Ten Memorable Documentaries

Since the beginning of the moving picture, the documentary has always held a priviliged place in the cinematic canon. The documentary can take on many forms. It can be objective, talking heads journalism documenting important events in our history or it can be a personal essay about the documentarian himself or his chosen subject. No matter what form or style the documentary takes, the very best takes hold of the imagination of the viewing audience and stays with them years later. Here is my list of documentaries that have made a lasting impression on me.

ROGER & ME - Released in 1989, Michael Moore's first documentary was a shot in the arm during the Reagan/Bush era, contradicting the go-go '80s perception that Americans were climbing up the corporate ladder and making money hand-over-fist. Shot in Moore's native Detroit, the film chronicled the economic meltdown and disenfranchisement of many Detroiters after General Motors closed up their auto factories. Moore follows the lives of the men and women who were affected by the shutdowns and layoffs and their struggle to keep their heads above water, while contrasting their lives with General Motors executives who benefited financially from their corporate decisions. The Roger in the title refers to Roger Smith, then CEO of General Motors, whose elusiveness throughout the film forms Moore's almost quixotic quest to interview him on camera. Roger & Me revealed the sad reality of class divisions and economic degradation in the United States and how both corporate and government institutions trample on hard working Americans struggling to get by. It also made an unlikely star out of its director, who would go on to direct more controversial documentaries.