Documentary Films 2008

Origins of Documentary Film

Artistic expression and capturing “actuality” in the 1920′s.

Representation versus reality

Be prepared to discuss the quotation

“Sometimes [in documentary film making] you have to lie.  Often one has to distort a thing to catch its true spirit.” 

Propaganda films of the 1930′s and 40′s.

PLEASE EXAMINE THE POWERPOINT OF THIS LECTURE.  (note some of the slides toward the end of this presentation may not have been used due to time restraints)

jmsc-0044-documentaries-week-2-08-powerpoint-for-web.ppt

Among films considered in Weeks 1-3:

1922 Nanook of the North, Robert Flaherty

Michael Moore Films 1989 to 2007

1927 Berlin: Symphony of a Great City, Walter Ruttmann

[2003 The Fog of War, Errol Morris]

1929 Man with the Movie Camera, Dziga Vertov

1934 Triumph of the Will, Leni Riefenstahl

1939 Olympia, Riefenstahl

1941-42 Why We Fight, Frank Capra

1993 The Wonderful Horrible Life of Leni Riefenstahl, Ray Muller

Notes and references:

A Review of Berlin from Senses of Cinema may be found at http://www.sensesofcinema.com/contents/cteq/00/5/berlin.html