Subgenre Sampler
Rental > Documentary > Sociology: 222 Films to Rent
- James & Isey (James and Isey) (2021)
- Dir. Florian Habicht
- Kiwi director Florian Habicht's deeply moving tribute to Northland life and aroha in the form of a documentary portrait of Isey and her son James,…
- Girl on the Bridge, The (2020)
- Dir. Leanne Pooley
- A brave and heart–wrenching documentary breaking the silence around New Zealand's mental health crisis, from the perspective of suicide…
- 63 Up (2019)
- Dir. Michael Apted
- Continuation of the ground–breaking documentary series following the lives of 14 British people since 1964, providing yet another plethora of…
- Celia (2018)
- Dir. Amanda Millar
- Inspiring documentary written, directed and produced by former TV current affairs journalist Amanda Millar, which follows the career of Celia…
- Generation Wealth (2018)
- Dir. Lauren Greenfield
- Director Lauren Greenfield (THE QUEEN OF VERSAILLES, THIN) uses 25 years of experience documenting cultural movements to address the uniting theme…
- In Search of Greatness (2018)
- Dir. Gabe Polsky
- A perceptive documentary exploring greatness in sport, and what it takes to excel – nature versus nurture being an enduring theme. Includes…
- In the Zone (2018)
- Dir. Robyn Paterson
- Documentary about American Terrance Wallace who pioneered a scheme to strategically re–zone the families of disadvantaged Maori and Pasifika…
- Three Identical Strangers (2018)
- Dir. Tim Wardle
- Fascinating and moving documentary telling the incredible story of triplets who never knew they existed until they were 19, but after a joyous…
- Won't You Be My Neighbor? (2018)
- Dir. Morgan Neville
- The director of 20 FEET FROM STARDOM explores the life, lessons, and legacy of iconic children's television host, Fred Rogers, whose show "Mister…
- Human Flow (2017)
- Dir. Ai Weiwei
- Cherished iconoclastic artist Ai Weiwei directs this unflinching documentary exploring the global refugee crisis. With brilliant cinematography by…
- I Used to Be Normal - A Boyband Fangirl Story (2017)
- Dir. Jessica Leski
- A passionate and proud interrogation of music fan culture following the lives of four diverse women aged 16–64 who are self–confessed…
- King, The (2017)
- Dir. Eugene Jarecki
- Filmmaker Eugene Jarecki travels in a 1963 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud once owned by Elvis Presley and along his state–wide journey amasses a…
- Quest (2017)
- A piercing insight into working class black America during the Obama years, this is an inspiring, tragic and universally relatable documentary that…
- Soundtracks: Songs That Defined History (TV Series) (2017)
- An eight–part CNN series that incisively explores the music tied to iconic moments in history. Includes interviews with Pat Benatar, Melissa…
- Story of Us with Morgan Freeman, The (TV Series) (2017)
- Feat. Morgan Freeman
- 6–episode National Geographic TV Series presented by Morgan Freeman, which explores themes central to humanity such as love, belief and power,…
- Unrest (2017)
- Dir. Jennifer Brea
- A groundbreaking documentary about the mysterious condition known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Made a by Jennifer Brea, a woman who suffers from the…
- Between Land and Sea (2016)
- Dir. Ross Whitaker
Feat. Fergal Smith, John McCarthey, Pat Conway
- Unique surfing documentary following a community of surfers over the course of 12 months as they convene in the Irish town of Lahinch, known for it's…
- Citizen Jane: Battle for the City (2016)
- Dir. Matt Tyrnauer
- Documentary about urban theorist and activist Jane Jacobs, who campaigned in the 1960's against the building of mass high–rise accommodation…
- Embrace (2016)
- Dir. Taryn Brumfritt
- Empowering documentary follows Body Image Activist Taryn Brumfit on an extensive crusade to illuminate the global issue of women's body image and its…
- Gender Revolution: A Journey with Katie Couric (2016)
- Journalist Katie Couric sets out across America to explore what it means to be a boy or a girl in the modern day, examining the role of science,…
- heART of the matter, The (2016)
- Dir. Luit Bieringa
- A valuable historical documentary tracing the remarkable shifts in educational philosophy in New Zealand during the post WWII years, in which…
- Lo And Behold: Reveries of the Connected World (2016)
- Dir. Werner Herzog
- Acclaimed Documentarian Werner Herzog approaches the internet as a curious outsider on an exotic vacation. Meeting the digital natives, getting…
- OJ: Made in America (TV Series) (2016)
- Dir. Ezra Edelman
- A hugely acclaimed, definitive exploration of the O.J. Simpson “Trial of the Century” from the producers of ESPN Films prodigious doco series "30…
- Why Am I?: The Science of Us (2016)
- An internationally lauded four part series that details the findings of a 40–year study by the Otago School of Medicine that follows every baby…
- Culture High, The (2015)
- Dir. Brett Harvey
- Documentary that explores the deep–seated roots of the morally induced Marijuana campaign and reveals the fascinating path it has taken to get…
- Free to Run (2015)
- Dir. Pierre Morath
- The social history of running is chronicled with extraordinary passion and depth in this examination of the trajectory of running from an elitist,…
- Hunting Ground, The (2015)
- Dir. Kirby Dick
- A scorching exposé of the startling prevalence of sexual assaults and institutional cover–ups at college campuses across America. Through raw…
- Landfill Harmonic (2015)
- Dir. Brad Allgood, Graham Townsley
- Documentary portrait of Paraguayan music teacher Fabio Chavez and his Recycled Orchestra of Cateura, a children's orchestra which performs with…
- Mask You Live In, The (2015)
- Dir. Jennifer Siebel Newsom
- Seeking to inspire a society to raise a healthier generation of boys and young men, this cogent documentary identifies the pervasive cultural and…
- Story of China with Michael Wood, The (TV Series) (2015)
- Feat. Michael Wood
- Veteran historian and broadcaster Michael Wood follows his celebrated Story of India with this in–depth portrait of the most populous country…
- Welcome to Leith (2015)
- Dir. Michael Beach Nichols, Christopher K. Walker
- A living nightmare unfolds for the townsfolk of the North Dakota town of Leith (pop. 24) when a notorious white supremacist moves in with a nefarious…
- Where to Invade Next (2015)
- Dir. Michael Moore
- A good–natured comic polemic from film–maker Michael Moore, who this time "invades" a host of European nations in pursuit of progressive,…
