Subgenre Sampler

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Shackleton: The Greatest Story of Survival (2023): The true story of polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton and the crew of the Endurance, told by the only man ever to have repeated their incredible…
Merkel (2022): Dir. Eva Weber; A fittingly admirable portrait of the one of the great diplomats of modern times, Angela Merkel, chancellor of Germany for sixteen years, and most…
Raphael: The Young Prodigy (2021): Dir. Massimo Ferrari; A documentary about the Italian painter Raphael, and his extraordinary contribution to the short–lived High Renaissance movement of the late…
Pompeii: Sin City (2020): A documentary exploring the city of Pompeii and its profound influence on culture and art over the course of human history. Provides an evocative…
#Anne Frank: Parallel Stories (2019): Dir. Sabina Fedeli, Anna Migotto
Feat. Helen Mirren; Documentary marking the 75th anniversary of the Auschwitz liberation, featuring Helen Mirren reading from Anne Frank's diaries and providing a moving…
Apollo 11 (2019): Dir. Todd Douglas Miller; A handsomely mounted, meticulously conceived documentary presenting the events of the Apollo 11 mission to land on the moon, led by commander Neil…
Civilisations (TV Series) (2018): Inspired by Kenneth Clark's classic documentary series CIVILISATION (1969), this nine–part series tells the story of art from the dawn of human…
Meeting Gorbachev (2018): Dir. Werner Herzog, André Singer; Werner Herzog directs this candid documentary based on three interviews with Mikhail Gorbachev, the eighth and last leader of the Soviet Union. With…
Studio 54: The Documentary (2018): Dir. Matt Tyrnauer; In–depth account of how the world's most famous (and infamous) nightclub, Studio 54, was created by co–owners Ian Schrager and Steve…
The Pacific: In the Wake of Captain Cook with Sam Neill (2018): Feat. Sam Neill; 250 years after Captain James Cook began his epic exploration of the Pacific, Sam Neill journeys in the wake, uncovering stories that resonate from…
They Shall Not Grow Old (2018): Dir. Peter Jackson; Ground–breaking documentary that employs state–of–the–art technology to transform audio and moving image archive footage to…
Diana: In Her Own Words (2017): Credible documentary on Princess Diana, based on unreleased audio interviews from 1991 which reveal her thoughts at a very specific point in her life.
Joanna Lumley's India (2017): Feat. Joanna Lumley; Actress and presenter Joanna Lumley, who was born in India in the last days of The Raj, travels back this country to explore it's wildlife, culture,…
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,…
1916: The Irish Rebellion (2016): Feat. Liam Neeson; Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Irish Rebellion, this superb three–part documentary covers the impact of this seminal event.…
Greeks, The (2016): Feat. Neil deGrasse Tyson; National Geographic landmark "event series" featuring historians, archaeologists, actors, athletes, scientists and artists all weighing in on the…
Joanna Lumley's Japan (2016): Feat. Joanna Lumley; British actress and presenter Joanna Lumley continues her series of travel documentaries with a 2,000 mile journey across the four main islands of…
Letters From Baghdad (2016): Feat. Tilda Swinton; The complex history of the Middle East and British colonial power is explored in this documentary centered around the remarkable life of British…
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…
Story of God, The (TV Series) (2016): Feat. Morgan Freeman; Ambitious cross–cultural survey of what God means to people and how religion has shaped world history , narrated and produced by Morgan…
Althea (2015): PBS documentary account of the story of Althea Gibson, a truant from the tough streets of Harlem, who overcame extraordinary odds to becomes the…
Cancer - The Emperor of All Maladies (2015): Dir. Barak Goodman; Ken Burns produced this illuminating study of Cancer from its first mention in Egyptian scrolls to the present day medical laboratories where the…
Dawn of Humanity (2015): National Geographic documentary focusing on a 2013 fossil discovery and the 2–year excavation process that followed, with insights into how…
Francofonia (2015): Dir. Alexandr Sokurov
Feat. Louis-Do de Lencquesaing, Benjamin Utzerath; A richly evocative and insightful historical cine–essay from celebrated dir. Alexander Sokurov (RUSSIAN ARK) that charts the relationship…
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…
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…
Genius of the Ancient World (2014): Historian Bettany Hughes takes a tour through the ancient world and examines the works of three key philosophers, Socrates, Confucious and Buddha.
Intrepid New Zealand (2014): Ambitious follow–up to Kevin Biggar and Jamie Fitzgerald's FIRST CROSSINGS (2012) finds the pair tackling a new set of legendary journeys…
Queen Victoria's Letters: A Monarch Unveiled (2014): A.N. Wilson guides the viewer through revealing look at the life of Queen Victoria, told through a selection of the Monarch's correspondences..
Beyond the Edge (2013): Dir. Leanne Pooley
Feat. Chad Moffitt, Sonam Sherpa; Thrilling, definitive docu–drama on Sir Edmund Hillary's historic 1953 scaling of Everest with sherpa Tenzing Norgay.
