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Ask HN: What are some of the best documentaries you've seen?

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Re: Ask HN: What are some of the best documentaries you've seen?

#151
From Shock to Awe (2019).

Follows the journey of two US veterans with PTSD and substance abuse problems into healing, using Ayahuasca. These people are first unable to perform daily errands, and in the end are transformed with stable loving relationships and aspirations to help and shape society.

Re: Ask HN: What are some of the best documentaries you've seen?

#152
post #9

I love documentaries, and these are my favourites. All very worth a watch. - The Crash Reel - McConkey - Buck - Apollo 11 - Carts of Darkness - The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia - Samsara - Baraka - Brooklyn Castle - Spellbound - Drew: The Man Behind the Poster - Crumb - The Jinx - The Art of Flight - King of Kong - Indie Game: The Movie - Capturing the Friedmans - OJ: Made in America - The Barkley Marat…

Get me Roger Stone was brilliant, I never quite understood what a political provocateur was until I watched that. Now it’s amazing to spot them throughout the political universe.

Re: Ask HN: What are some of the best documentaries you've seen?

#153
I see a bunch of outdoor related docs here, I’ll throw a couple more favorites on the pile…

- “The Alpinist” - The story of Marc Andre Leclerc, a young Canadian soloist ice climber

- “This Mountain Life” - a series of short stories on alpine adventure mixed with some fantastic cinematography

Re: Ask HN: What are some of the best documentaries you've seen?

#155
post #74

Honeyland https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honeyland There's this Godard quote which sums this one up for me: "All great fiction films tend towards documentary, just as all great documentaries tend towards fiction." (I think the director mentioned it in an interview too?)

I watched this and I felt like I kept coming back to it in my head and learning more and more for months afterwards. It was commissioned by the Macedonian government to document the disappearing traditional beekeeping practices in that area. They didn't mean to make a story out of anything. They would just go and film every regular day of Hatidže's life, but an incredible story unfolded anyways.

There's so much to take from this. One of those pieces that I just have to get my friends to watch so we could discuss because just describing it won't do it justice

Re: Ask HN: What are some of the best documentaries you've seen?

#156

"Jiro Dreams of Sushi" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiro_Dreams_of_Sushi If you're a developer / engineer you'll admire the professionalism. And more importantly value proposition of your work.

I think Jiro Dreams of Sushi is a fantastic documentary and recommend it also. I came away with a different impression, in that I certainly don't admire or want to share Jiro's attitude to work, because the perfection-at-all-costs approach looked like it had a pretty devastating fallout on his wife and his two sons. It's a fascinating documentary in that you'll either come away saying "how inspirational!" or "I'm run…

you may well be correct but society would be a lot less advanced if not for the works of 'unbalanced' individuals

Re: Ask HN: What are some of the best documentaries you've seen?

#157
20 Feet From Stardom. A wonderful, heartfelt doc about backup singers. Talks to the people who are almost stars, those who never quite made it big.

You even hear from the woman who helped sing “Get Shelter” by The Rolling Stones. Fascinating window into music history.

Re: Ask HN: What are some of the best documentaries you've seen?

#158
Red Dot on the Ocean: The Matt Rutherford Story

https://reddotontheocean.com/

Once labeled a “youth-at-risk,” Matt Rutherford risks it all in a death-defying attempt to be the first person to sail alone and nonstop around North and South America. Professional sailors called him crazy and declared the journey “a suicide mission.”

https://youtu.be/n12nnrEGWXQ

Re: Ask HN: What are some of the best documentaries you've seen?

#159
Planetary, http://weareplanetary.com/ - Strauß with astronauts talking about how seeing the whole planet Earth from space was one of the most amazing experiences of their trip, then discussing how we can see ourselves as part of the planet again and live in harmony with it.
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