10 Favourite Documentaries of 2010.

It is always tough to make a Top 10 list, this year has been the toughest! 2010 is the year of documentaries, so I decided to make separate top 10 lists for documentaries, fiction/narrative and Indian films.
Documentary filmmaking is at its peak right now, the reason behind this could be the digital revolution, digital distribution and introduction of DIY films and gear. This is good news for several independent filmmakers who are struggling to come up with topics to make films. Documentaries give you the freedom and creativity to explore and learn as you are filming. Picture quality and production value can be sidelined just a bit since there is no definite need to re-create reality. The content always takes over. You will see examples of such films in my top 10 documentaries list of 2010:

10. Smash His Camera

The paprazzi culture has been present for a long time, but can this really be qualified as art? Looking directly at your subject instead of looking into your viewfinder for a picture gets you a hazy celebrity image. Why are people still buying it? From the point-of-view of paparazzi photographer Ron Galella we get to learn about the true characteristics of famous celebrities.

9. Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work
It is very difficult for a filmmaker to make their audience relate to someone as popular as Joan Rivers (specially those who have zero knowledge about her), yet we relate to her, we admire her and we look up to her. In this fascinating documentary about a year in Joan River's career, filmmakers Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg show us her successes, failures and most importantly her courage and strength to never back out of doing what she loves. Watch her in the sequence where an audience member criticizes her for saying offensive jokes.

8. And Everything is Going Fine
"A tribute to Spalding Gray by Steven Soderberg," this tag-line on the poster pretty much sums up this creative film about popular actor/monologuist Spalding Gray. Gray is no more but Soderberg brings him to life by creatively using old footage, interviews, monologuesl creating a story about Spalding, narrated by Spalding himself. Possibly the most creatively edited documentary of the year, And Everything is Going Fine works beautifully as a nostalgic biography.

7. No Crossover: The Trial of Allen Iverson
Very rarely I enjoy films with voice-overs or narrations, I prefer when pictures reveal a story. This particular documentary is an exception. The reason why voice over works here so well is because it is from the first person point-of-view of the director himself. Skilled documentary filmmaker, Steve James (Hoop Dreams) tells a story about the people of America, using NBA star Allen Iverson's court trial as a backdrop. In a country where every citizen loves sport and idolizes sports celebrities, the Allen Iverson case helps generate a debate about America's racial issues and the criminal justice system.

6. Restrepo

The Hurt Locker was a re-creation of the war, whereas, Restrepo is all real. The journalistic approach of making this film pulls you right into the middle of Korangal Valley. A first-person experience of the emotions, changing mind-sets and lives of the soldiers stationed there. Incredibly intense piece of art! 

5. Best Worst Movie
The meaning of "cult" is often misunderstood. Anything that is "off-beat" or "dark" (and sometimes a fair box-office success) is referred to as a cult film. I disagree, a cult film is the kind where there is a niche, dedicated audience always supportive of a particular film, which doesn't necessarily have to be off-beat, dark, or a box-office success. B Movies can also be qualified as cult films. This hilarious documentary is about one such film, Troll 2. The director of this documentary (who was a child artist in Troll 2) traces the cult phenomenon behind Troll 2; which is one of the worst film ever made (according to IMDb and critics) We get to learn about the actors and what they think of the film now. How embarrassed they are and how amazed they are by a dedicated fan following towards this film now. You get to hear this from various point-of-views including the director of Troll 2, who still believes that his film isn't the worst film ever made. This is one of the most entertaining documentary film I've seen in a long time. Funny and very touching. Watch the scenes towards the end, where the director is upset with his actors for bad-mouthing Troll 2. His passion for the film he made and his explanationof this never-ending fan following. One of the best films about the worst film ever made. Highly recommended!

4. Sweetgrass
Documentary filmmakers often forget the power of cinéma vérité. Originally, films like, Workers Leaving the Lumiere Factory in Lyon and The Arrival of a Train were footage of day to day activities of people. Later, with the introduction of editing came my favourtie film of all time, Dziga Vertov's Man With A Movie Camera followed by another masterpiece Koyaanisqatsi. And now, we have Sweetgrass. This film does what a documentary should ideally do, observe. This is the kind of film that let's reality reveal in front of the camera. No talking heads, no inter-titles, no music. The filmmakers are completely invisible, nothing is planned. The filmmakers are as new to the event as the audience. Sweetgrass is a simple film about a group of shepherds taking their herd of sheep through the Beartooth Mountains of Montana. Most of the film is told through the point-of-view of the sheep, slowly revealing the relationship between Man and Nature. Watching this film was the most beautiful experience.

3. Exit Through the Gift Shop
What can I say? I love this movie! Graffiti artist and director of the film Banksy, through this incredible film brings back memories of Andy Kaufman and Marcel Duchamp. Through the story of Mr. Brainwash (true or false, we don't know) Banksy comments on the art of today. Stirring up a debate about good art vs bad art. Is it always subjective? If there were films made during the Dada movement, this would be it. Banksy is a genius!

2. A Film Unfinished
More than a comment on the Holocaust, this film reminds us about the ethics of filmmaking. It blurs the line between journalism and voyeurism. Without romanticizing the events of the Holocaust, director Yael Hersonski digs out footage of the incomplete Nazi propaganda film, Das Ghetto and compares the "real" with the manipulated footage. As a proof of what is real and manipulated she screens this footage for the survivors of the ghetto and we, the audience watch their reaction. The ambient background score by Yishai Adar adds to poignancy of the film. A Film Unfinished shows us what we learn about history can not always be trusted. Riveting!

1. Problema
German photographer and filmmaker Ralf Schmerberg comes up with the years best and most through-provoking documentary. Problema is the cinematic interpretation of the worlds biggest round table. Hundred questions, asked by the world is answered by the world, while the whole world watches. Schmerberg uses the Errol Morris (Mr. Death, Thin Blue Line) technique, where the subject looks directly into the camera during an interview. This technique keeps attention throughout since it feels like a personal conversation, rather than an interview. What we see is not altered but completely genuine. With some of the best b-roll footage Schmerberg creates symbols and metaphors through his editing style. Problema is a perfect mix of stunning visuals and thought-provoking content. This film can be watched by anyone at anytime and as a supporter of digital distribution, transmedia and free cinema I would like to share the movie with you. You can watch the film for free on the official website http://www.problema-thefilm.org

Special Mentions (In no particular order)

Catfish: A riveting documentary that on some level, is also one of the most touching love stories. However, sometimes it's a little hard to believe how perfect everything is, specially the seemingly forced explanation of the title towards the end. 

The Art of The Steal: By showing extreme close-up details of printers, casette players, documents, the director slowly reveals the details of how the Philadelphia government went against the "will" of Dr. Albert C. Barnes to restore his $25 Billion personal art collection. Suspenseful but felt slightly one sided.

Babies: This film takes us through one year of four new born babies showing us how we are all common and share the same emotions regardless of where we live, what we eat and what language we speak. The most adorable film of the year!


Thorn in the Heart: Visonary director Michel Gondry introduces us to his family home, bringing us closer to the life of his aunt Suzette. A great personal story with some Gondry-esque visuals. However, it fails to connect emotionally because it's too personal a film for an outsider.  


Out of all the films I saw this year, these were my favourite. I've missed out on some and I hope to watch them soon. Feel free to agree, disagree or suggest some films that most of the readers may not have heard of. My list of favourite international films (fiction/narrative) and Indian films will be online in a couple of days. Share your thoughts after watching the films mentioned above.


Happy New Year!