Errol Morris; This acclaimed debut of dir. Errol Morris (THIN BLUE LINE) staked a high water mark for eccentric film subjects by documenting the closing down of a…
Soldier Girls (1980): Dir. Nick Broomfield, Joan Churchill; Early Nick Broomfield entry surveys the US Army's training regime for female recruits. Though less obtrusive than in later incarnations, Broomfield…
Three Popular Films by Jean-Pierre Gorin (Poto and Cabengo, Routine Pleasures, My Crasy Life) (1980-1992): Dir. Jean-Pierre Gorin; Three delightfully absorbing observational documentaries from director Jean–Pierre Gorin, well know for his collaborations with Jean–Luc…
Best Boy (1979): Dir. Ira Wohl; Academy–award winning doco follows three years in the life of the film–maker's cousin Philly, a 52–year–old with the…
Tattooed Tears (1978): Dir. Nick Broomfield, Joan Churchill; Early Nick Broomfield doco eschews his later interactive style for an unrelenting examination of the life of four youths in a prison for young…
21 Up (1977): Dir. Michael Apted; The third part of the extraordinary television documentary series that documents the attitudes, personalities and lives of 14 Britishers of different…
Grey Gardens (1976): Dir. Albert Maysles, David Maysles, Ellen Hovde; An intimate portrait of acute eccentricity, this offers a ‘home movie’–style insight into the lives of colourful high–society…
Harlan County USA (1976): Dir. Barbara Kopple; A vivid, enlightening documentary about a violent labour dispute on the East Kentucky coalfields, prompted by decades of poor conditions in the…
Smokes and Lollies / Fourteen's Good, Eighteen's Better (1975-1980): Dir. Gillian Armstrong; The first of five documentaries Gillian Armstrong directed on Adelaide women Kerry, Josie and Diana, this introduces the fresh–faced trio as…
Story of Kerry, Josie and Diana 14-47, The (Smokes and Lollies; Fourteen's Good, Eighteen's Better; Bingo, Bridesmaids & Braces; Not Fourteen Again; Love, Lust & Lies) (1975-2009): Dir. Gillian Armstrong; The complete documentaries of Gillian Armstrong's series on the lives of three working class Adelaide women, introduced as 14–year–olds…
Calcutta (1969): Dir. Louis Malle; Louis Malle’s companion piece to PHANTOM INDIA isolates some extraordinary footage of Calcutta, presenting a fiery and tempestuous image of a city…
Phantom India (1969): Dir. Louis Malle; Captured on film, Louis Malle’s pilgrimage to India is relayed with remarkable and imposing gravitas as the director discovers the country, warts…
Salesman (1968): Dir. David Maysles, Albert Maysles, Charlotte Zwerin; Devastating look at the borderline existence of four door–to–door bible salesman, as they go their round from coffee–shop,…
Actuality Dramas of Allan King, The (Warrendale; A Married Couple; Come on Children; Dying at Grace; Memory For Max, Claire, Ida and Company) (1967-2005): Dir. Allan King; A collection of five cinema–verité style documentaries from the extraordinary Canadian auteur Allan King, all of which are emotionally…
Country Calendar (TV Series) (1966-2015): The iconic New Zealand series that unveils the doings of our rural populace – their innovations, traditions and eccentricities. 'Very Best…
7 Up / 14 Up (Seven Plus Seven) (1964-1970): Dir. Paul Almond, Michael Apted; The first two parts of the extraordinary television documentary series that documents the attitudes, personalities and lives of 14 Britishers of…
I am Cuba (1964): Dir. Mikhail Kalatozov; One of the most renowned documentaries of the 1960s, this poetic evocation of Cuba under Batista is today notable for both its quaint politics and…
Up Series Boxset (7-49UP) (1964-2005): Dir. Michael Apted; All 49 years of Michael Apted's extraordinary documentary series chronicling the evolving lives of ordinary Brits.
Whicker's World (TV Series) (1958-1994): Feat. Alan Whicker; Fronted by one of the most celebrated social commentators and journalists of the 20th century, Alan Whicker's television masterpieces saw the polite…
Nuit et Broulliard (Night and Fog) (1955): Dir. Alain Resnais; Haunting, influential doco on the Nazi concentration camps investigates the ways in which images of past events cause guilt for those in the present,…
History of Pornography: Dir. Hons Wegmunsen; Raw expose of the origins and changing social implications of taboo erotica. The 'stag' movies of the '30s and '40s, in this context are particularly…

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