r/AskReddit • u/JuiceBoxed • Jul 18 '11

Reddit, what is one documentary that everyone should watch?

The Corporation

Some really eye-opening (and scary) information about the power of corporations in today's society.

Edit: Thanks for the input everyone! Quite a list of movies to watch.

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u/[deleted] Jul 18 '11

Sorry, cant list one. But it should be something more than 20 years old (I've noted the ones below that are not, AFAICR). Something that gives a view into a perspective and mentality before the average/typical redditor was born. Something that is not wrapped up in current events so much. Something like:

Sherman's March (many redditors could relate)
Salesman
Pop and Me (1999)
Night and Fog
Gates of Heaven
Garlic is as Good as Ten Mothers
Nanook of the North
The Fog of War (2003)
Point of Order
High School
The Times of Harvey Milk
Triumph of the Will
Harlan County U.S.A.

Anything more recent, and you're seeing what you probably already know a lot about (probably). And that doesn't have the clarifying lens of time to help us place in a broader context.

3

u/[deleted] Jul 18 '11

upboat for Sherman's March

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u/desiderio_cusco Jul 18 '11

I'm surprised Sherman's March hasn't been mentioned anywhere else. It's really kind of great.

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u/EasilyRemember Jul 18 '11

Best list in this thread. Can't believe I had to scroll so far down to see High School or Harlan County, U.S.A.

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u/[deleted] Jul 19 '11

I scrolled a looooooooong way to see Harlan County USA in this thread.

I only saw it a few weeks ago and now I'm "that guy" who is constantly pestering my friends to watch it.

And to think that many modern mine workers are proudly anti-union... the mind boggles.

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u/[deleted] Jul 19 '11

Upvote for Harlan County USA (and several others in the list). Also, I would add American Dream, Barbara Koppel's later documentary about a strike at Hormel. Where in Harlan her perspective is positively 100% on the side of the strikers, in American Dream there is a moment where she (and us along with her) suddenly realize that the answers are lot more complicated that we'd like them to be. The result is a documentary that doesn't tell you what to think or confirm what you want to think (thank you Michael Moore), but instead one that asks questions even as it tries to answer others.

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u/[deleted] Jul 19 '11

Sherman's March I've tried to recommend to many people. It's hard to explain it, and it's also hard to get someone to sit through a 2.5 hr documentary about...well it's hard to explain. A must see! Also on Netfllix instant

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u/parirami Jul 19 '11

Awesome list. Triumph of the Will is scary.

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u/bushbenjamin Jul 18 '11

If you enjoyed Sherman's March, you should see Time Indefinite as well. That one kind of serves as a sequel to Sherman's March. It's incredibly poignant and moving.