2
Nostalgia for the Light
Documentary
In the Chilean Atacama Desert, astronomers study the universe, seeking clues about how life began. Meanwhile, a group of women combs the desert sands for remains of relatives, victims of the violent repression carried out by Pinochet's government.
7.4 
7.6
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3
All the World's Memory
Documentary
"Memory of the World" is a documentary film that explores the inner workings of the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris, examining how knowledge is preserved and its importance to our shared cultural history. The film presents the library as a symbol…
7.0
7.7
Stream on
7
The House Is Black
Documentary
"The House is Black" takes viewers to a remote community in northern Iran where people with leprosy live together, seeking comfort amidst their illness. This documentary offers an unvarnished look at life in the colony, contrasting the difficult realities faced…
7.4
7.8
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9
Statues Also Die
Documentary
Commissioned by Présence Africaine, this documentary explores why African art is frequently found in anthropological museums, while Greek or Egyptian art is celebrated in major institutions like the Louvre. The film examines the persistent lack of respect for African artistic…
6.8
7.5
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10
The Battle of Chile: Part I
Documentary, History
Set in Chile during 1973, this film explores the complex political tensions that sparked a violent overthrow of the democratically elected government of Salvador Allende. The movie depicts the growing conflicts and shifting power dynamics as different groups clash. It…
7.2
8.1
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11
To Be and to Have
Documentary
This documentary, titled "to be and to have," explores a primary school in Saint-Étienne-sur-Usson, France, a village of just over 200 people. The school features a single classroom with students ranging in age from four to twelve. The film follows…
7.3
7.8
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12
Koyaanisqatsi
Documentary, Music
The film takes viewers on a visual journey across the United States, examining how modern technology is changing humanity and the environment. Without dialogue or narration, the movie uses striking visuals and a powerful musical score by Philip Glass to…
7.9
8.2
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13
The Battle of Chile: Part II
Documentary
The film follows the intense period before the CIA becomes involved in a major political change. It portrays the raw emotions and complicated details of those involved in the coup as the story unfolds. More than just a historical account,…
7.7
8.2
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15
The Battle of Chile: Part III
Documentary
In the film's final section, director Guzmán offers a personal look at people working to revive and build upon the legacy of Salvador Allende, who was overthrown. The film explores the challenges and successes of those who keep fighting for…
7.4
7.6
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16
Shoah
Documentary, History
Claude Lanzmann’s powerful documentary explores the Holocaust through firsthand accounts. The film features over a decade of interviews with survivors, bystanders, and perpetrators, categorized into three groups. These personal stories offer intimate insights into life at the Chelmno and Auschwitz…
8.2
8.7
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17
Hapax Legomena I: Nostalgia
Drama
Filmmaker Michael Snow portrays Hollis Frampton, guiding us through a collection of Frampton's photographs. The film presents the images by burning them on a hot plate, a process that reflects the fleeting nature of life and art, highlighting their impermanence.…
6.4
6.7
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18
21 Up
Documentary
Director Michael Apted continues his documentary series, revisiting the lives of the original "Seven Up!" Subjects. Seven years have passed since their last appearance. Now teenagers, they grapple with new experiences, and Apted explores how they view their lives changing.…
7.4
8.0 
22
Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media
Documentary
This documentary explores the life and work of a leading American linguist and political activist. He exposes how corporate media uses propaganda to influence public opinion. The film presents his research and analysis, showing how mainstream media manipulates information for…
7.6
8.1
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24
42 Up
Documentary
Director Michael Apted continues his long-running documentary series, revisiting the same group of British people he first filmed as children. This film updates their stories after a seven-year interval, with participants sharing intimate accounts of their successes, challenges, and how…
7.6
8.1 25
Microcosmos
Documentary
This documentary offers an intimate look into the lives of insects in meadows and ponds, using advanced filmmaking to reveal their daily lives and survival strategies. Close-ups and slow motion capture bees gathering nectar, ladybugs eating mites, snails mating, and…
7.6
7.9
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29
La Soufrière: Waiting for an Inevitable Catastrophe
Documentary
Werner Herzog's new documentary takes us to Guadeloupe, a beautiful but mostly empty island with a volcano about to erupt. Everyone has left except one determined old man who refuses to leave his family home as the disaster approaches. Herzog…
7.3
7.5
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30
A Portrait of Ga
Documentary
This documentary follows a director as she photographs her own mother, exploring the world of portrait photography. Through close observation and personal interviews, the filmmaker examines the complexities of identity and how a camera can reveal our inner selves. The…
6.2
6.3 
32
Streetwise
Documentary
This documentary examines the difficult lives of homeless teenagers in Seattle, who often fall through the cracks of existing support systems. Forced to survive on their own, these young people resort to panhandling, prostitution, and theft. The film offers an…
