Great documentary films have the power to change the way we see the world. They impart knowledge and challenge prejudices. They can even inspire us to take action on critical issues.
Documentaries are a wonderful way to learn about the world around us, the parts we don’t get to hear so much about. They allow us to see the everyday with a new lens. The mainstream media, of course, brings certain foreign places into our living room, but there are so many stories and issues out there that simply don’t get covered.
There is even much to learn from watching a documentary that, from the outset, we might not agree with. The majority of the time we read books and magazines that mirror our interests and values. The same goes for TV programs and films. We also seek out and spend time with individuals who are like us and share a similar worldview.
We’re continually reinforcing the way we see the world, and this can be rather limiting from a personal growth standpoint.
The act of viewing a documentary – of immersing oneself for a couple of hours in a culture, place or situation that is alien – can be a transformative experience – one that can lead to greater understanding and compassion towards others.
Check out the award-winning documentary films listed below.
They’ll open your eyes.
1. TROUBLE THE WATER
Trouble the Water, winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival, tells the story of an aspiring rap artist and her husband who are trapped in New Orleans by deadly floodwaters. Both survive the Hurricane and seize the chance for a fresh start. “It’s a redemptive tale of self-described street hustlers who become heroes that takes you inside Hurricane Katrina in a way never before seen on screen.”
2. SICKO
Even if you’re not a Michael Moore fan there is much to glean from his 2007 offering. Is he over-the-top? Yes. Does he have valid points? Absolutely. The film investigates the American Health Care System, focusing on its health insurance and pharmaceutical industry. Sicko examines the almost 50 million Americans who are uninsured as well as those who are covered who become victims of insurance company fraud and red tape.
3. BORN INTO BROTHELS
This Oscar-winning film is a chronicle of filmmakers Zana Briski and Ross Kauffman’s efforts to show the world Calcutta’s red light district. To do this, they inspire a special group of children whose mothers are sex workers. Briski, a New York-based photographer, gives each of the children a camera and teaches them to look at the world with new eyes.
4. AN INCOVENIENT TRUTH
This must-see film by Davis Guggenheim chronicles former Vice President Al Gore’s all-out effort to help save the planet from global warming. This film shows Gore as we’ve never seen him before – open, funny, engaging, and deeply committed to educating others about the dire situation facing the world today.
5. TAXI TO THE DARK SIDE
This 2008 Oscar-winning documentary is a riveting examination of the reckless abuse of power by the Bush Administration. The film investigates the death of an Afghan taxi driver at Bagram Air Base, exposing a worldwide policy of detention and interrogation that condones torture. “The film asks and answers a key question: what happens when a few men use the wartime powers of the executive to undermine the very principles on which the United States was founded?”
6. LONG NIGHT’S JOURNEY INTO DAY
This fascinating award-winning documentary takes viewers inside post-apartheid South Africa, providing them with an intimate look at the nation’s attempts to heal itself. It documents a country trying to forge lasting peace after years of government instituted racial segregation.
7. SUPER SIZE ME
This is the story of a man, Morgan Spurlock, and his (many) Big Macs. Spurlock’s film follows a 30-day period where he commits to eating nothing but items purchased from McDonald’s. The film chronicles the dramatic effects Spurlocks’ eating habits have on his life: weight gain, mood swings and liver damage to name a few. It also explores the fast food industry’s corporate influence, including how it encourages poor nutrition for its own profit.
8. A WALK TO BEAUTIFUL
This award-winning documentary tells the stories of five Ethiopian women who suffer from devastating childbirth injuries. These women, who suffer from obstetric fistula, are rejected by their husbands and communities. They make a choice to take a difficult journey to the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital in search of a cure and a new life.
Please let us know of any other great films you’d like to see added to this list. Films that have changed the way you see the world and the people in it.
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Thank you so much for letting us know about these movies! I had heard about A Walk to Beautiful and just the thought makes me want to do something about it. Perhaps that will be my next charity!
Hi, I agree wholeheartedly with you that watching documentaries are great ways to update yourself with the way you see the world.
I have always been interested in watching documentaries, however very seldom do I engage myself in documentaries that talk about humans. Lolx…
Instead, I like to watch documentaries about insects and animals. In truth, they provide equally inspiring thoughts for the viewers for through those documentaries I came to realize that we humans are actually not the only “living” creatures roaming the world though more often than not, we like to think so.
As what Jim Rohn always mentions, it does not take a person extra motivation to move down a wrong path but inspiration to change direction.
We certainly cannot change our destination within one day, however, we definitely can change our direction easily. And that will require us first to attain new knowledge and realize for ourselves we are actually walking down the wrong path.
And true enough, as what you have said, documentaries are one of the simplest, easiest and free source for one to change one’s thoughts!!
I saw AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH on HBO. It is difficult to imagine what could happen to mankind if global warming goes the way as projected in the movie.
i am an independent greenartist&greenfilmmaker , i introduce all of you to watch my greenvideo on YOUTUBE .and waiting for my greenfilm series release .
I’ve noted them down and will have to watch them… most I haven’t heard of but they seem interesting… I love non fiction as the stories are true and make you think!
I am always captivated by what is bassed on truth. Two “fictionalized” docs that I think are very important are the film RAIN which shows the life of
widows in India and oddly enough CHARLIE WILSONS WAR which I think most people dismissed either because it is “Hollywood” or because it is about war. It is a facinating look at how congress works and how muslin
extremists got hold of Afganistan.
Two films, probably already thought of, 1-phenomon-John travolta stars/ with others,goood movie,2-powder, cant remember the names excatly, but a truly wonderful movie
People of the world need to know what is going on in the world because deep in the soul of all of us there are ideals of how we should treat each other and be treated in return. Yet many of us hide these ideals because they are classed as too idealistic for the ‘real world’. But what is the ‘real world’ Do we listen and believe some person who lives in the valley, never moved from that position, does not want to and who has never traversed the high mountains. Do we listen to some person who has climbed the mountains but never lived in the valley? Or some person who has climbed both? Or do we use what we have heard and find our own particular creative way to walk and share. Ideals are those ideas that are immanent on arrival to this physical plane and we are picking them up collectively. We have to make them happen in our own way, in our own environment, where ever we find ourselves, be it in a gutter or a palace. So let us share from where ever we are, what ever information we have and at the end of the day if we have no power physically we have the power of our minds and we can add to that atmosphere the best of our intentions, not our worst. In that way collectively we lift each other up. It is good that documentaries like this are around and they need to be seen and shared. Thank you and sorry for being such a windbag (big cheesy smile). I’m off my soap box now. maureen best wishes to you
I’d add Good Night, Good Luck to this list.
Great list, however, don’t forget to look for
a greater diversity in your reading list.
Stand back and look at the whole canvas of life.
Then make decisions.
I would like to see “Who Killed the Electric Car” on the list…not exactly spiritual but a real eye opener. And we want to bail out the auto industry??? Trouble is, nearly 3 million people’ jobs depend on them directly or indirectly. What a catch 22. Blessings to All
How ’bout Harold & Maude?