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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?

#381

Post by ethbr0 »

pkrotich wrote: post #340
ethbr0 wrote: post #306

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's a weird quirk, now that I think about it, as a native English speaker. It's only a change in present / past tense and the preposition, but communicates something completely different. I guess reflecting on something external is always assumed in the past tense (I didn't care for...), while reflecting on ones own opinions (I don't care for...) suggests personal belief. And "for" (external) vs "about" (self) inten…

I often use past tense because in my tribe (Kalenjin for those interested)- when you do historical commentary you don't interject with your current feelings. You say what you felt then (e.g while watching the documentary) unless you talking about how you feel now vs then. It's very contexual. Rules in English can be confusing [1] ;) [1] - https://youtu.be/kXH3HDE9Czo

I gather most people from eastern or central Africa are polyglot and much better at switching languages than I am. On behalf of English, I apologize for its irregularity. ;)

So in your first language, how would you express the idea of "I saw a documentary in the past, felt some way at the time, and now feel a different way?" To the extent translation is possible.

Languages fascinate me. Especially in terms of the constructs or concepts they can or can't express.

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

#384

Post by crummy »

mav88 wrote: post #368

Into the Abyss. Werner Hertzog looks at the process of capital punishment with great sensitivity and his usual deep insight. The Jinx. While filming a documentary on a rich man suspected of murdering his wife, the crew become involved in the investigation. Perhaps the most jaw-dropping finale of any documentary ever.

The Jinx is the peak of the true-crime-podcast genre (even if it is a doco). Truly gripping.

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

#385

Post by Uptrenda »

Netflix has a series called 'dirty money' that covers all kinds of interesting businesses that are highly unethical or straight up illegal. I think many of you would find it interesting. It's not really focused strictly on finance but more the outcomes of pursuing profit at all costs.

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

#387

Post by jerrysievert »

Jodorowsky's Dune - not only is it the best dune movie never made, but it gives you a really good look at how hard it is to do Dune and give it justice, as well as giving a new perspective on Star Wars: Lucas had pretty much everything handed to him due to Jodorowsky's attempt to make Dune.

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

#388

Post by samstave »

orasis wrote: post #63

“The Century of the Self” by Adam Curtis. https://youtu.be/eJ3RzGoQC4s It goes through each decade of the 1900s and explains how Freud’s psychology and the new field of marketing completely reshaped society. For the first time in my life I feel like I understood the “why” of how things work in American society. This film is probably best if you’re age 40+ and actually remember some of the events.

One should immediately watch “Human Resources” after this one.

Be prepared to feel rage and depression, but it’s so damn informative.

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

#389

Post by dmix »

thanatos519 wrote: post #317

Not from the last 4 years, but so good I watched some of the series twice: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_historic_farm_series In each series, a team of historians/archaeologists/anthropologists live for a year on a farm of a specific era, doing things the way they are understood to have been done in that era. They are like first-person documentaries and lots of fun to watch. You really get the feeling of how life…

This sounds amazing, reminds me of a similar show where some families moved into an older farm (maybe it’s related?), but this one looks more interesting due to the experts.

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

#390

Post by samstave »

samwillis wrote: post #214
filmgirlcw wrote: post #210

Earlier quoted context omitted.

These are some of my favorites. I have Helvetica and Objectified posters in my house.

Yes, same here. I have the objectified poser above my desk.

How dare you objectify a poser!
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