- Wolfpack, The (2015)
- Dir. Crystal Moselle
- A poignant, stranger–than–fiction documentary about the six Angulo brothers, raised entirely within the confines of their Lower East Side…
- From Scotland With Love (2014)
- Scottish history as told through a vast collection of real home movie and archival footage, this is a charming filmic tapestry of everyday family…
- Generation Like (2014)
- Top quality and highly topical PBS documentary which posits the question "Are kids using social media or is social media using kids?" to explore the…
- Irish Pub, The (2014)
- Dir. Alex Fegan
- A warm celebration of Irish pub culture, featuring delightful character vignettes and insightful explorations of the family tradition of pub…
- Italian Americans, The (Mini-Series) (2014)
- Documentary series that deftly explores the real history and impact of Italian Americans on America through archival clips and interviews from 1890…
- Nigel Latta (TV Series) (2014)
- Clinical psychologist Nigel Latta goes in–depth on some of the most urgent problems facing New Zealand society today in this confronting…
- Overnighters, The (2014)
- Dir. Jesse Moss
- The burden of compassion is at the heart of this story of Jay Reinke, a church Pastor who runs the "overnighters" program in the oil pipeline…
- That Sugar Film (2014)
- Dir. Damon Gameau
- Damon Gameau embarks on a unique experiment to document the effects of a high sugar diet on a healthy body, consuming only foods that are commonly…
- Grayson Perry: All in the Best Possible Taste (TV Series) (2013)
- Turner–Prize winning artist and renowned transvestite Grayson Perry visits the taste tribes of Britain, dissecting the class system into three…
- Stuart Hall Project, The (2013)
- Dir. John Akomfrah
- Personalised portrait of cultural theorist Stuart Hall, who is regarded as one of the founding figures of the New Left and a key architect of…
- Source Family, The (2012)
- Dir. Jodi Wille, Maria Demopoulos
- Utterly fascinating story of The Source Family, a 150–strong spiritual commune in the Hollywood Hills during the hippy era, presided over with…
- Stories We Tell (2012)
- Dir. Sarah Polley
- Indie actress turned director Sarah Polley investigates a long–held family secret in this absorbing personal documentary.
- Bully (2011)
- Dir. Lee Hirsch
- A shattering documentary on the difficult social problem of bullying, which gives a voice to the victims who suffer repeated physical and verbal…
- Fry's Planet Word (2011)
- Dir. John Paul Davidson
Feat. Stephen Fry
- This five–part BBC series joins Stephen Fry as he travel's the continents exploring the nuanced diverse world of human language.
- Inside Child Poverty (2011)
- Dir. Bryan Bruce
- Wellington documentary maker Bryan Bruce investigates the appalling level of child poverty in New Zealand, and travels to Sweden to found out why…
- Interrupters, The (2011)
- Dir. Steve James
- Another grim, yet by turns inspiring social documentary from dir. Steve James (HOOP DREAMS), who expands his chronicle of urban…
- Louis Theroux - The Odd, the Bad, and the Godly (2011)
- A second anthology of intrepid reporter Louis Theroux's eye–opening BBC Two specials.
Disc One: America's Medicated Kids, Law and Disorder…
- My America (2011)
- Dir. Peter Hegedus
- Documentarian Peter Hegedus draws on his unusual upbringing – as a child of socialist Hungary who used movies to form his image of the United…
- Samsara (2011)
- Dir. Ron Fricke
- The director of BARAKA expands our minds with another impressive, visually astonishing meditation on global spirituality and the human experience,…
- Young Ones, The (2011)
- The latest in a series of age and era–based social experiments, this BBC documentary asks six elderly celebrities – among them, cricket…
- Babies (2010)
- Dir. Thomas Balmes
- The first year ahead of four newly born infants from different parts of the world (Namibia, Mongolia, Japan and California) forms the irresistible…
- Catfish (2010)
- Dir. Henry Joost, Ariel Schulman
- Astonishing documentary follows the interactions between a New York–based photographer and a young woman from rural Michigan who make contact…
- Digital Nation (digital_nation) (2010)
- Dir. Rachel Dretzin
- From the maker of GROWING UP ONLINE, this is another quality PBS documentary about the complexities of modern culture. The focus is how the web and…
- Faces of America (2010)
- Henry Louis Gates, Jr. traces the cultural and ethnic roots behind America today in this salient social documentary. Participants keen to share their…
- Freakonomics (2010)
- Dir. Alex Gibney, Eugene Jarecki, Heidi Ewing
- The authors of 'Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist' pass on the baton to six documentarians in this diverse exploration of social phenomena through (and…
- Michael Wood's Story of England (2010)
- Feat. Michael Wood
- Michael Wood (STORY OF INDIA) embarks on an archeological profile of the village of Kibworth in Leicestershire in this fascinating,…
- My Perestroika (2010)
- Dir. Robin Hessman
- A playful and positive sense of nostalgia permeates through this enthralling documentary on the lives of five Moscow youngsters who grew through the…
- Position Among The Stars (Stand van de Sterren) (2010)
- Dir. Leonard Retel Helmrich
- Although the third part in a longing running trilogy, this engrossing documentary stands on its own as an eye–opening chapter in the life of…
- Sweetgrass (2010)
- Dir. Lucien Castaing-Taylor, Ilisa Barbash
- An unsentimental elegy to the American West, this follows the last modern–day cowboys to lead their flocks of sheep up into Montana's…
- This Emotional Life (TV Mini-Series) (2010-2011)
- Self–improvement documentary series focussed on emotional intelligence, which each of three episodes weaving together personal stories with…
- Video Nasties: Moral Panic, Censorship & Videotape (2010)
- Dir. Jake West
- Fascinating documentary about the moral hysteria in 80's UK that led to the mass ban of 72 video tapes deemed too obscene by political and religious…
- A Good Man (2009)
- Dir. Safina Uberoi
- A strange and surprisingly beautiful documentary about an Australian sheep farmer who decides to cover his quadriplegic wife's medical expenses by…
- Good Hair (2009)
- Dir. Jeff Stilson
Feat. Chris Rock
- Comedian Chris Rock explores cultural identity by way of black America's obsession with hair in this warm and witty social documentary.
