I spend all day working on documentaries for work, so I
often don’t want to spend my nights watching them recreationally. But I’ve seen a slew of fantastic (and
in some cases life-changing) feature-length documentaries lately. Here they are, for those of you who are
documentarily-inclined:
1. Happy – this doc is all about the science of
happiness. It really has changed
how I view the world. Among other
things, a scientist in this film tells us that only 20% of our daily propensity
for happiness is due to current circumstances like health, wealth, where we
live, etc. Fully 40% of our
happiness quotient comes from “intentional acts” like being nice to other
people and exercising and being grateful.
Amazing. You can stream the
doc here: http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Happy/70243161?locale=en-US
2. The House I Live In – this is a mind-blowing exploration
of the problems that have arisen as a result of this country’s “drug war.”
Academics, judges, and prison management personnel talk about the ways in which
that “war” is destroying our prison system and our inner cities. None of the interviewees disputes that
drugs are harmful and should be policed.
But they all feel that a sentence of “life without parole” for a
violation as small as possession of 5 grams of drugs (and this actually
occurs!) is tragic and wrong.
Stream here: http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/70229263?strkid=1644712422_0_0&trkid=222336&movieid=70229263
3. Queen of Versailles – fascinating (and hilarious)
perspective on one uber-wealthy family’s fall from riches during the years of
the market collapse: http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/70229267?strkid=947605309_0_0&trkid=222336&movieid=70229267
4. The Other Dream Team – 1992 Lithuanian basketball team
struggles to assert its identity after the fall of the Wall, and ends up
playing Russia in the Olympics.
Beautiful, gripping story of personal and historical triumph: http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/70229271?strkid=1035250633_0_0&trkid=222336&movieid=70229271
5. Searching For Sugar Man – if you haven’t seen this one
yet, just do it. I know you think
it sounds boring, and I did too, but we were both wrong. It is incredible. I don’t think it’s streamable on
Netflix, but it’s worth a rental.
I watched Gasland too, and although it was in many ways
illuminating, I didn’t make it to the end because I found it highly repetitive
and irritatingly cooler-than-thou.
Haven’t managed to see Blackfish yet, and I’m not interested in 20 Feet
From Stardom, because it’ll just remind me of all the reasons that the music
industry makes me want to fist-punch a window.
I’d love to know your thoughts on these films. Please let me know if there are others from the past couple years that you recommend!
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