Killing Lincoln (2013): Dir. Adrian Moat
Feat. Billy Campbell; Bill O'Reilly's novel about the assassination of President Lincoln from the point of view of John Wilkes Booth is the basis for this uneven but…
Medieval Lives: Birth, Marriage, Death (2013): Historian Dr Helen Castor examines everyday life for medieval society, from Queens to peasants, and in particular the trials of childbirth in the…
Richard III: The King in the Car Park & The Unseen Story (2013): Dir. Louise Osmond
Feat. Simon Farnaby; In the British town of Leicester, archaeologists unearth the skeleton of a man. The man's spine is deformed. His skull shows signs of violent trauma.…
Secrets of Britain (TV Series) (2013): A PBS–produced series that goes behind the scenes to reveal detailed history and contemporary insights about various British landmarks and…
Spirit of '45, The (2013): Dir. Ken Loach; In this illuminating documentary, Ken Loach movingly celebrates the radical changes during postwar Britain under the new Labour government, which…
Story of the Jews, The (2013): Simon Schama leads this exhaustive five–part documentary series on the Jewish story and experience, from past to present.
Vikings, The (TV Series) (2013): Going beyond their bloodthirsty reputation, Neil Oliver charts the rise of the Vikings, from their prehistoric Scandinavian homelands to a vast…
Andrew Marr's History of the World (2012): A 'definitive' account of human history, according to acclaimed British journalist Andrew Marr, filtered through the 'big stories' of the last 70,000…
British, The (2012): Britain’s tumultuous history is dramatised in this seven–part BBC series looking at the monarchs, leaders, reformers, inventors, pioneers and…
Crusades, The (2012): Medieval historian Thomas Asbridge re–examines the religious fanaticism and unspeakable brutality of the 'Holy War', first explored for the BBC…
Dust Bowl, The (2012): Dir. Ken Burns; The Great Depression and the subsequent decade–long drought experienced by farmers during the 30s forms the basis of this latest historical…
First Crossings (TV Series) (2012): This rugged adventure series literally retraces the steps of New Zealand's pioneer explorers in the intrepid, no–holds–barred style of…
Francesco's Shakespeare in Italy (TV Series) (2012): Further travels with charismatic Italian architect Francesco da Mosto, here exploring the Bard's great love affair with Italy, with the likes of…
London: The Modern Babylon (2012): Dir. Julien Temple; Julien Temple directs this vast, illuminating portrait of London, charting the story of its immigrants and bohemians from the beginning of the 20th…
She-Wolves: England's Early Queens (2012): Dr Helen Castor explores the lives of seven queens who challenged male power during medieval and Tudor England in this proto–feminist history…
Story Of Wales, The (TV Series) (2012): An ambitious, all–encompassing 30,000 year history of Wales, as told by the BBC's Huw Edwards. Covers everything from the Tudor Court, to the…
Bible, The - A History (2011): Enlightening, SBS–broadcast examination of the origins and ideas behind "the most influential book ever written."
Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975, The (2011): Dir. Göran Hugo Olsson; A cache of 16mm footage shot by Swedish reporters investigating the Black Power movement is restored the re–edited with supporting context is…
Civilization: Is the West History? (2011): A compelling overview of the world as we know it, in which historian Niall Ferguson takes us through the ascendancy of Western civilisation via its…
East to West (2011): An epic six part series which traces the birth of civilisation back to the Middle East, arguing that the influence of ancient Greece on world history…
Freedom Riders (2011): Dir. Stanley Nelson Jr; A lesser noted, but equally important strain of the American Civil Rights Movement vis–a–vis Rosa Parks's famous bus boycott, this…
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.