More…
- His & Hers (His and Hers) (2009)
- Dir. Ken Wardrop
- A collection of straight–talking vignettes informs this sweet, affecting, often witty documentary in which Irish women of all ages talk about…
- Hoarders (TV Series) (2009)
- Exploitative series tackles the obsessive compulsive disorders of various sad cases unable to part with their belongings. Taking its cues from…
- Last Train Home (2009)
- Dir. Lixin Fan
- A startling and vivid humanist documentary on China's ceaseless industrial growth, centred on one couple who make the annual migration from city to…
- Louis Theroux - The Strange and the Dangerous (2009)
- More madness from Television's favourite faux–naif Louis Theroux, this time with our unfailing polite host coming face to face with some truly…
- Love At The Twilight Motel (2009)
- Dir. Alison Rose
- Curious peek behind the doors of Miami's seedy Twilight Motel, a rent–by–the–hour establishment frequented by all manner of…
- Love, Lust & Lies (2009)
- Dir. Gillian Armstrong
- The fifth film in the documentary series about the lives, hopes and dreams of three lively, working class Adelaide girls (now aged 47) since they…
- Mexican Border Wars (TV Series) (2009)
- National Geographic series about American customs agents, whose job it is to curb illegal immigration and narcotics trafficking for a country…
- Sisters from Siberia (2009)
- Dir. Russell Campbell
- Wellington City Councillor Stephanie Cook is the subject of this insightful documentary on her successful adoption of sisters Katya and Nadia, who…
- South (TV Series) (2009)
- Feat. Marcus Lush
- Another "love story" from intrepid broadcaster Marcus Lush, who this time explores the South Island of New Zealand, an area he fell in love with…
- This Way of Life (2009)
- Dir. Tom and Barbara Burstyn
- Evocative, moving Kiwi doco which treats the viewer to an intimate glimpse of a family who reject modernity and live wild with six kids and fifty…
- Trouble is My Business (2009)
- Dir. Juliette Veber
- Keenly observational documentary about an empathetic assistant principal (Gary Peach) who battles to keep his students in school and out of trouble…
- American Future - A History by Simon Schama (2008)
- Resonant look at the superpower filmed during the run up to the 2009 inauguration of Barack Obama with popular historian Simon Schama turning his…
- American Teen (2008)
- Dir. Nanette Burstein
Feat. Hannah Bailey, Colin Clemens, Geoff Haase…
- An intimate and often hilarious doco that was a surprise Sundance Festival hit that follows four high school seniors – 'the jock', 'the arsty…
- Best Undressed (The Pageant) (2008)
- Dir. Martin Taylor
- A documentary about Australia’s longest running beauty pageant, the Miss Nude Australia Pageant, told from the perspective of contestants and…
- Cracking The Colour Code (TV Series) (2008)
- Dir. Hugh Piper
- Stimulating series journeying across six continents to investigate how humans from different cultures and backgrounds view, make and take meaning…
- Ganges (2008)
- A magnificent series exploring the life of the Ganges river, which runs through the heart of India and has extraordinary impact on the landscape and…
- Global Metal (2008)
- Intriguing music doco, presented by metaller and anthropologist Sam Dunn, delving into the sub–culture of metal heads around the world and the…
- India Reborn (2008)
- Fascinating and disturbing doco series that looks at India as the next superpower, and the juxtapositions to its mighty wealth that cloud its future…
- Second Skin (2008)
- Dir. Juan Carlos Pineiro-Escoriaza
- Compulsive insight into video game addiction, focused on a cross–section of young people who obsessively engage in what are known as MMOs (Mass…
- What About Me? (2008)
- Dir. Duncan Bridgeman, Jamie Catto
- A guide to better 21st Century living from the duo behind 1 GIANT LEAP, this kaleidoscope of philosophical and musical clips features contributions…
- 21 Up South Africa - Mandela's Children (2007)
- Dir. Angus Gibson
- The enduring UP Series moves to South Africa, where six 21–year–olds, first filmed in 1992, reflect on their lives to date.
