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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?

#471

Post by daltont »

BigHatLogan wrote: post #376

A little late to the thread, but two come to mind: Hoop Dreams (1994) - Explores inner-city poverty through the eyes of two young boys in Chicago who want to use basketball as a way to escape their environment. I haven't seen it in a long time, but my biggest takeaway from it is how narrow the bridge to "success" can be for some. If you grow up in a well-to-do upper middle class environment, you can make a shocking n…

I remember watching the "The Farmer's Wife" on PBS and it having a similar effect on me as Hoop Dreams. It gave me a glimpse into the realities faced by those not as privileged as me and my upper middle class suburban upbringing.

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/farmerswife/

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

#474

Post by amelius »

saulpw wrote: post #90
amelius wrote: post #15

I don't like documentaries that much as most documentaries tend to paint a one-sided picture. That said, the people they argue against generally also like to paint one-sided pictures.

The OP asked for "best documentaries" and it sounds like in your opinion the best documentaries wouldn't do this. Do you have any content to suggest instead of empty and dismissive commentary?

Ok, then I vote for RIP, a remix manifesto:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quO_Dzm4rnk

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

#476

Post by warinukraine »

bobduncan wrote: post #166

Tim’s Vermeer : https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim's_Vermeer Produced and directed by Penn and Teller who I thought were just magicians. It mixes art and technology with a little bit of historical puzzle solving. As someone who knows little about art history, I found it fascinating.

No post body was provided.

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

#477

Post by BLKNSLVR »

kmike84 wrote: post #126

Exit Through the Gift Shop - an amusing documentary about somebody trying to find Banksy (a street artist), and much more, supposingly directed by Banksy himself. There is some debate if it is documentary or not (the story is almost too good), but it seems the evidence suggests it is real. EDIT: sorry, I missed the "last 4 years" part in the question. This film is older than that.

Definitely this, my subconscious can't let go of the question as to whether this documentary is an exquisitely elaborate hoax or a rare capture of a "truth is stranger than fiction".

And if the goal was to create that confusion... meta-wow.

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

#478

Post by Balgair »

leobg wrote: post #359
WickyNilliams wrote: post #324

The greatest documentary to me is not a film but a series - The Ascent of Man by Jacob Bronowski. It charts the cultural and technological milestones that brought humanity to where it is today. Well, the 1970s rather than today, since it is quite old. However don't let that put you off! It is a BBC documentary of the highest calibre. David Attenborough commissioned its production. Bronowski is an incredible, if unusu…

That moment when he stands in front of the remnants of Auschwitz, kneels down, reaches into the sludge of ashes and says, “We need to touch people”. It would be an Ask HN in and of itself to ask: What broadcaster today, YouTube or otherwise, comes even close in education, trust in the intelligence of their audience, and sheer balls?

I'd love contribute to that thread. I'd suggest ~10am PST on a Tuesday, as that seems to be the best time for threads to get going. I'd love to have some more heroes to put up on the wall for kiddos.

As for the question: I'd say Hodan Nalayeh who was killed by Al-Shabab in 2019. Her work in Jubaland is sorely missed these days. She was more of a journalist/influencer/founder though, so I'm not sure if it totally fits.

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

#479

Post by MichaelMoser123 »

documentaries on the Antikythera mechanism, that's a mechanical computer/astronomical clock from a very long time ago.

Antikythera Mechanism. The 2'000 Year Old Computer. BBC, 2012 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3T1n7RjCMfQ

2,000 Year Old Computer - Decoding the Antikythera Mechanism https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eq80cE3Kopw

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

#480

Post by glandium »

japhyr wrote: post #144

The Alpinist If you enjoyed Free Solo, you really should check out The Alpinist. It's a documentary about Marc-André Leclerc; Alex Honnold thinks of Marc-André the way most of us think about Alex Honnold.

Free solo was great, but also a nerve wracking thing to watch. Is The Alpinist as gut wrenching?
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