North (TV Series) (2011): Feat. Marcus Lush; The ever–endearing Marcus Lush follows up his award–winning SOUTH with this typically offbeat traverse of New Zealand's far…
Planet Egypt (2011): Egypt's history as an empire and Pharaoh dynasty is explored from beginning to end in this comprehensive survey of the world's first great…
Prohibition (2011): Dir. Ken Burns, Lynn Novick; Ken Burns focuses on a notorious chapter in American 20th century history – the Prohibition era – in this typically illuminating PBS…
Story of Ireland, The (TV Mini-Series) (2011): An RTE and BBC co–production in which presenter Fergal Keane showcases Irish history, charting the origin and impact of the myths that have…
Where Were You? (Events That Changed The World) (2011): 26–episode series that takes some of the most shocking events of the 20th and early 21st century and analyzes how news of their occurrence…
Cave of Forgotten Dreams (2010): Dir. Werner Herzog; Although intended to be viewed in 3–D, this extraordinary trip inside the Chauvet caves of Southern France – home to the oldest known…
Churches: How To Read Them (TV Series) (2010): Dir. Jonathan Mayo; Six–part series presented by historian and author Richard Taylor, exploring ideas about God, salvation, life and death through visits to some…
Disappearing London - Suggs and the City (2010): Madness front–man Graham McPherson presents this roving history of London’s unique character and charm via the city’s idiosyncratic…
Engineering An Empire (TV Series) (2010): Dir. Ted Poole
Feat. Peter Weller; The complete series hosted by Peter Weller (Robocop) examines history's greatest societies by reanimating the architectural and engineering feats…
Great Epochs of European Art, The (2010): A detailed, German–produced art history series illustrated by selected masterpieces of architecture, sculpture and painting. In addition to…
History of Christianity, A (TV Mini-Series) (2010): In this fascinating six–part series Professor Diarmaid MacCulloch, one of the world's leading historians and Professor of History of the Church…
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,…
Nostalgia for the Light (2010): Dir. Patricio Guzmán; Famed documentarian Patricio Guzmán directs this mesmerizing journey into Chile’s recent and faraway past through the annals of astronomy,…
Royal Upstairs Downstairs (TV Series) (2010): The secret lives of British servants and aristocrats are speculated on this prim history series which takes viewers on a tour of the houses and…
Story of Science, The (2010): Passionate overview of the forces that came together to create scientific knowledge. Revealing how scientific ideas have shaped the modern world this…
Turn Back Time (TV Series) (2010): Illuminating series that takes a group of modern shopkeepers and has them experience their occupations through differing periods of history beginning…
100 Years - 20th Century Almanac (2009): Witness the most significant events of the 20th Century, from the Wright Brothers’ first flight to the moon landing, from WWI to the end of the…
Age Of Stupid (2009): Dir. Franny Armstrong
Feat. Pete Postlethwaite; Confronting and dynamic docodrama from the director of McLibel, has Pete Postlethwaite as an archivist in the devastated world of the future, looking…
America Before Columbus (2009): Intriguing revisionist documentary considers America before Columbus stepped ashore in 1492 as an 'Old World', whose inhabitants had built a vast…
Andrew Marr's The Making of Modern Britain (TV Series) (2009): Following on from his "History of Modern Britain", Andrew Marr this time overviews the first half of the 20th Century, re–visiting the dramas…
Christianity - A History (2009): Reasonably thorough and alternative overview of the origins and divergent paths of Christianity. Eight episodes.
Empire of the Word (2009): Ambitious, page–turning companion piece to THE ADVENTURE OF ENGLISH chronicles the act of reading across five thousand years of history. Host…
Hitler's Bodyguard (TV Series) (2009): 13–part documentary series offering a thorough, at times incredible, examination of the men who protected Adolf Hitler against numerous…
Hunting the Lost Symbol (2009): Dir. John Tindall; Dan Brown–inspired documentary uses the author's blockbusting 'Da Vinci Code' novel as a launching pad to shed light on, among other…
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…
102 Minutes That Changed America (2008): Dir. Nicole Rittenmeyer, Seth Skundrick; Documentary about the September 11 attacks produced for the History Channel for the seventh anniversary of the events, telling the story using newly…
A History of Scotland (TV Series) (2008): A fresh and exhaustive chronology of Scotland's fascinating narrative, full of battles and allegiances, political intrigue and religious conflict.…
A Wall in Berlin (2008): Illuminating documentary on the history of the Berlin Wall with biggest attraction being the sheer wealth of interviews and footage never seen…
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…
Bush's War (2008): Dir. Michael Kirk; Extensive two–part documentary chronicling the Iraq War from the post 9/11 murmurings and "Weapons of Mass Destruction" allegations through to…
Crips and Bloods: Made in America (2008): Dir. Stacy Peralta
Feat. Forest Whitaker; Incisive documentary examining the shared histories and violent rivalries of Los Angeles' most notorious street gangs. Tracing the roots of the…
First Australians (TV Series) (2008): Dir. Rachel Perkins, Beck Cole; Landmark Australian series produced by top Aboriginal filmmakers tracking the history of Aboriginal culture and the fraught culture clashes between…
Francesco's Mediterranean Voyage (2008): Further travels with charismatic Italian architect Francesco da Mosto, here taking us on a lengthy voyage across the Mediterranean in search of…
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…
Living With the Enemy (2008): Thorough and absorbing History Channel series examines the five year period after the end of World War II, accounting for the events and decisions…
National Parks, The - America's Best Idea (2008): Dir. Ken Burns; Ken Burns offers another weighty tome on American history, this time surveying the country’s 58 majestic, awe–inspiring national parks.…
Nazi Number One: Herman Göring (2008): Dir. Guido Knopp; German director Guido Knopp continues his straightforward, biography–centric investigations into all things Nazi with this documentary on…
Of Time and the City (2008): Dir. Terence Davies; Terence Davies (DISTANT VOICES, STILL LIVES) launches a broadside on the transformation of his beloved, bricks–and–mortar Liverpool, in…
Paris - An Insider's Guide (2008): A 3–part BBC documentary series presented by Sandrine Voillet, about the city of Paris and its history. In part one, she visits the Louvre,…
Richard Dawkins Presents - The Genius of Charles Darwin (TV Series) (2008): Dir. Russell Barnes; Richard Dawkins finally gets to wax lyrical for a few hours about the love of his life – Charles Darwin in this one–sided documentary…
Salute (2008): Dir. Matt Norman; Compelling documentary investigating the untold story of Australian runner – Peter Norman who placed second in the 200m sprint at the 1968…
Ships That Changed the World (2008): Compelling three–part series looks back at the engineering, building, sailing, and subsequent fate of three history–making ships…
Winning World War 1 (The Western Front Diaries) (2008): Crucial documentary telling the story of the Australian battalion's influence and impact on winning World War 1 on the Western Front, based on the…
Ancient Megastructures (2007): National Geographic series extolling mankind's greatest architectural landmarks and their extraordinary feats of construction. Vol 1: The…
Andrew Marr's The History of Modern Britain (TV Series) (2007): Political commentator Andrew Marr turns his astute focus on the key events that have shaped British society since the end of WWII, including the…
Battle of the Little Bighorn, The (2007): Ideal introduction to the famous battle where General Custer made his last stand, featuring expert commentary and skillful re–enactments.