By…
- Beyond Our Ken (2007)
- Disquieting documentary exploring the inner workings of Australian spiritual group 'Kenya,' based on the principle of "energy conversion," accused of…
- Bra Boys (2007)
- Dir. Sunny Abberton
- Potent documentary that concerns itself with the cultural evolution and social struggle of a group of surfers from the Sydney suburb of Maroubra.…
- Changing Climates (Changing Climates, Changing Times) (2007)
- Dir. Marion Milne
- Docu–drama predicting how global warming will impact different social groups around the world in the year 2100.
Although visually striking,…
- Choir, The (2007)
- Dir. Michael Davie
- Johannesburg's largest and most notorious prison is the setting for this inspiring documentary, which follows the fortunes of a convict choir who…
- Cowboys and Communists (Cowboys & Communists) (2007)
- Dir. Jess Feast
- Engaging culture documentary centred on a risque East Berlin bar and eatery (known as White Trash Fast Food), operated by an ex–pat 'cowboy'…
- First Cry, The (2007)
- Dir. Gilles de Maistre
- A beautifully observed documentary that portrays the miracle of child birth from varying perspectives around the globe.
Shot over a 24 hour period,…
- Heart Of An Empire (2007)
- Dir. Jay Thompson
- Engaging doco taking a look into the lives of an ever–expanding network of Star Wars fanatics, known as 'Fighting 501st Legion,' who get their…
- Here to Stay (TV Series) (2007)
- An enlightening, culturally pertinent reference point for the current make up of New Zealand society, this six part series revisits a number of key…
- Ice Road Truckers (TV Series) (2007)
- Gritty reality show focusing on a group of hardened truckers attempting to make mega bucks by transporting loads of supplies across the treacherous…
- Inside China (2007)
- Dir. Jonathan Lewis
- Surprisingly candid portrait of live inside the increasingly influential super–power. Dir. Lewis makes the most of the unprecedented access…
- Joseph Campbell - Mythos I (2007)
- Dir. Robert Walter
Feat. Susan Sarandon
- This series comprises the lectures of mythologist Joseph Campbell, filmed shortly before his death and presented here by Susan Sarandon.
The five…
- Let's Say (On dirait que... ) (2007)
- Dir. Françoise Marie
- A sweetly humble documentary in the vein of ETRE ET AVOIR, involving a group of French kids aged 8–13 asked to portray their parents’ jobs…
- Music in Me, The (2007)
- Enriching documentary following an inspirational group of intellectually and physically disabled performers called 'The Merry Makers' as they prepare…
- Night (2007)
- Dir. Lawrence Johnston
- Thought–provoking cine–visual essay about how humans perceive night–time through striking cinematography of Australian city and…
- Send A Bullet (Manda Bala) (2007)
- Dir. Jason Kohn
- Unsettling doco exposing the corrupted underbelly of Sao Paulo, Brazil, where abduction, political fraud and torture runs rife.
A protege of…
- Story of India with Michael Wood, The (TV Series) (2007)
- Feat. Michael Wood
- Acclaimed historian Wood takes to the destination du–jour – India – in order to acknowledge its history and research its…
- Surfwise (2007)
- Dir. Doug Pray
- Surprisingly confronting documentary following the ultimate surfer dude dad – Dorian Paskowitz – and his suffering family who forsake…
- This American Life (TV Series) (2007-2009)
- Ordinary strangers share their extraordinary anecdotes which are compiled by the worldly host into explorations on a given theme. This collection of…
- Unlikely Travellers (2007)
- Dir. Michael Noonan
- A refreshingly open doco framing a group of intellectually disabled travellers on a once–in–a–lifetime holiday to Egypt, following…
- Beales of Grey Gardens, The (2006)
- Dir. Albert Maysles, David Maysles
- Comprised of new footage and fresh hindsight, the Maysles brothers revisit the iconic Beales immortalised in their 1976 verite classic GREY GARDENS.…
- Cuba - A Lifetime Of Passion (2006)
- Dir. Glenn Gebhard
- With unprecedented access on either side of the Florida Straits, this comprehensive, and beautifully shot documentary highlights the complexity of…
- Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple (2006)
- Dir. Stanley Nelson Jr
- The enigma of cultist Jim Jones is investigated in chilling detail as this documentary outlays the infamous ‘Peoples Temple’ cult and its…
- Life in Loops (2006)
- Dir. Timo Novotny
- This audio–visual companion piece to MEGACITIES remixes the documentary’s existing footage of global degradation with a throbbing electronic…
- Naked on the Inside (2006)
- Dir. Kim Farrant
- Affecting documentary narrated by Australian filmmaker Kim Farrant as she investigates the issue of 'body image' through the lives of an amputee…
- Radiant City (2006)
- Dir. Gary Burns, Jim Brown
- This account of a ‘typical’ nuclear family ensconced in America’s suburban wasteland doubles as a serious expose of consumption, sprawl, and…
- Sign of the Times (2006)
- Dir. Victoria Manning, Paul Wolffram
- In April 2006 the New Zealand Parliament recognised New Zealand Sign Language as the third official language of New Zealand. This short 'insider'…
- 49 Up (2005)
- Dir. Michael Apted
