TV Tuesday: The Real Life

[yourlibrarian]

What kind of TV documentaries do you watch? What do you think makes a good documentary?

Have you ever watched a documentary that was partially a re-enactment? Do you prefer those or do they put you off?

Comments

[yourlibrarian]

I also need to have new information. I like docs about technology and the history of the Internet but I've studied and seen enough docs about the latter that there isn't much new there for me these days.

One thing I was reminded of (which I've now added into the post) is the trend of doing historical re-enactments for what are essentially history documentaries. It's this odd hybrid of scripted acting, interspersed with talking heads. (There's also a less elaborate form where there are simply re-enactments with voice overs of different actions or activities).

I have in my queue at Prime one of these about Charlemagne. I'm interested in seeing it but I tend to prefer either traditional or re-enactment docs vs the hybrid kind.

[jo]

Re: the re-enactments -- another one I watched recently was a documentary film called "Partygate", about the UK scandal over the parties being held at 10 Downing Street while the rest of the UK was under strict stay at home orders. It was mostly a re-enactment, but included actual press conference footage, news clips, etc. I don't know if it really counts as a documentary -- it's billed as a "factual drama" -- but I also don't know where you draw the line between the two.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27541315/

[yourlibrarian]

Yeah, I think it's somewhat difficult. Anytime something is made to be entertaining I question how much veracity there is in it (facts can be dull, and editing can make a big difference). At the same time, a hybrid presentation like that is still more documentary than drama.