Captain Cook: Obsession and Discovery (2007): Award–winning documentary that examines the controversial legacy of the great explorer Captain James Cook. Hosted by geographer Vanessa…
Chicago 10 (2007): Dir. Brett Morgen; Unique documentary that splices together archival footage and motion–capture animation to recreate the infamous trial of anti–war…
Francesco's Venice (TV Series) (2007): Italian architect and TV presenter Count Francesco da Mosto goes on a journey back through the history of Venice and discovers how the city came to…
Gangland (TV Series) (2007): Hard hitting expose of today's nastiest gangs provides the viewer with both historical context and unprecedented access. Some of the stories are now…
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…
Heritage of Maori Song (2007): Comprehensive collection of 15 Maori song and dance performances, including 3 poi dances, stick games, haka and a number of well–known songs…
History of the Devil (2007): Historical doco charting the changing role and face of the devil throughout history by way of factual information and academic interview.
In the Shadow of the Moon (2007): Stellar doco reflects on the true story of American astronauts' expeditions into space and the truly remarkable historic achievement of landing on…
James May's 20th Century (TV Series) (2007): Feat. James May; TV presenter James May presents a candid look at the creations of the 20th century; ranging from weaponry to medical breakthroughs and the…
Monarchy: The Royal Family at Work (TV Series) (2007): Dir. Matt Reid; In–depth television series spanning a year in the life of the British Royal Family and the myriad of employees that keep the Royal Machine…
New Orleans: Music in Exile (2007): Dir. Robert Mugge; On–the–ground documentary that follows New Orleans musicians as they try to piece their lives and careers back together after the…
No End in Sight (2007): Dir. Charles Ferguson; Devastating documentary that comprehensively examines the negligence and political mis–steps that led to the Iraq war. "Traces the…
Oswald's Ghost (2007): Dir. Robert Stone; This intelligent investigative doco focusing on the chain of events leading up to John F. Kennedy's assassination and the impact it had on America is…
Powder and the Glory, The (2007): A welcome insight into two of America's greatest female entrepreneurs – Elizabeth Arden and Helena Rubinstein; two immigrants with limited…
Rain of the Children (2007): Dir. Vincent Ward
Feat. Vincent Ward, Rena Owen; Vincent Ward's masterful docu–drama – in which he investigates the 'cursed life' of an elderly Maori woman – is a deeply personal…
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…
Story of Ned Kelly, The (2007): Feat. Charles Tingwell, Ian Jones; Historically accurate doco tracking the life of the ultimate Aussie rogue Ned Kelly. Aptly led by distinguished Kelly historian / author Ian Jones…
Warlords (TV Series) (Untold Stories of World War II) (2007): Well–reviewed UK documentary series analyses WWII's big players from a psychological perspective: Hitler, Churchill, Roosevelt and…
Battleplan (TV Series) (2006): A comprehensive history and analysis of military strategies, combat tactics, and the art of modern warfare. Across eighteen episodes, historical…
Cats of Mirikitani, The (2006): Dir. Linda Hattendorf; Tenderly constructed documentary revealing the compelling life of a homeless artist living on the streets of NYC who survived an internment camp,…
Civilisations (2006): Purporting new insight, this series chronicles four of the most influential ancient civilizations to lay foundations for the world we know today.…
Exodus Decoded, The (2006): Dir. Simcha Jacobovici; Speculative historical documentary in the wake of the 'Da Vinci Code' phenomenon that attempts to find a factual basis behind the biblical story of…
Francesco's Italy Top to Toe (TV Series) (2006): Further travels with charismatic Italian architect Francesco da Mosto, here giving a sweeping tour of the art, history and beauty of greater Italy by…
Life Under Napoleon (TV Series) (2006): Dir. Georg Schiemann; Broad, challenging historical overview of late 18th/early 19th century Europe, informed by the legacy and reign of French Emperor Napoleon.…
Marie Antoinette: The True Story of the Last Queen of France (2006): Dir. David Grubin; Exhaustive documentary on French monarchy's infamous last queen and the history behind her extravagant persona which has come to symbolise 18th…
