This questions has been asked before [0][1][2], but I'm thinking that in the last 4 years something new and exciting has been created or discovered.
If you could describe in a couple of words why you mentioned what you mentioned, that would be fantastic.
[0]: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18085765
It's a BBC documentary in six episodes about the conflict that caused the dissolution of Yugoslavia and the wars in the Balkans.
It stands out among many documentaries for being a truly dispassionate moment-to-moment record of events. No sensationalism, no grand-standing, just the facts.
If you're tired of the Netflix style of documentary — lots of talking heads quickly edited together for sound bites, dramatic music, re-enactments — then this is for you. Sadly, too few documentaries are produced in this style anymore.
Edit: Looks like the episodes are on YouTube [3].
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Death_of_Yugoslavia
[2] https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00gfbpy
[3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tj9Zw5fN3rE&list=PLdw7wnKe0w...
when I first streamed netflix years ago - my queue was full of 5-star movies and shows to watch.
As I worked my way through my queue I developed a pattern. Everything I hadn't watched became 5-star documentaries.
I would develop "documentary fatigue" where there were so many well-documented, well produced and important issues to learn about, that I would quickly saturate and at that point I wouldn't watch documentaries anymore.
I would literally put 2-star scifi movies with unbelievable monsters or cataclysms before all the 5-star documentaries.
Interesting story: during the high school, in 2006-2008, we weren't allowed to have lectures about the war. That didn't stop our history class teacher to play us this documentary. We would watch it during the class and it would take us couple of classes to finish, since it's pretty long.
Also, the full documentary is here [1] and not segmented like OP's link.
[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVUg-VoPAeA&ab_channel=Triac...
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C4%90or%C4%91e_Martinovi%C4%8...
Fortunately, there are also more good documentaries being produced than ever!
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.
I loved it, even being in the industry at the center of the topic.
However the narrative is judged, it at least has a spark I find has died in our own.
I recommend even looking into his older material, such as The Mayfair Set (won a BAFTA Award in 2000). Another older documentary of his that I recommend is The Way of All Flesh (1997) which is a rather remarkable story on HeLa cells with a depth I hadn't encountered before. To give you an idea of the subject matter, here's a quote from Wikipedia:
"HeLa cell contamination has become a pervasive worldwide problem – affecting even the laboratories of many notable physicians, scientists, and researchers, including Jonas Salk. The HeLa contamination problem also contributed to Cold War tensions. The USSR and the USA had begun to cooperate in the war on cancer launched by President Richard Nixon, only to find that the exchanged cells were contaminated by HeLa."
Some of his material is viewabled on BBC iPlayer if you have access to that. His older material can be challenging to find. You can download his complete collection via torrents.
I'll just balance it out with some TED optimism porn.
I've watched a couple and they ask pretty good questions if the answers he gives require some additional research/critical thinking/knowledge of history.
The last documentary I watched, Hypernormalization, seemed to give platform to and justify the need for _more_ individualism via Trump-esque critique on Leftist ideologue. That is totally fine, but I can see how people can watch his documentaries accept many of the leaps in logic.
Is a much more worrying link that should be obligatory when he comes up.
Curtis is heavily linked to the "Living Marxism" crowd, who started as the journal of the "Revolutionary Communist Party" in the UK which mutated into "Spiked" the extreme right-wing libertarian clique that pop up everywhere in the UK press. And appear to be some kind of personality cult around a guy who co-wites some of the documentaries.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Furedi
He appears to be some weird Tony Blair/Jordan Peterson hybrid.
> George Monbiot has elicited an admission from the managing editor of Spiked Online that they have received $300,000 in funding from the Charles Koch Foundation,[11] a fact not declared on their website.[12] He has accused Furedi of overseeing extreme right-wing libertarian campaigns "against gun control, against banning tobacco advertising and child pornography, and in favour of global warming, human cloning and freedom for corporations". Monbiot also accuses him of leading entryism of ex-RCPers into "key roles in the formal infrastructure of public communication used by the science and medical establishment", to pursue an agenda in favour of genetic engineering.[13] The journalist Nick Cohen has described the RCP as a "weird cult"[14] whose Leninist discipline, disruptive behaviour and selfish publicity-seeking have remained unaltered during the various tactical shifts in the face it presents to the wider world.[15]
Someone should make a documentary about them, how do you go politically from actively celebrating the deaths of British soldiers to pushing for Brexit? There's got to be some amazing back story in that, and there's loads of "No way" moments.
Be prepared to feel rage and depression, but it’s so damn informative.
If you're a developer / engineer you'll admire the professionalism. And more importantly value proposition of your work.
I came away with a different impression, in that I certainly don't admire or want to share Jiro's attitude to work, because the perfection-at-all-costs approach looked like it had a pretty devastating fallout on his wife and his two sons. It's a fascinating documentary in that you'll either come away saying "how inspirational!" or "I'm running 100 miles away from that", and that's interesting in itself.
I think for me, I came out thinking "damn I truly do may be only 25% dedication to my craft".
I agree tho it's a good documentary for seeing someone taking their work so seriously and the fallout from it as well as for seeing how much work might go into certain kinds of food prep and therefore making me appreciate it more.
"You must dedicate your life to mastering your skill. That’s the secret of success and is the key to being regarded honorably. […] . Even at my age, after decades of work, I don’t think I have achieved perfection. But I feel ecstatic all day. I love making sushi. That’s the spirit of the Shokunin."