7.5
8.2
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33
Enthusiasm. Symphony of Donbas
Documentary
This documentary follows coal miners in Donbass as they work tirelessly to meet their production goals set by the Five Year Plan. It portrays their difficult daily lives and demanding labor, alongside their musical passions and strength. The miners find…
6.4
6.8
Stream on
35
Blood of the Beasts
Documentary
This film offers a stark look at life where peaceful countryside meets the harsh reality of a nearby slaughterhouse. It vividly portrays the difficult lives of both the animals and the workers, presenting an unflinching view of the connection between…
7.5
7.7
Stream on
38
Primary
Documentary
"Primary" is a significant documentary focusing on the 1960 primary elections between John F. Kennedy and Hubert Humphrey. The film innovatively used lightweight equipment to create a more personal filmmaking style, capturing unscripted moments of the campaigns in a way…
6.4
7.1
Stream on
40
Dont Look Back
Documentary, Music
The film explores Bob Dylan's life during the 1960s, a period of significant change. It shows him with his fans, in discussions with journalists, and relaxed with musicians like Joan Baez, Donovan, and Alan Price, offering insight into his perspective.…
7.4
7.9
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41
Metallica: Some Kind of Monster
Documentary, Music
Following bassist Jason Newsted's departure in 2001, heavy metal icons Metallica decide on an intervention. This documentary captures the band's journey as they work with a therapist to address two decades of bottled-up anger and aggression. While searching for a…
7.1
7.5
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43
Burden of Dreams
Documentary
Werner Herzog's 1982 film *Fitzcarraldo* follows an ambitious film crew in the 1979 Amazon rainforest as they attempt an extraordinary project. The drama highlights the relentless pursuit of an artistic vision and the physical and mental hardships it demands. Facing…
7.5
7.9
Stream on
44
Burma VJ: Reporting from a Closed Country
Documentary
Acclaimed filmmaker Anders Østergaard offers an intimate look at the video journalists risking everything to report from Burma. Facing potential torture and imprisonment, these brave young people embody the core of journalism by relentlessly providing news from a country tightly…
7.2
7.8
Stream on
45
The Corporation
Documentary
Following a late 18th-century legal ruling that established corporations as legal persons, they have become a powerful force in global economics, politics, and society. This film offers a psychological exploration of this corporate "person" through various real-world examples. The analysis…
7.6
8.0
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46
History of Postwar Japan as Told by a Bar Hostess
Etsuko, a bar manager in post-war Yokosuka catering to American soldiers, recounts her life. A vibrant woman who avoided rural life after the war, she navigated atomic bombings, black markets, and prostitution targeting American troops, enduring the Korean War. Through…
6.0
7.2 
53
The Act of Seeing with One's Own Eyes
Documentary
This film follows forensic pathologists as they conduct autopsies in a busy morgue. The atmosphere is serious and methodical, with each finding revealing details about the deceased's life. The process of uncovering these details offers viewers an educational look at…
6.3
6.9 
55
5 Broken Cameras
War, Documentary
Five broken cameras hold powerful stories. These cameras, found among the damaged remains of digital technology, reveal the experiences of Emad Burnat, a Palestinian farmer from the village of Bil’in. Bil’in became known for its peaceful resistance against the Israeli…
7.5
7.9
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56
Magino Village: A Tale
This film brings together over a decade of footage shot by Ogawa Production in Magino village. It uniquely blends documentary with fictional reenactments, presented in sections like "The Tale of Horikiri Goddess" and "The Origins of Itsutsudomoe Shrine." Ogawa weaves…
6.2
7.5 57
Capturing the Friedmans
Documentary, Crime
This Oscar-nominated documentary examines the devastating story of a middle-class American family fractured by accusations of child sexual abuse against the father, Arnold, and son, Jesse. Director Jarecki interviews individuals connected to the case, exploring the question of whether their…
7.1
7.6
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58
Stories We Tell
Documentary
Sarah Polley, a Canadian actress and filmmaker, explores hidden aspects of her mother's past. She interviews family and friends, but their accounts differ depending on their connection to the events. This creates a series of unanswered questions, as memory is…
7.1
7.5
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64
Woodstock
Documentary, History, Music
This film offers a detailed look at the legendary Woodstock Music & Art Festival in Bethel, New York, in August 1969. With rare access to those involved and extensive concert footage, it shows the excitement and difficulties experienced by the…
7.5
8.1
Stream on
65
Titicut Follies
Documentary
This film offers a stark look inside Bridgewater State Prison, Massachusetts, a facility for the criminally insane. It documents disturbing events where inmates experience a range of treatments from the prison staff, including guards, social workers, and psychiatrists. The documentary-style…
7.3
7.7
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67
Tie Xi Qu: West of the Tracks
Documentary
This film closely examines the slow decline of Tiexi, an industrial district in Shenyang that was once a thriving symbol of China's socialist past. As industry shifts, factories in Tiexi are shutting down. Director Wang Bing profiles the workers impacted…
7.7
8.2 68
The Moon and the Sledgehammer
The Page family lives a self-sufficient life in the Sussex countryside, far from modern conveniences like electricity and running water. As the world around them rapidly industrializes, they maintain a traditional lifestyle, working the land, hunting, and building steam engines…
6.9
6.9 
74
Where Does Your Hidden Smile Lie?