- The seventh part of the extraordinary television documentary series that documents the attitudes, personalities and lives of 14 Britons of different…
- 51 Birch Street (2005)
- Dir. Doug Block
- Filmmaker Doug Block goes looking for skeletons in his parents’ closet following the sudden death of his mother, and the unexpected remarriage of…
- Geldof in Africa (TV Series) (2005)
- Dir. John Maguire
Feat. Bob Geldof
- A six–part series in which Irish rock star–humanitarian Bob Geldof traverses the luminous continent of Africa exploring its natural…
- In Search of Myths and Heroes (TV Series) (2005)
- Feat. Michael Woods
- BBC presenter Michael Wood explores four of the most famous myths in the world – Shangri–la, the Golden Fleece, the Queen of Sheba, and…
- Jamie's School Dinners (TV Series) (2005)
- Feat. Jamie Oliver
- A heartening example of celebrity do–gooding, this sees the famous blonde chef Jamie Oliver engage in a campaign to transform the school…
- Ladette To Lady (TV Series) (2005)
- Trashy reality show that places a group of rough–and–ready "tom boys" in a finishing school to try and turn them into proper ladies who…
- Paper Clips (2005)
- Dir. Elliot Berlin, Joe Fab
- Straightforward and rather touching documentary about a schoolroom project in the backwoods Tennessee town of Whitwell which aimed to raise awareness…
- Protocols of Zion (2005)
- Dir. Marc Levin
- An alarming examination of the widespread post–9/11 rumour that Jewish workers at the World Trade Centre, New York City, were forewarned of the…
- Workingman's Death (2005)
- Dir. Michael Glawogger
- Astonishing depiction of six of the most gruelling jobs known to man that soberingly conveys the extremes that certain members of the global…
- Boy Who Plays On The Buddhas of Bamiyan, The (2004)
- Dir. Phil Grabsky
- A picturesque and moving documentary which follows in the footsteps of an impoverished family living in Bamiyan, Afghanistan, where a gigantic stone…
- Czech Dream (Ceský sen) (2004)
- Dir. Vit Klusak, Filip Remunda
- A document of two young filmmaker's satirical stunt to promote a gigantic supermarket (hypermarket) to be supposedly constructed on the outskirts of…
- Dogora (2004)
- Dir. Patrice Leconte
- A filmic mediatation on Cambodia, loosely in the style of BARAKA, for which dir. Leconte travelled to the formerly wartorn country to capture the…
- Guerilla: The Taking of Patty Hearst (Neverland: The Rise and Fall of the Symbionese Liberation Army) (2004)
- Dir. Robert Stone
- An indepth examination of the Californian 'hippie–terrorists', the SLA, who rose to prominence in the 1970s attempting to change America with…
- Michael Palin: Himalaya (TV Series) (2004)
- Dir. Roger Mills, John-Paul Davidson
Feat. Michael Palin
- Michael Palin continues his globe–trotting in this 6–part series in which he travels to the wild places of the Himalayan region. Filled…
- Scared Sacred (2004)
- Dir. Velcrow Ripper
- Visiting sites of some of the world’s most horrible stories doesn’t seem like a relaxed night’s viewing, but this doco by the interestingly…
- Sheilas: 28 Years On (2004)
- Dir. Annie Goldson, Dawn Hutchesson
- Utilising the approach of Michael Apted's 7–UP films, this features encounters with the participants of the 1976 New Zealand TV series 'Women'…
- Status Anxiety (TV Series) (2004)
- Writer and presenter Alain De Botton explores the myth that our level of material wealth and career success has a bearing on our happiness and…
- Blockade, Landscape, Revue: 3 Films by Sergei Loznitsa (2003-2008)
- Dir. Sergey Loznitsa
- Three documentaries from Ukrainian director Sergei Loznitsa (DONBASS).
Landscape (2003, 60 mins) is set at a bus stop in a small village, with the…
- Spellbound (2003)
- Dir. Jeffrey Blitz
- Surprise hit documentary that struck a universal chord in following eight high–school hopefuls in their bid to succeed at the American National…
- Super Size Me (2003)
- Dir. Morgan Spurlock
Feat. Morgan Spurlock
- Entertaining expose of the evils of 'fast food', in which the filmmaker uses himself as a human guinea–pig by embarking on a 30–day,…
- Weeping Camel, The (Story of the Weeping Camel, The) (2003)
- Dir. Byambasuren Davaa, Luigi Falorni
- A lovingly filmed and touchingly simple excursion into the lives of a family of nomadic shepherds in the Gobi Desert, Mongolia, which blurs the line…
- 9/11 (2002)
- Dir. Jules Naudet, Gedeon Naudet, James Hanlon
- What started out as an amateur documentary by two French brothers about the New York Fire Department turns into a vital, ground’s–eye view of…
- Bus 174 (2002)
- Dir. José Padilha
- A riveting analysis of an incident in Rio de Janeiro in June 2000 in which a lone, desperate gunman held hostage the passengers of a bus, while the…
- Century of the Self, The (2002)
- Dir. Adam Curtis
- An expertly assembled wealth of archival footage helps tell the complex story of the growth of the mass–consumer society and the role played by…
- Cinemania (2002)
- Dir. Stephen Kijak, Angela Christlieb
- An enthralling must–see for movie–buffs of any degree, this documents the daily rituals of five New York eccentrics whose lives are…
- Coffee, Tea or Me? (2002)
- Dir. Brita McVeigh
- An engaging lowkey look at the experiences of seven woman who worked as air hostesses in the 1960s and 70s.