From:
https://moviewise.substack.com/p/going-through-an-existentia...
For me that translated to valuing my craft enough that people are willing to wait for and pay for it at whatever cost I set.
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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 unusual, presenter - he has an interesting history (he personally knew Einstein, Von Neumann, and others), is knowledgeable in many fields, and doesn't waste a word. His off the cuff monologue at Auschwitz where some of his family died at the hands of the nazis is both heart-wrenching and profound. But thays just one of many incredible moments.
I have watched this countless times, and am always struck by the scope, scale, and beauty of the production.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ascent_of_Man
That scene at Auschwitz where he walks into the pond is burned into my memory:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltjI3BXKBgY
Edit: It was many years later that I noticed the reference to Leo Szilard, reminding me of this quote from The Making of the Atomic Bomb:
"In London, where Southampton Row passes Russell Square, across from the British Museum in Bloomsbury, Leo Szilard waited irritably one gray Depression morning for the stoplight to change. A trace of rain had fallen during the night; Tuesday, September 12, 1933, dawned cool, humid and dull. Drizzling rain would begin again in early afternoon. When Szilard told the story later he never mentioned his destination that morning. He may have had none; he often walked to think. In any case another destination intervened. The stoplight changed to green. Szilard stepped off the curb. As he crossed the street time cracked open before him and he saw a way to the future, death into the world and all our woes, the shape of things to come..."
That's a beautiful excerpt, thanks for sharing.
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?
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.
I'd love to see such a thread! I personally can't think of anyone comparable to Bronowski given those criteria. But even someome in the same ballpark would be interesting to hear about
Helvetica - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helvetica_(film)
“about typography and graphic design, centered on the eponymous typeface.”
Objectified - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Objectified
“examining the role of everyday non-living objects, and the people who design them, in our daily lives.”
Urbanized - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urbanized
“discusses how cities are designed, and it features interviews with urban planners and architects“
They are beautifully made films, and he interviews some of the most influential designers of the last century.
It funny how many times I’ve told people to watch Helvetica and they have just looked at me and asked how there could be a film about a “font”. It’s so much more, the films really cover design methodology and how it influences our every day lives.
> Rams is a documentary portrait of Dieter Rams, one of the most influential designers alive, and a rumination on consumerism, sustainability, and the future of design.
I watched it during initial COVID lockdown when Gary offered it for free for 24 hours it was an amazing experience to watch...and I'm a programmer, not a designer (LOL!) and loved it like crazy!
The Vietnam War - Ken Burns documentary series. Very balanced and sobering take on the Vietnam war, events leading to the Vietnam war, and unrest in the US during that period.
The Fog of War - Errol Morris doc about Robert McNamara.
The Salt of the Earth - Doc about photographer Sebastião Salgado
Alone in the Wilderness - Dick Proenneke films himself building and living in a remote cabin in Alaska
Also can't go wrong with Adam Curtis.
I liked his Jazz one too.
Basically anything he made is a gem (though Civil War could use a slight correction these days, mainly because all the work done on the consequences - "Reconstruction" by PBS would probably be a good complement).
Want to note that he didn’t like the documentary. He felt it was too staged and inauthentic and didn’t use his voice as the voiceover. He mentioned that he wouldn’t do it again if asked.
I also used to think it was BBC because of the quality and dignity of the production, I wouldn't be surprised to hear some people claim this is an example of the Mandela effect.
Both structures are still there at Twin Lakes, and are operated by Alaska State Parks now.
We have some cool photos and stories from that time.
I agree that technically it's well done, but IMO it leaves too much space to McNamara to write his own narrative.
McNamara's role in the escalation of Vietnam War and the U-turn he did in the Senate hearings towards the end of his term as Secretary of Defense is something he IMO never properly tried to reflect upon...
A first hand account of the firefighters who were sent to cap the oil wells that Saddam set on fire during his attempt to invade the country.
Senna https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aPLOQeSHrM The story of famed F1 driver. I'm not a racing fan but this one was amazing.
Apollo 11 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Co8Z8BQgWc Completely new footage was found of the complete Apollo 11 mission. The best doc of the space race, by far.
Part 1: The Saturn V Rocket
Part 2: The Command Module
Part 3: The Navigation Computer
Part 4: The Lunar Module
Part 5: The Space Suit
Part 6: The Lunar Rover
Available on vimeo[1] and youtube.
[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon_Machines
[1] https://vimeo.com/673970849
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104706/
Trailer: https://youtu.be/vMIM-ma2juo
Just watched the first few minutes and this line strikes me as inaccurate, just based on other things I've read/watched about Saddam's burning of oil wells:
"In a final act of vengeance, Saddam ordered the detonation of almost 700 oil wells"
I could be misinformed, but wasn't Saddam using the burning oil wells to limit visibility from above once it became clear he was doomed as long as the eyes in the sky were unimpeded? AIUI it wasn't some purely vengeful act.
It's extremely well done and shows how Google beat the best Go player with AI to the surprise of everyone, especially those native to Asia, where Go is part of spiritual ideas and practices. They were certain the machine would fail and when it won with moves of sublime beauty the entire Go community was stunned and humbled. The movie says it was China's "Sputnik moment"
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