One Giant Leap (50 Years of Space Exploration) (2006): Historical doco covering 50 years of humans being propelled into space. Includes remastered footage from Sputnik all the way through to Apollo and…
Power of Art (TV Series) (2006): A scholarly, and indeed powerful, roam through art history’s seminal figures, with knowledge imparted by the revered Simon Schama. Disc 1…
Rape of Europa, The (2006): Dir. Bonni Cohen, Nicole Newnham; Documentary about the huge amount of European art that was tragically stolen and damaged by Nazi Germany, and the effort by the Allies to return and…
Secret History of 9/11, The (2006): Dir. Terrence McKenna; A serious–minded Canadian television documentary which details the lead–up to the 9/11 attacks on the NYC World Trade Centre, including…
Shackleton and Scott - Rivals for the Pole (2006): The intense 'polar' rivalry of Shackleton and Scott is relived in this documentary of the two explorers’ fatal trajectory towards the South Pole.…
Unknown Soldier, The (2006): Dir. Michael Verhoeven; A sobering documentary exploration of the reaction to a museum exhibit in Munich detailing the war crimes and atrocities committed by Nazi Germany's…
War of the World: The New History of the 20th Century (2006): Eye–opening historical documentary, presented by acclaimed historian Professor Niall Ferguson, challenging how we view and assess the arch of…
What Lies Beneath (TV Series) (2006): Feat. Simon Dallow; An eight–part series about New Zealand's archaeological heritage, presenting a series of intriguing site studies, with Simon Dallow asking the…
Around the World in 80 Treasures (2005): A fascinating world tour through civilisation's lasting imprint, with historian Dan Cruickshank globetrotting the planet in search of the eighty…
Catherine the Great (2005): Dir. John Burgess, John-Paul Davidson; Made with the help of newly–available documentation from the former Soviet archives, this impressive biopic about the life and times of…
Churchill's Bodyguard (2005): Imposing, unprecedented memoir of the life and times of Winston Churchill, adapted from the diaries of his stoic bodyguard, Walter H.…
Guns, Germs and Steel (2005): National Geographic TV series in which innovative thinker Jared Diamond outlines his groundbreaking theory of history, which tries to account for the…
Helen of Troy (2005): Bettany Hughes based this investigation on her own acclaimed book, which continues the historian’s pursuit of the ‘real’ Helen of Troy. Her…
How Art Made the World (2005): Flying in the face of Simon Schama's higher, learned arts emporium, this illuminating and invigorating study of human nature through art considers…
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…
Who Do You Think You Are? (TV Series) (2005): Celebrated BBC series which explains the 'ins and outs' of researching your own family genealogy through a featured celebrity. Each episode touches…
Why We Fight (2005): Dir. Eugene Jarecki; Matching THE FOG OF WAR in terms of impact and cogency, this Sundance–winning doco investigates the long history of American involvement in…
Century of Flight, The (TV Series) (2004): All the accidents and achievements of man’s quest for flight are documented in this unprecedented history of taking to the skies. 26 episodes…
Europe in the Middle Ages (2004): Comprehensive, revisionist history documentary attempts to change perception of the Middle Ages as an era of ‘dark times’, largely through…
Great Moments of the 20th Century (2004): A newsreel journey through the momentous 20th century, told in three separate parts and narrated by Laura McKenzie. An essential resource for…
Lost World of Mitchell and Kenyon, The (2004): The recent discovery of 800 rolls of early nitrate film on a building site proved a rare cinematic find – turning out to be documentary footage…
Michael King - History Man (2004): Feat. Colin Hogg; A balanced television documentary on acclaimed NZ historian Michael King, made shortly after his untimely death in 2004. Presenter/writer Colin Hogg…
Monarchy (TV Series) (2004): Historical TV Series presented by Dr David Starkey tracing the blood–stained history of the English monarchy covering all the epic battles and…
Roman Empire (2004): Overarching three–part documentary series anatomising the rise and spectacular fall of the Roman Empire.
