Re: Expectations of Documentaries

TBH what I really want is to get the feeling that I've understood something that I didn't know before [and I mean that in the sense of understanding it emotionally, not learning facts].


I'll follow that principle with a couple of generalisations, on the understanding that they aren't absolute demands:

I want to see people who REALLY know the story being candid.

I'm wary of "codes and conventions" apart from the basic film making technique (avoid "crossing the line", if a contributer is speaking to someone off camera you MUST show the reactions, that kind of thing), OTOH there is no rule which cannot be broken if there is a narrative or emotional justification for doing so.

What I don't want is to have my concentration broken by a cliche or a sudden feeling that I've seen something somewhere before (whether it's a film trick or an uncommitted piece of commentary).