Similiar in tone to the documentaries…
- Drowned Out (2002)
- Dir. Franny Armstrong
- A forerunner, and now excellent companion piece to the much vaunted UP THE YANGTZE, this captures in sobering close–up the plight of an Indian…
- Georgie Girl (2002)
- Dir. Annie Goldson
- The unique and quite remarkable life story of Georgina Beyer, born George, a Maori transsexual and former sex–worker, who recently was elected…
- I Don't Know Jack (2002)
- Dir. Chris Leavens
Feat. Jack Nance
- Concerning the life, work and death of Jack Nance, star of ERASERHEAD and eccentric of other David Lynch films, whose self–destructive…
- In a Land of Plenty (2002)
- Dir. Alister Barry
- Described as ‘the story of unemployment in New Zealand,’ this serves as a strong companion piece for SOMEONE ELSE'S COUNTRY, dir. Barry’s…
- Naqoyqatsi (2002)
- Dir. Godfrey Reggio
- Dir. Reggio follows up KOYAANISQATSI and POWAQQATSI, with another spectacular and mesmerising montage of global imagery, with Philip Glass again…
- Okie Noodling (2002)
- Dir. Bradley Beesley
- An amiable glimpse into the American tradition of "noodling", whereby giant catfish in Oklahoma are lured and captured bare–handed.
This…
- Stevie (2002)
- Dir. Steve James
- A provocative, uniquely intimate doco in which the director reknews his acquaintance with a troubled adoptee, now facing prison, whom he once…
- American Mullet (2001)
- Dir. Jennifer Arnold
- Less hair–raising than affectionate documentary about that most controversial of hairstyles; the mullet.
Going on the road in her "mullet…
- Hell House (2001)
- Dir. George Ratliff
- Behind–the–scenes account of a small fundamentalist church in Texas whose "Hell House" serves as a tool to literally "scare the hell out…
- Project Greenlight (TV Series) (2001)
- This outstanding documentary series about the making of a low–budget feature film is mandatory for anyone interested in film and the…
- Startup.com (2001)
- Dir. Jehane Noujaim, Chris Hegedus
Feat. Kaleil Tuzman, Tom Herman
- A supremely timely, as–it–happens recording of the boom–and–bust story of two naively ambitious internet entrepreneurs –…
- Sweetest Sound, The (2001)
- Dir. Alan Berliner
- Wry, speculative documentary on identity and genealogy finds dir. Alain Berliner turning the camera on himself – and twelve other ‘Alan…
- Titless Wonders (2001)
- Dir. Gaylene Preston
- “An upfront exploration of the emotional discoveries of women with breast cancer”, this bravely and valuably documents a subject most people…
- Bouncer: Behind the Velvet Rope (2000)
- Dir. Steven Cantor
- Those guardians of bars and nightclubs describe the perils and perks of their profession (and why for some there’s no difference between them).…
- Dark Days (2000)
- Dir. Marc Singer
- A remarkable, compassionate document of homeless people condemned to living in underground shelters in the New York subway…
- First Person (TV Series) (2000)
- Dir. Errol Morris
- Errol Morris, the renowned cinematic observer of human testimony, nuance and eccentricity, here extends his patented "Interrotron" interview…
- Natural History of the Chicken (2000)
- Dir. Mark Lewis
- The dir. of CANE TOADS here uses the odd behaviour of the humble chook as a wryly comic springboard for examining the equally odd behaviour of their…
- Notes from a Small Island (2000)
- The observant, ironic travel–writer Bill Bryson ambles through the United Kingdom making consistently amusing note of the oddities he discovers.
- Philosophy: A Guide to Happiness (TV Series) (2000)
- Feat. Alain de Botton
- Presented by respected modern–day philosopher Alain de Botton, this six part series features six historical thinkers and their theories on how…
- Whirling Man, The (2000)
- Dir. Gretchin Mornin, James Hollings
Feat. Arnold Brooker
- Brief compelling whirl through the world of Arnold Brooker, an eccentric fixture on the streets of Wellington who campaigns for the rights of the…
- 42 Up (1999)
- Dir. Michael Apted
- The sixth part of the extraordinary television documentary series that documents the attitudes, personalities and lives of 14 Britishers of different…
- Awful Truth, The (TV Series) (1999)
- Dir. Michael Moore
Feat. Michael Moore
- Find out what's really going on in America with merciless media activist Michael Moore, fighting for the common man against the evil–doers of…
- Buena Vista Social Club (1999)
- Dir. Wim Wenders
- A handful of sprightly elderly Cuban musicians assembled in 1996 by guitarist Ry Cooder produced, with their soulful, melodic jazz sound, the biggest…
- Hands on a Hard Body (1999)
- Dir. S.R. Bindler
- Low–budget but enthralling chronicle of the annual ‘Hands on a Hard Body’ competition run by a local Texas radio station, in which 23…
- Last Days, The (1999)
- Dir. James Moll
- Accompanied by return visits to their homeland and the Nazi death camps, five Hungarian survivors of the Holocaust recount their remarkable stories…
- Louis Theroux's - The Collection (Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends, When Louis Met....) (1999)
- Four disc set compiling the best of the affable Louis Theroux, drawing from his three series to date.
More disarming than Borat, Theroux’s…
- Pop and Me (1999)
- Dir. Chris Roe
- A 'real life' documentary with a distinctive twist – would–be film–maker Chris Roe convinces his affluent divorcee father to not…
- Cruise, The (1998)
- Dir. Bennett Miller
- A wonderful insight into life in New York City in the late 1990's through one of the cities eccentric characters – Tim "Speed" Levitch, a tour…
- Megacities (1998)
- Dir. Michael Glawogger
- The dir. of WORKINGMAN'S DEATH reveals a global underclass with portraits of poverty and neglect, from Bombay to Moscow to Mexico City.
