In 1922, cinema had barely begun, and much of the genres that made up the industry were inherited from theater or literature. So, the premiere of a film investigating real events took place. Nanook, Eskimocaused surprise. Director Robert J. Flaherty not only spent months documenting the lives of the Inuk people, but also focused on one character. Nanook, a fisherman from the frozen lands, was the protagonist of his own story. With virtually no dialogue and a script that is more focused on showing reality than telling fiction, it has become an important historical document. At the same time, he was one of the first who tried to use cinema to understand the world through visual chronicle.
Since then, documentary has become a vehicle for expressing complex ideas about the real world. Every year, hundreds of works in this genre explore various situations, which, thanks to the format, receive clarity and analysis. Moreover, it has become an ideal place to discuss all types of controversial points of view. From investigations related to the political systems of various countries, to the difficult experiences of scandalous figures. The truth is that this format allows for a thorough investigation that also uses the resources of cinema to become relevant and have a cultural impact.
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We leave you with five scandalous documentaries that you can watch right now on Star+. From a horrifying tale whose story goes beyond the supernatural to a protagonist of powerful cultural change. The selection shows the importance of genre as an expression of the virtues of cinema as a medium of distribution. Its main impact.
A real house of terror
Supernatural themes have always been of a nature or controversial nature. Particularly when its credibility is subject to debate or, at best, collective mistrust. Therefore, this documentary takes special interest and work in analyzing what causes property to be considered to belong to unexplained beings. Or, at least, what leads the public to believe in such an event.
Russ McKamey, a former Marine who owns an attraction that features horror in its content, decided to approach the issue differently. Therefore, he built the so-called McKamey Manor, which is considered a haunted house where the most cruel and extreme methods of terrorizing the visiting public are used. This is a way for the creator to find out the reason why The feeling of fear has become a dangerous game in the country.
Director Andrew Renzi analyzes the documentary’s plot. A real house of terror. In addition to showing everything connected with the construction of the attraction, the director focuses on how it brought considerable fame to the city of Summertown (Tennessee). The production also takes into account the fact that the experience is considered almost cruel due to the fear-inducing methods. A controversial topic that is still discussed in various forums and platforms dedicated to analyzing mental health in North America.
SOS American women
Every year, millions of North Americans suffer due to direct failures of the healthcare system and other competent organizations associated with the medical field. Especially if they are related to gynecological and obstetric health. However, the figure reaches an alarming point when disaggregated by skin color. Every year the number of black women in the country increases, They suffer physical damage caused by negligence and poorly executed procedures.
SOS American women Paula Eiselt and Tonya Lewis Lee investigate the situation. Additionally, it examines how the demographic index of neglected black women has increased over decades when the opposite was expected. Through the real-life cases of Chamonix Gibson and Amber Rose Isaac, two young pregnant women who died under unclear circumstances, the story reveals a disturbing reality. A serious crisis of violence caused by inadequate medical practices and neglect that has affected much of the country’s population.
The argument involves everything from numbers to careful monitoring of the impact of victims’ deaths on their families. Little by little, what seems like a specific case turns into a terrifying crisis that becomes increasingly difficult to overcome. What the documentary highlights and sheds light on is a social debate.
Climber
Sports and extreme practices have become a growing trend in recent years. Especially if the risk of death for those who practice them is real. What El Alpinista demonstrates in all its contradictory dimensions. Directed by Peter Mortimer and Nick Rosen, the film follows Canadian Marc-Andre Leclerc as he travels around the world to achieve some of the world’s most challenging climbs. From monuments hundreds of meters high to the most complex and harsh landscapes. And all this without anything but bare hands and rubber shoes.
However, the feature film is dedicated to the athlete’s expedition to Patagonia. One day he had to face, in addition to increasingly difficult climatic conditions, the fact that the rugged topography tested his knowledge. The documentary shows the physical and mental preparation the climber underwent to achieve his goal.
But also the reason that makes him continue to engage in a sport that can lead to death. Beyond inspiring ideas about overcoming bodily limitations, for Marc-André Leclerc it’s about demonstrating willpower. The theme that the film analyzes. difficult points of view such as unnecessary recklessness and, ultimately, the pressure of fame.
AKA Jane Roe
Director Nick Sweeney spent months of research, filming and talking to get to know Norma McCorvey. This is the woman who brought the case to the US Supreme Court that will ultimately lead to universal abortion rights. But there is more to the protagonist’s understanding of the fundamental history of the 20th century than her struggles in court. It is also a strong man’s view of his future and legacy.
The documentary chronicles the months leading up to McCorvey’s death in 2017. Through much thinking out loud, a woman who fought in the shadows for women’s reproductive rights in the US gives the full unknown version of her case. From the fear he felt when he stood before a judge on what he calls a moral issue, to the satisfaction of the final decision.
The film covers almost a whole year of the protagonist’s life and at the same time pays tribute to his courage, calmness and, finally, generosity. By keeping a neutral tone, distancing himself from any discussions that led to his decision, he manages to move forward. However, the contradiction lies at the heart of the premise: in the end, the message is clear. Almost without knowing it, Norma McCorvey changed the history of her country. This is without a doubt one of the best documentaries on the platform.
OJ: Made in America.
In 1994, American athlete O.J. Simpson was one of his country’s most beloved pop culture figures. At the same time, it is a symbol of the triumph of the black community, as well as the completion of the so-called American Dream. It all adds up to an idyllic life and a promising future. During that year, the celebrity entered the top ten most popular among the American public.
It all came crashing down when he was accused of murdering his ex-wife and her friend, both of whom were stabbed to death. For more than eight months, the media circus followed step by step this not only one of the most controversial trials in recent history. In turn, the idol fell from grace and finally his release was contested.
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Director Ezra Edelman tells this twisted story over five episodes and explores the impact it had on the country. Little by little, the figure of Simpson is revealed as the most controversial dimension of violence, racism and influence in the midst of an increasingly misguided and strange collective debate. Of all the documentaries on the list, this is perhaps one of the most famous and best-executed.
Source: Hiper Textual
