A Documentary Feel
Created by greenhorg.
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Movies that feature acting and direction that evoke an organic, documentary-like realism. Some of the elements that characterize this style include:
Handheld cameras
Visual drabness (muted colors, grainy film-stock, etc)
Lack of flashy techniques (visual effects, narration, pop soundtrack, etc)
Nonprofessional actors in key or tertiary roles. Related: actors with looks or speech atypical in films (obesity, "low class" accents, etc)
Improvised or prosaic dialogue and natural conversation rhythms (interruptions, stammering, "ums," etc)
Silence: scenes with little or no dialogue
Ambient noises in place of musical score (traffic, fluorescent lights, birds, etc)
Stillness: scenes with little or no action
A realistic plot; often with difficult ("gritty") subject matter and a lower socio-economic setting.
This mostly unclassified documentary-like style (Sometimes ridiculously labeled "Neo-neorealism") has antecedents in Italian Neorealism, French New Wave, and New Hollywood. It shares elements with (but is not equivalent to) Dogme 95 and Mumblecore, and is mostly a post-2000 phenomenon (kickstarted and most heavily influenced by the 90s films of the Dardenne brothers). International hotspots include France, America, Romania, and Iran.
Please leave suggestions! I will add more. Keep in mind that "Mockumentary" films like Borat, Man Bites Dog, Blair Witch, Spinal Tap, etc, are a different animal and do not qualify.
Pssst, want to check out the A Documentary Feel list in our new look?
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5 new
La battaglia di Algeri
1966 — a.k.a. The Battle of Algiers, in 29 top lists Check -
19 new
Jodaeiye Nader az Simin
2011 — a.k.a. A Separation, in 15 top lists Check -
17 new
A Woman Under the Influence
1974, in 14 top lists Check -
3 new
4 luni, 3 saptamâni si 2 zile
2007 — a.k.a. 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, in 13 top lists Check -
30 new
Kes
1969, in 11 top lists Check -
28 new
Vozvrashchenie
2003 — a.k.a. The Return, in 11 top lists Check -
11 new
Elephant
2003, in 10 top lists Check -
42 new
Moartea domnului Lãzãrescu
2005 — a.k.a. The Death of Mr. Lazarescu, in 10 top lists Check -
41 new
Rosetta
1999, in 9 top lists Check -
38 new
Saul fia
2015 — a.k.a. Son of Saul, in 9 top lists Check -
22 new
Dare mo shiranai
2004 — a.k.a. Nobody Knows, in 8 top lists Check -
10 new
Fish Tank
2009, in 8 top lists Check -
4 new
L'enfant
2005 — a.k.a. The Child, in 8 top lists Check -
1 new
Lilja 4-ever
2002 — a.k.a. Lilya 4-Ever, in 7 top lists Check -
20 new
Morvern Callar
2002, in 7 top lists Check -
35 new
My Childhood
1972, in 6 top lists Check -
14 new
Ni na bian ji dian
2001 — a.k.a. What Time Is It There?, in 6 top lists Check -
27 new
Stroszek
1977, in 6 top lists Check -
40 new
Talaye sorkh
2003 — a.k.a. Crimson Gold, in 6 top lists Check -
12 new
Le fils
2002 — a.k.a. The Son, in 5 top lists Check -
6 new
The Florida Project
2017, in 5 top lists -
9 new
L'emploi du temps
2001 — a.k.a. Time Out, in 5 top lists Check -
2 new
United 93
2006, in 5 top lists Check -
15 new
Wendy and Lucy
2008, in 5 top lists Check -
34 new
Entre les murs
2008 — a.k.a. The Class, in 4 top lists Check -
21 new
Lenny
1974, in 4 top lists Check -
7 new
Once
2007, in 4 top lists Check -
37 new
Keane
2004, in 3 top lists Check -
13 new
The Wrestler
2008, in 3 top lists Check -
44 new
Bloody Sunday
2002, in 2 top lists Check -
31 new
Blue Valentine
2010, in 2 top lists Check -
8 new
Half Nelson
2006, in 2 top lists Check -
16 new
La nana
2009 — a.k.a. The Maid, in 2 top lists Check -
26 new
Boy A
2007, in 1 top list Check -
43 new
Bubble
2005, in 1 top list Check -
18 new
Kirschblüten - Hanami
2008 — a.k.a. Cherry Blossoms, in 1 top list Check -
33 new
Na-moo-eobs-neun san
2008 — a.k.a. Treeless Mountain, in 1 top list Check -
36 new
Rachel Getting Married
2008, in 1 top list Check -
46 new
Snowtown
2011, in 1 top list Check -
24 new
Ballast
2008, in 0 top lists Check -
29 new
Eu când vreau sa fluier, fluier
2010 — a.k.a. If I Want to Whistle, I Whistle, in 0 top lists Check -
32 new
In Between Days
2006, in 0 top lists Check -
23 new
Inside No. 9: Love's Great Adventure
2020, in 0 top lists -
39 new
Louie
2010, in 0 top lists Check -
45 new
Manic
2001, in 0 top lists Check -
25 new
Maria Full of Grace
2004, in 0 top lists Check
Last updated on Nov 29, 2020;