Some may…
- Road to Jerusalem + Roaring Forties (1997)
- Dir. Bruce Morrison
- Affectionate biography/homage tracing the life of the late great NZ poet James K Baxter. Admirable recitals of his verse complement many candid…
- Robinson in Space (1997)
- Dir. Patrick Keiller
Feat. Paul Scofield
- Following up his widely–noted documentary LONDON, dir. Keiller again hits the road with his anonymous alter ego (voiceover by Paul Scofield)…
- Sick (1997)
- Dir. Kirby Dick
- Stunning, compassionate feature biography of the life of Bob Flanagan, whose 'super–masochism' and extreme performance art was born of his…
- Fast, Cheap and Out of Control (1996)
- Dir. Errol Morris
- Further pushing out a signature style that impresses technique as much as subject, dir. Errol Morris here takes real life as a mere starting point…
- Gallivant (1996)
- Dir. Andrew Kotting
- An engrossing ‘gallivant’ around the coastline of Great Britain (and the parameters of experimental documentary) with the filmmaker, his…
- Kiwi As (1996)
- Dir. Shirley Horrocks
- The second of dir. Shirley Horrocks journey into the delightful world of 'Kiwiana' – those often quaint artifacts of New Zealand's past –…
- Kiwiana (1996)
- Dir. Shirley Horrocks
- The first of two congenial excursions into the increasingly popular genre of 20th century New Zealand cultural artifacts, collectively known as…
- Not Fourteen Again (1996)
- Dir. Gillian Armstrong
- Inspired by the British 7–UP series, film–maker Armstrong completes(?) her anthropological documentary following the lives of three…
- Putting Our Town On the Map (1995)
- Dir. Shirley Horrocks
- An eye–opening documentary about how many New Zealand towns create prominent versions of local icons in their search for distinction and…
- Human Animal, The (1994)
- Famed zoologist Desmond Morris' personal assessment of the human being spans the cultural globe to understand behavioural peculiarities that we daily…
- London (1994)
- Dir. Patrick Keiller
- The giant dichotomy that is London is exposed by counter–pointing post–card imagery with Paul Scofield's narration of the ironic,…
- Baraka (1993)
- Dir. Ron Fricke
- The cinematographer of KOYAANISQATSI montages gloriously filmed images from around the globe with modern world music and creates more than just an…
- From the East (1993)
- Dir. Chantal Akerman
Feat. Natalia Chakhovskaia
- Travelogue documentary shot on 16mm which describes the lives of people in Poland, Russia and East Germany before the collapse of the Soviet…
- Palms (Ladoni) (1993)
- Dir. Artour Aristakisian
- Examining the plight of Moscow’s homeless and adrift, dir. Aristakisyan’s jarring, but resolute formalism (unfussy 16mm black and white footage…
- Lessons of Darkness / Fata Morgana (1992/1969)
- Dir. Werner Herzog
- Two of dir. Herzog’s impressionistic documentaries on a double DVD.
LESSONS OF DARKNESS investigates the aftermath of the Gulf War, with…
- 35 Up (1992)
- Dir. Michael Apted
- The fifth part of the extraordinary television documentary series that documents the attitudes, personalities and lives of 14 Britishers of different…
- Good Woman of Bangkok (1991)
- Dir. Dennis O'Rourke
- A typical sex–worker reveals her experiences to illuminate the harsh reality and profound sadness at the base of Thailand's prolific sex…
- Making Sense of the Sixties (1991)
- Fulsome documentary overview of the turbulent sixties, specifically in context with America, where John F. Kennedy, civil rights, the Vietnam War,…
- Talk 16 (1991)
- Dir. Janis Lundman, Adrienne Mitchell
- The transition of childhood to womanhood is revealed in this intimate, candid study of five 16–year–old girls over a five year period.
- American Dream (1990)
- Dir. Barbara Kopple
- An Oscar–winning documentary about the effects of trade–union–company conflict at a meat–packing plant in Minnesota in…
- Maria's Story (A Portrait Of Love And Survival In El Salvador's Civil War) (1990)
- Dir. Monona Wali, Pamela Cohen
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- Roger and Me (1990)
- Dir. Michael Moore
Feat. Michael Moore
- A brilliantly irreverant personal odyssey by the film–maker who, equipped with a mic and a camera, endeavours to extract comment from General…
- Ilé Aiyé (The House of Life) (1989)
- Dir. David Byrne
- David Byrne documents the Candomblé, the African–influenced spirit cult of the Bahia region of Brazil, exploring the ways in which they have…
- Shakers, The (1989)
- Dir. Ken Burns
- Documentary about the religion often characterised by their ecstatic dancing, pacifism and belief in non–conventional medicine. Ken Burns…
- Cane Toads (An Unnatural History) (1988)
- Dir. Mark Lewis
- Since 1935 these noxious green freaks have been multiplying rapidly throughout Australia. Lewis tackles them and their absurd human foes head on in…
- Powaqqatsi (1988)
- Dir. Godrey Reggio
- Extending the themes and montage techniques of cult favourite ‘Koyaanisqatsi’, this sequel introduces media culture excess and the plight of the…
- Power of Myth - Joseph Campbell, The (1988)
- Dir. Bill Moyers
- Enlightening journey through the mind of myth–guru Joseph Campbell, compiling six hours of interviews by Bill Moyers in the 2 years preceding…
- Matter of Heart (1986)
- An inspired film portrait of Carl Jung that weaves together interview, home movie and archival footage of the famous psychoanalyst to deliver an…
- Sherman's March (1986)
- Dir. Ross McElwee
- A wonderfully oddball chronicle of the disastrous and wacky lovelife and times of the film–maker. Intending to make a historical doco, he veers…
- 28 Up (1985)
- Dir. Michael Apted
- The fourth part of the extraordinary television documentary series that documents the attitudes, personalities and lives of 14 Britishers of…
- All American High (All American High Revisited) (1985-2014)
- Dir. Keva Rosenfeld
- Excellent 'time–capsule' account of a year at an affluent American High School in Los Angeles, California in 1984.
