ASK & DISCUSS
INDEXRecommendations for documentary films that reconstruct the past creatively
4 years, 3 months ago - Reem Morsi
Hi all,
I'm looking for recommendations for documentaries or experimental documentaries that reconstruct the past in creative ways. I like how Sarah Polley did with Stories We Tell, but I'm looking for other ways to do it, using re-enactments and/or animation and/or mixed media. I'm also open to experimental documentary suggestions or docuseries. Just wanting to watch a few different ones so I can be inspired and consider the different ways it can be done.
Thank you,
Reem
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4 years, 3 months ago - John Lubran
Ken Burns films, especially his American Civil War series. Dramatic reconstructions of past eras are trickier. He uses skilful rostrum camera work with photographs, paintings and actors voice overs that exude learned authenticity.
Response from 4 years, 3 months ago - John Lubran SHOW
4 years, 3 months ago - Fiona Fletcher
Suggesting Oscar nominated TIME by Garrett Bradley or Irene's Ghost by Ian Cunningham which uses animation.
Response from 4 years, 3 months ago - Fiona Fletcher SHOW
4 years, 3 months ago - Reem Morsi
Thank you both so much. This is very helpful!
Response from 4 years, 3 months ago - Reem Morsi SHOW
4 years, 3 months ago - Vlad Iordache
You can also try The Missing Picture by Rithy Panh, a documentary on the Cambodian genocide. Since there's not a lot of archive material on what happened there they choose to use clay figurines
Response from 4 years, 3 months ago - Vlad Iordache SHOW
4 years, 3 months ago - Marloes Koot
The Missing Picture mentioned above is a GREAT recommendation for this, another obvious one along similar lines is The Act of Killing by Joshua Oppenheimer. Ones that are less strictly 'reconstucting the past documentaries' but may still be good for inspiration and filmmaking techniques: The Arbor by Clio Barnard and Pina by Wim Wenders.
Response from 4 years, 3 months ago - Marloes Koot SHOW
4 years, 2 months ago - Vlad Iordache
Oh yeah! The Act of Killing is great (plus its follow up, The Look of Silence) for this. I'm quite curious about the Arbor, haven't watch it, but liked Barnard's The Selfish Giant
Response from 4 years, 2 months ago - Vlad Iordache SHOW
4 years, 2 months ago - Fan Sissoko
Shirkers by Sandi Tan: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7472352/
The Nannies by Signe Barvild Stæhr: https://mubi.com/films/the-nannies
Both use re-enactment in unexpected ways.
Response from 4 years, 2 months ago - Fan Sissoko SHOW