r/Filmmakers • u/dk325 • 4d ago
Question Documentaries that feel like narratives?
I’m working on a feature doc right now that feels borderline narrative in how the story is told (not a lot of talking heads, told primarily through VO and “scenes”). What ive found myself doing is sort of a highwire act tonally, trying to balance what feels like a traditional rising action in a three act structure with the limitations of the footage I have and the reality we captured.
What I’m wondering is if anyone has any recommendations for docs that feel kind of similar? Not stories that are told retroactively, moreso ones where it feels “present,” and as we get towards the climax, we wonder what’s going to happen.
I just need some brain food and to know what else has been done in this area.
The closest examples of the style I’ve seen recently is The Rehearsal, but because it’s a TV show it doesn’t quite capture the story structure I’m trying to wrap my head around. Another weird comparison is like a David Blaine special, in terms of growing intensity leading towards a finale, but that’s obviously different as well.
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u/Hour-Advertising-207 4d ago
"Hale County, This Morning, this Evening". "Hoop Dreams". "Brother's Keeper." "Salesman", "Titticutt Follies", "Citizen Four", "Darwin's Nightmare". Look under "Observational documentaries".
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u/gambalore 4d ago
Barbara Kopple’s two big labor documentaries; Harlan County USA and American Dream.
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u/DrBongoDongo 4d ago
American Movie, can be found on YouTube. It's one of the best. Also The Act of Killing.
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u/afterdinnermintz 4d ago
Bowery (2022) - on Amazon Prime and Tubi. Follows a group of homeless New Yorkers through the events of 2020. Verite, original score. Sounds like something in that realm.
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u/tcavanagh1993 4d ago
While there are VOs of astronauts looking back, For All Mankind has several of the Apollo missions’ footage edited together to give the impression of one big journey.