Documentaries

Documentaries attempt to bring real life into people’s homes. Although the film is carefully edited the characters in the films are not actors and often portray themselves. The narrator/ voice over describes the film as it plays, putting opinions, often in a humorous way into what can be a very serious visual.

The word documentary has its roots in the Latin word ‘docere’ which means to teach or instruct. The word was first used by John Grierson who is known as the founder of the classic British documentary movement from the 1930s. He coined the phrase ‘creative treatment of actuality.’ The documentary is one of the earliest sorts of films known as ‘actuality films.’ Propaganda films were also early forms of documentary often portraying people such as Hitler as a Hero.

Today, the documentary film is very popular. To make a documentary film there needs to be a message or artistic point of view. The film maker may try the ‘fly on the wall’ or observational style .Recording a documentary is not about pointing a camera at a real situation but it is a demanding process of recording, selecting and editing.


Although the viewer feels like the real life scene is unfolding and happening in front of them, the raw footage could be shot out of order. It is then cut and edited in a specific way for a particular style whether to shock, inform or humour the audience.

Sometimes the TV documentary uses professional actors to re-enact scenes in order to make the viewer understand how something may have happened.

My taste in documentaries is varied. I particularly like the role that comedy dialogue and a tongue in cheek manner can put over a serious subject.

Dom Jolly’s Happy Hour is a prime example of this. They make fun of clichéd documentary styles by adding humorous montages (see video below) and add witty comments throughout. As a ‘Brit’ and a presenter from another country he is able to poke fun at other cultures without offending the interviewee. This has a similar premise to Sacha Baron Cohen’s ‘Borat’ film.



I also enjoy Louis' style of presenting in ‘Louis Theroux’s Weird Weekends’ as it can be both obtrusive and innocent at the same time when interviewing subjects.


They take serious subjects and inject humour and often elements of sarcasm into the programme which is obviously is a great mix due to the programmes’ success.

I also like the way the camera is known to the audience unlike any other type of film making. The camera and its crew are obvious in the shots making the filming process and subject feel especially real. Documentaries such as this really involve the audience. Small comments to camera makes the audience feel like they are with the character like Louis or Dom and are in on the joke really giving a sense harmony between the audience and the programme.


I also like nature and travel documentaries like Ray Mears - bushcraft, Coast, Life on Earth, Globe Trekker. I love travel series such as Long Way Round and Long Way Down that take you on a journey to places that you wouldn’t usually be able to go to visit. The documentary also contains a story element that unfolds weekly really making the viewer yearn for more. The audience gets to know the narrators and characters in the documentary and follow their intimate journey as it unfolds making them feel part of the journey without even leaving their settee, lovely!


Dom Jolly's Happy Hour - Belgium


Check out Ray Mears here
Check out Globe Trekker here
Check out Long Way Down here
Check out Long Way Round here
Check out Dom Jolly here
See Dom Jolly's Happy Hour in Prague here
Check out Louis Theroux here