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…
Seconds From Disaster (TV Series) (2004): Compellingly constructed doco series covering some of the most devastating disasters of modern history, each episode opening with a dramatic…
Shake Hands With the Devil (The Journey of Roméo Dallaire) (2004): Dir. Peter Raymont; Arresting account of the deplorable Rwandan genocide, told through the eyes of one of the most controversial figures surrounding the 1994 massacre,…
Worst Jobs in History (TV Series) (2004): Dir. Brendan Hughes
Feat. Tony Robinson; BLACKADDER’s Tony Robinson (aka Baldrick) takes us through the hardship of British history via the most unenviable jobs imaginable. A tour of…
Battlefield Britain (TV Series) (2003): Dir. Mary Cranitch; Father–and–son team Peter and Dan Snow explore the history of Britain through a detailed investigation into 8 epoch–making battles…
Days That Shook The World (TV Series) (2003): A monumental overview of the world’s most profound and history–defining events, this tome to humankind's great achievements and failures is…
Give it a Whirl (2003): An in–depth visual and musical exploration of New Zealand rock 'n' roll stories, from the fledgling sounds of the 1950s to today's…
Killing Hitler (TV Mini-series) (2003): Dir. Jeremy Lovering
Feat. Peter McDonald, Kate Ashfield, Kenneth Cranham…; Accurate docu–drama merging archival footage with recreations and educated interview to portray and dissect 'Operation Foxley' – a secret…
Mandela - The Living Legend (2003): Feat. Nelson Mandela; Notable BBC documentary on the former South African President who was imprisoned in the 1960s under the Apartheid regime and survived decades behind…
Private Life of a Masterpiece, The (TV Series) (2003): Expansive, all–encompassing art history as tackled by the BBC, canvassing masterpieces from the Renaissance era through to 20th Century works…
Test, The (2003): Television documentary celebrating 100 years of rugby with New Zealand's All Blacks. Includes interviews with various legends of the game –…
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…
A History of Britain (TV Series) (2002): The complete series of Simon Schama's accessible, but provocative look at British history from 3000 BC to 2000 AD. Disc 1 – Beginnings,…
Adventure of English, The (2002): Dir. Robert Bee, David Thomas; An involving lesson in linguistics, presenter Melvyn Bragg takes us back to the roots of the English language – which found its genesis in…
Kings and Queens (TV Series) (2002): A solid TV documentary series tracing lives and reigns of 12 of England's most influential monarchs. Historian Dr Nigel Spivey draws from an array of…
Trials of Henry Kissinger, The (2002): Dir. Alex Gibney, Eugene Jarecki; A corrosive yet robust investigation that alleges a misuse of power amounting to 'war crimes' by controversial US diplomat Henry Kissinger –…
Weather Underground, The (2002): Dir. Sam Green, Bill Siegel; A stimulating, incisive look back at the angry workings of "The Weathermen", a radical splinter faction of the protest movement who were responsible…
Blind Spot: Hitler's Secretary (2001): Dir. Othmar Schmiderer, Andre Heller; The astonishing true story of Hitler's private secretary, Traudl Junge, who at the age of 80 comes to terms with working alongside unspeakable evil…
Epitaph (TV Series) (2001): Feat. Paul Gittens; TV series that scours the cemeteries of New Zealand for the intriguing, weird and worthy tales of our ancestor's demises. Paul Gittens is the…
Evolution (TV Series) (2001): Thorough and rigorous seven–part PBS series extols – and not without wading into the science vs. religion debate – the virtues of Charles…
Jazz (2001): Dir. Ken Burns; Sprawling and absorbing documentary series from the maker of THE CIVIL WAR, charting the rising star of jazz during the 20th century, with an…
Celtic Britain (TV Series) (2000): Visually splendid three–part series that examines the history of the Celtic lands of Britain, using a mixture of dramatisation and sweeping…
Howard Goodall's Big Bangs (TV Series) (2000): Feat. Howard Goodall; Presented by affable Brit maestro, Howard Goodall (whose own notable works include the theme tunes to Blackadder and Mr. Bean), this enlightening,…
Our People Our Century (2000): Major, award–winning series tells the story of New Zealand and its people throughout the 20th century. Six episodes across three…
Paragraph 175 (2000): Dir. Robert Epstein, Jeffrey Friedman; An uneasy delve into past atrocities, this bitter–tasting but necessary document of Nazi war crimes goes beyond the oft–told persecution…
Rebels with a Cause (2000): Dir. Helen Garvy; Straight–up look at the 'Students for a Democratic Society', the student group that began as pro–civil rights organization concerned with…
Faith Of The Century - A History Of Communism (1999): Using fascinating, never–before–seen footage from the national archives of many countries including Russia and France, this documentary…
Federation (1999): Well–written doco that brings to life the events, personalities and experiences that lead up to the federation of the Australian colonies in…
Millennium (1999): Dir. Various; Exhaustive history of the last thousand years, taken from the book by Felipe Fernandez–Armesto and presented by CNN. Refreshingly deals not…
New York: A Documentary Film (1999-2003): Dir. Ric Burns; Grand and compelling PBS portrait of New York City in the vein of Ken Burns's fulsome documentaries (incidentally, directed by younger brother Ric)…
1968: The Year That Shaped a Generation (1998): Dir. Steve Talbot; Stolid examination of the watershed year filled with familiar images and oft heard soundbites. Key people and events featured include: the…
Barry Humphries - Flashbacks (TV Series) (1998): Feat. Barry Humphries; Iconic Aussie entertainer Barry Humphries and his alter–ego's Dame Edna, Sir Les Patterson and Sandy Stone take us on a journey through a slice…
Cold War (1998): Dir. Various; With encyclopedia–like detail, this lengthy documentary series analyses every aspect of the Cold War, from the onset of frosty relations…
In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great (1997): Dir. David Wallace; Following the travails of the Greek military commander who conquered most of Asia Minor, historian Michael Wood explores the traditional story and…
Mabo (Mabo: Life of an Island Man) (1997): Dir. Trevor Graham; Landmark documentary, passionately told, that recounts the extraordinary life story of land activist Eddie Mabo.