The film's key character…
- Private Practices: The Story of a Sex Surrogate (1985)
- Dir. Kirby Dick
- The debut feature from bold documentarian Kirby Dick (SICK) is this fascinating and humane portrait of a sex surrogate Maureen Sullivan, who is…
- Shoah (1985)
- Dir. Claude Lanzmann
- Claude Lanzmann's epic documentary on the Holocaust – 10 years in the making – is everything Resnais' 'Night and Fog' isn't; rough,…
- Chicken Ranch (1984)
- Dir. Nick Broomfield
- Astonishing expose of a famous legal whorehouse in Texas on which a popular Dolly Parton movie was based. What is revealed, however, is far from the…
- Koyaanisqatsi (1983)
- Dir. Godfrey Reggio
- This unique visual and aural masterpiece looks at our earth and 20th Century 'progress' through the eye of time–lapse camera. The…
- Vernon, Florida (1982)
- Dir. Errol Morris
- An early gem from dir. Morris (THE FOG OF WAR) that ambles around the small backwater town of the title, documenting the eccentricities and humour of…
- Gates of Heaven (1980)
- Dir. Errol Morris
- This acclaimed debut of dir. Errol Morris (THIN BLUE LINE) staked a high water mark for eccentric film subjects by documenting the closing down of a…
- Soldier Girls (1980)
- Dir. Nick Broomfield, Joan Churchill
- Early Nick Broomfield entry surveys the US Army's training regime for female recruits. Though less obtrusive than in later incarnations, Broomfield…
- Three Popular Films by Jean-Pierre Gorin (Poto and Cabengo, Routine Pleasures, My Crasy Life) (1980-1992)
- Dir. Jean-Pierre Gorin
- Three delightfully absorbing observational documentaries from director Jean–Pierre Gorin, well know for his collaborations with Jean–Luc…
- Best Boy (1979)
- Dir. Ira Wohl
- Academy–award winning doco follows three years in the life of the film–maker's cousin Philly, a 52–year–old with the…
- Tattooed Tears (1978)
- Dir. Nick Broomfield, Joan Churchill
- Early Nick Broomfield doco eschews his later interactive style for an unrelenting examination of the life of four youths in a prison for young…
- 21 Up (1977)
- Dir. Michael Apted
- The third part of the extraordinary television documentary series that documents the attitudes, personalities and lives of 14 Britishers of different…
- Grey Gardens (1976)
- Dir. Albert Maysles, David Maysles, Ellen Hovde
- An intimate portrait of acute eccentricity, this offers a ‘home movie’–style insight into the lives of colourful high–society…
- Harlan County USA (1976)
- Dir. Barbara Kopple
- A vivid, enlightening documentary about a violent labour dispute on the East Kentucky coalfields, prompted by decades of poor conditions in the…
- Smokes and Lollies / Fourteen's Good, Eighteen's Better (1975-1980)
- Dir. Gillian Armstrong
- The first of five documentaries Gillian Armstrong directed on Adelaide women Kerry, Josie and Diana, this introduces the fresh–faced trio as…
- Calcutta (1969)
- Dir. Louis Malle
- Louis Malle’s companion piece to PHANTOM INDIA isolates some extraordinary footage of Calcutta, presenting a fiery and tempestuous image of a city…
- Phantom India (1969)
- Dir. Louis Malle
- Captured on film, Louis Malle’s pilgrimage to India is relayed with remarkable and imposing gravitas as the director discovers the country, warts…
- Salesman (1968)
- Dir. David Maysles, Albert Maysles, Charlotte Zwerin
- Devastating look at the borderline existence of four door–to–door bible salesman, as they go their round from coffee–shop,…
- Actuality Dramas of Allan King, The (Warrendale; A Married Couple; Come on Children; Dying at Grace; Memory For Max, Claire, Ida and Company) (1967-2005)
- Dir. Allan King
- A collection of five cinema–verité style documentaries from the extraordinary Canadian auteur Allan King, all of which are emotionally…
- Country Calendar (TV Series) (1966-2015)
- The iconic New Zealand series that unveils the doings of our rural populace – their innovations, traditions and eccentricities.
'Very Best…
- 7 Up / 14 Up (Seven Plus Seven) (1964-1970)
- Dir. Paul Almond, Michael Apted
- The first two parts of the extraordinary television documentary series that documents the attitudes, personalities and lives of 14 Britishers of…
- I am Cuba (1964)
- Dir. Mikhail Kalatozov
- One of the most renowned documentaries of the 1960s, this poetic evocation of Cuba under Batista is today notable for both its quaint politics and…
- Whicker's World (TV Series) (1958-1994)
- Feat. Alan Whicker
- Fronted by one of the most celebrated social commentators and journalists of the 20th century, Alan Whicker's television masterpieces saw the polite…
- Nuit et Broulliard (Night and Fog) (1955)
- Dir. Alain Resnais
- Haunting, influential doco on the Nazi concentration camps investigates the ways in which images of past events cause guilt for those in the present,…
- History of Pornography
- Dir. Hons Wegmunsen
- Raw expose of the origins and changing social implications of taboo erotica. The 'stag' movies of the '30s and '40s, in this context are particularly…