What is the best documentary you have ever seen?

[Anonymous]

Last Days in Vietnam. Not about the military, so much a human story about how the ambassador, who had lost a son the war, couldn't accept that we were being defeated, about a secret airlift of Vietnamese nationals out (many of whose children are our friends and neighbors today), and about how Americans on the ground tried so hard to get their friends out of there before it was too late. It was nominated for an academy award last year and should have won it.

[Anonymous]

Children of Glass
I dream of Jiro
Weight of the Nation
The Twelve O'Clock Boys
Food Inc
Fed Up
Waiting for Superman

I used to love those True Life mini documentaries on MTV. Some of them were very well done and fascinating (in particular the one of the teenagers living in extreme poverty, I still remember the AA teenage boy walking miles to his job at a fast food joint, and living in a trailer, also ones on being addicted to steroids or plastic surgery). I am not sure if they still air those, but the majority of them were pretty good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Children of Glass
I dream of Jiro
Weight of the Nation
The Twelve O'Clock Boys
Food Inc
Fed Up
Waiting for Superman

I used to love those True Life mini documentaries on MTV. Some of them were very well done and fascinating (in particular the one of the teenagers living in extreme poverty, I still remember the AA teenage boy walking miles to his job at a fast food joint, and living in a trailer, also ones on being addicted to steroids or plastic surgery). I am not sure if they still air those, but the majority of them were pretty good.

Do you mean Jiro Dreams of Sushi?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Children of Glass
I dream of Jiro
Weight of the Nation
The Twelve O'Clock Boys
Food Inc
Fed Up
Waiting for Superman

I used to love those True Life mini documentaries on MTV. Some of them were very well done and fascinating (in particular the one of the teenagers living in extreme poverty, I still remember the AA teenage boy walking miles to his job at a fast food joint, and living in a trailer, also ones on being addicted to steroids or plastic surgery). I am not sure if they still air those, but the majority of them were pretty good.

Do you mean Jiro Dreams of Sushi?

Opps, yes I do mean that one, it is on netflix. Weight of the Nation was an HBO series of documentaries, some can be found on youtube. Children of Glass and the 12 O'Clock boys and I think Waiting for Superman can be found on youtube. Many others can be found on Netflix.

I recently saw a great documentary on transgender people who go all the way surgically with their transition, I think it was on Showtime.

[Anonymous]

Children of glass: It is about 10+ years old, but those scientists are THE ones who at NIH found the OI gene, etc. It shows how the diseases affects families, children, adults and the large range of severity. I have the disease, so I am biased into thinking it is such an interesting documentary. It is a bit dry, but the children and medical issues, the surgeries, the tests, etc. they are real people, it isn't acting. And somewhat heart breaking to see these kids in such pain.

[Anonymous]

List of true life documentaries. Some are borderline Kardashianish, but most are actually pretty interesting.

http://www.mtv.com/shows/true-life/episode-guide

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:List of true life documentaries. Some are borderline Kardashianish, but most are actually pretty interesting.

http://www.mtv.com/shows/true-life/episode-guide

I agree this are often good for their budget accessibility and variety

[Anonymous]

My Architect is an old one,. but one I found fascinating. Synopsis: Director Nathaniel Kahn searches to understand his father, noted architect Louis Kahn, who died bankrupt and alone in 1974.

[Anonymous]

Making A Murderer on Netflix...excellent!

[Anonymous]

I enjoyed Let the fire burn about the Move movement and the fight with the neighborhood of West Philly and city of Philadelphia in 1985 led to the city bombing them ( and the results of the fire)

Documentary about Carroll Spinney ( not sure spelling) called " I am big bird" ( as well as Oscar the grouch) It was really interesting!

Blackfish ( already mentioned)

The choir about the old people ( now I can't remember the name!)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you seen Finding Vivian Meier? FASCINATING!!

Excellent documentary!

[Anonymous]

Just watched Dear Zachary. It was excellent, and but not unbearable, as I was expecting. Maybe my expectations for the trauma of it were set too high because of comments on this thread.

Slight Spoiler:

I think the end was ultimately pretty uplifting. You see the parents surrounded by such a large circle of love. A PP got it exactly right when she said that it shows what a wonderful legacy someone ordinary can leave just by being a good person. Andrew's parents are incredibly inspiring, also, so you can see where Andrew got his good nature. It makes me want to be a better-- kinder, more patient, more easygoing--parent to my own children.

[Anonymous]

Crash Reel was excellent for so many reasons. Highly recommend.

[Anonymous]

I love documentaries about the food industry and the link between diet and rising chronic disease so loved

Food Inc.
Fed Up
Supersize Me

Also loved the three part series PBS did on the history of cancer - Emperor of all Maladies - based on the excellent book.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Making A Murderer on Netflix...excellent!

Compelling!