Peoples Century (TV Series) (1997): Dir. Various; Indispensible BBC TV series covering 20th century history told via the accounts of ordinary people, gives a vivid and sobering taste of world events.…
Thomas Jefferson (1997): Dir. Ken Burns
Feat. Sam Waterston, Blythe Danner, Ossie Davis…; Burns "paints an enigmatic portrait of self–contradiction" in this comprehensive and reverential documentary of America's third President,…
Russia - The Missing Years (1996): A glance at the disturbing facts of the Eastern Front conflict of 1942–43 that resulted in Russian glory at a cost of three million lives.…
West, The (TV Series) (1996): Dir. Stephen Ives; Steered by a protégé of documentary–guru Ken Burns (JAZZ), this epic TV–study of the conquest and reshaping of the American West shares…
Churchills, The (1995): Dir. Greg Lanning; Composed primarily of archival footage, this profiles Winston Churchill and the role his family played during his time as the nation's leader.…
Crusades, The (TV Series) (1995): Dir. Alan Ereira, David Wallace
Feat. Terry Jones; The gruesome history of the crusades is covered here in great detail in this BBC production, from the political background to the harsh daily life of…
Lost Civilizations (TV Series) (1995): Historical series covering nearly 7000 years of history over 25 countries. Brought to life with spfx technology and recreated historically accurate…
Trinity and Beyond (1995): Dir. Peter Kuran
Feat. William Shatner; Solid presentation of the history of the US atomic weapons programme, including interviews and much recently de–classified footage. Narrated by…
Baseball (1994-2010): Dir. Ken Burns; Ken Burns's celebrated documentary transcends its sporting appearance to deliver an elegant and engrossing social history through baseball over 150…
House of Windsor, The (TV Series) (1994): The story of the most famous family in the world – from the reign of the first Windsors, King George V and Queen Mary, to the long rule of…
Time Team (TV Series) (1994): Feat. Tony Robinson; Stimulating television series featuring a group of enthusiastic archaeologists unearthing the secrets of British history from overlooked areas of…
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…
Last Bolshevik, The (1993): Dir. Chris Marker; Chris Marker's video essay celebrates the life and work of little known film pioneer Aleksandr Medvedkin to reflect on the legacy of Soviet…
Seven Songs for Malcolm X (1993): Dir. John Akomfrah; A tribute to the revolutionary activist compiles interviews with people that knew him and those that know much about him as well as authentic footage…
Tangiwai and Wahine Disasters (1993-2002): Dir. David Sims, John Carlaw; Released for the first time together on DVD, two in–depth documentaries detailing two of New Zealand's worst transport disasters of the last…
Gully-ites, The (1992): Dir. John Anderson; A slice of character–filled life filmed in our own backyard, this is a heartwarming insight into a community with a unique history, capturing…
JFK: Assassination Tapes (1992): Dir. John Barbour; Largely a basis for Oliver Stone's opus, Jim Garrison himself speaks frankly about his investigation into the alleged cover–up surrounding the…
Architecture of Doom (1991): Dir. Peter Cohen; Uniquely, this study of the Nazi era concentrates on the vast creations of Adolf Hitler’s Masterplan – choreographed rallies, architecture,…
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,…
Rebels in Retrospect (1991): Dir. Russell Campbell; An inquiry into the aims, methods and achievments of the Progressive Youth Movement, Kiwi political activists in the turbulent '60s.
Berkeley in the Sixties (1990): Dir. Mark Kitchell; A lively, dense study of 1960s counter–culture in microcosm, this chronicles the rise and fall of the student movement in a Californian campus…
Civil War, The (The American Civil War) (1989): Dir. Ken Burns; An extraordinary documentary series on the American Civil War, widely recognised as one of the greatest ever made. Using archival photographs,…
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…
Day the Universe Changed, The (TV Series) (1985): Feat. James Burke; Science historian James Burke's classic 10–part series for the BBC exploring key moments in Western History where new knowledge in science…
In Search of the Trojan War (1985): Dir. Bill Lyons; A thorough, intelligible excavation of Homer’s epic poems and the speculation of a Trojan Society, historian Michael Wood takes us back in time via…
Islands of the Empire (1985): Dir. Alister Barry, Rod Prosser, Russell Campbell; Documentary from Wellington production company Vanguard Films (SOMEONE ELSE'S COUNTRY) offering a valuable examination of military relationships…
Our Heritage (TV Series) (1981): A unique series of television snippets, in which seven ballads by legendary Waitakere historian Jack Diamond are recited over historical imagery and…
Frost/Nixon Watergate Interviews (1977): Dir. Jorn Winther
Feat. David Frost, Richard Nixon; The legendary 28 hour interview between the charismatic David Frost and former President Richard Nixon is touted as the greatest political interview…
General Idi Amin Dada (A Self Portrait) (1974): Dir. Barbet Schroeder; General Idi Amin Dada’s narcissism is serviced willingly by an intrigued Barbet Schroeder, focusing his camera on the lunatic dictator during his…
Ascent of Man, The (TV Series) (1973): Feat. Jacob Bronowski; Renowned TV series from the era of epic–length documentaries, this analyses the progress of mankind through scientific and technological…
Mururoa 1973 (1973): Dir. Alister Barry; Documentary filmed on the protest boat "The Fri" which visited Mururoa Atoll in 1973 to protest the testing of nuclear weapons by the French…
Swastika (1973): Dir. Lutz Becker, Phillipe Mora; Consisting solely of startling archival footage, this documentary portrait of the era of Adolf Hitler's domination of Nazi Germany, eschews narration…
World At War, The (1973): Epic – both in length and scope – series that comprehensively examines the second World War. Assembling a vast array of rare footage and…
Alistair Cooke's America (TV Series) (1972): Feat. Alistair Cooke; Considered one of the great TV documentary series, this is English broadcaster Cooke's personal view of American history and its teeming,…
Rossellini's History Films: Renaissance and Enlightenment (The Age of the Medici, Cartesius, Blaise Pascal) (1972-1974): Dir. Roberto Rossellini; Three TV films about some of the western world's major figures and moments, from Italian master Roberto Rossellini in the final phase of his…
Civilisation (TV Series) (1969): "Not a history of the arts, but a history of life–giving beliefs and ideas made visible and audible through the medium of art." Kenneth Clark's…
This is New Zealand (1969): Dir. Hugh MacDonald; A long–awaited DVD release of the landmark three camera/three projection spectacle, produced by the National Film Unit for the New Zealand…
National Geographic - 125 Years (1966-2012): A commemorative boxset featuring the new anniversary documentary, 'Exploring New Frontiers: National Geographic at 125 years', plus a further 11…
Tokyo Olympiad (1965): Dir. Kon Ichikawa; Ichikawa produced this 'definitive' sports documentary from the output of over a thousand cameras to capture the fascinating human element behind the…
Culloden (1964): Dir. Peter Watkins; A groundbreaking documentary depicting the famous battle in 1746 between the English loyalists and Scottish Jacobites. Re–enacting this…
Crisis (1963): Dir. Robert Drew; Tense account of a key battle in the American Civil Rights movement with President Kennedy locked in a tense negotiation with Alabaman Governor…
Mein Kampf (1961): Dir. Erwin Leiser; Based on the infamous diary of Adolf Hitler, this is an impressive, prudent chronicle of his life, from his formative years through the horrors of…
Primary (1960): Dir. Robert Drew; Landmark documentary captures the charismatic JFK as he contests the Wisconsin Democratic Primary with Hubert Humphrey. One of the first films of…
Olympia (Olympiad) (1936): Dir. Leni Riefenstahl; Hitler confidant Leni Riefenstahl's legendary recording of the Berlin Olympics when German nationalism and Nazi pride was at fever pitch. A…
Land of Promise - The British Documentary Movement 1930-1950 (1931-1951): A revealing, 40–strong film archival of British society, culture, work ethic, and nationalism, preserved in documentaries shot during the…
Time to Remember, A - New Zealand Edition (Movietone Edition) (1930-1975): Comprehensive archive of New Zealand Cinesound and Movietone newsreels, from 1930–1975. Surveying five decades of Kiwi history and heritage,…
Time to Remember, A - British Empire Edition (Movietone Edition) (1920-1980): Widespread collection of British Empire Movietone newsreels, from 1920–1980. Providing an unbeatable insight into major events in British…
Time to Remember, A - World Edition (Pathe Edition ) (1900-1980): World edition of this invaulable newsreel series, compiling segments from the Pathe archives on two World Wars, totalitarianism, the Holocaust,…
American Civil War: Robert Powell summarises the four year history of America's most costly conflict.
CNN: 1991 Year in Review: America's News Network takes a look at a significant year in history – from the Russian revolution and the Gulf war to general events in sport,…
Death Row + Worst Crimes of the 20th Century: Part one looks at the history of capital punishment in America while the second examines four of the most horrific mass murders of this century…
Empires (TV Series): Epic mini–series series focused on the greatest eras of our time and how they shaped the world as we know it. Directed by respected…
Exiles - The Story Of A Polish Journey: Dir. John Anderson; A 30 year old writer and historian endeavours to uncover more about her Polish mother's harrowing life prior to arriving in Wellington in 1944, as…
Maori - Culture, Traditions and History: Historical doco presented by NZ historian Don Stafford tracing the history of Maori from their arrival on the fair shores of Aotearoa to traditional…

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