Working on a project about their artistic influences, filmmakers Jean-Marie Straub and Danièle Huillet are documented by Costa as they meticulously re-edit their film *Sicilia!*. The film captures their detailed discussions and debates over every cut and its impact. They…
7.2
7.6
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75
Twenty Years Later
Documentary, History
In 1964, Eduardo Coutinho started filming in northeastern Brazil, unknowingly capturing the beginning of the military coup that would later interrupt his work. Returning in 1981, he resumed documenting the lives impacted by the coup and the following social changes.…
8.5
8.3 76
When We Were Kings
Documentary, TV Movie, History
In 1974, at 32, Muhammad Ali challenges the reigning heavyweight champion George Foreman in the "Rumble in the Jungle," a highly anticipated fight with a $5 million purse for each boxer. Promoter Don King arranges the match, securing funding from…
7.5
7.9
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79
The 17th Parallel
In the war-torn border region between North and South Vietnam, civilians live in underground shelters and farm under the cover of darkness as conflict escalates. Farmers become fighters, and bombing raids are relentless. Joris Ivens and Marceline Loridan's film documents…
6.8
7.5
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82
The Seasons
Documentary
Artavazd Peleshian and Mikhail Vartanov's final film is a powerful film-essay about Armenian shepherds and their deep connection to nature. Using stunning visuals and personal stories, the movie examines the complicated relationship between humans and the natural world. Set to…
6.8
7.5 83
Vampir Cuadecuc
Documentary
Jess Franco's 1970 film reimagines the Dracula story as a haunting cinematic experience. A spectral narrator guides us through the tale, blurring the line between fiction and reality. The film blends classic Dracula elements with an eerie atmosphere, creating a…
6.1
6.5
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85
Reminiscences of a Journey to Lithuania
Documentary
In this intimate 1971-72 documentary, director Jonas Mekas returns to his native Lithuania, revisiting Semeniškiai, the village where he grew up. The film offers a personal look at his memories and emotions connected to this place. Through candid moments and…
7.0
7.6
Stream on
87
Triumph of the Will
Documentary
The film journeys to 1934 Nuremberg, offering a stark look inside Nazi Germany during the pivotal party rally. It focuses on Adolf Hitler, portrayed as both a captivating leader and a ruthless dictator, delivering powerful speeches to thousands of Nazi…
6.9
7.1
Stream on
88
Now!
Documentary, Music
Santiago Alvarez's documentary 'Now!' Uses morgue photos, newsreel footage, and Lena Horne's voice to offer a powerful commentary on the 1960s' social and political climate. This striking film acts as a strong reflection of the era's urgency. Alvarez skillfully combines…
6.2
6.9 89
Near Death
This film centers on the Medical Intensive Care Unit at Boston's Beth Israel Hospital, exploring how individuals confront mortality. It examines the intricate connections between patients, their families, doctors, nurses, hospital staff, and religious advisors as they grapple with the…
7.0
8.3
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91
The Sound of Insects: Record of a Mummy
A hunter in a remote area discovers the mummified body of a 40-year-old man. The man’s detailed writings reveal he died by starvation the previous summer. Liechti’s film blends a fictional story inspired by this true event, creating a cinematic…
7.1
7.0
Stream on
95
The Times of Harvey Milk
Documentary
The film tells the inspiring story of Harvey Milk, a human rights advocate who bravely fought for equality and representation. Facing prejudice as an openly gay man in a time of intolerance, Milk became a powerful voice for marginalized communities.…
7.2
8.2
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96
Innocence Unprotected
This documentary explores the story of a renowned athlete and cinema lover who created Serbia's first sound film, *Innocence Unprotected*. The Nazi occupation of Belgrade limited the film's initial recognition. Director Makavejev combines scenes from the original movie with interviews…
6.8
7.1
Stream on
98
Welfare
Documentary
Welfare examines the complex problems within the welfare system. It explores issues like housing shortages, joblessness, family problems, health challenges, and the difficulties faced by vulnerable children and the elderly. The film shows the everyday struggles of both welfare workers…
7.2
8.2
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100
Bowling for Columbine
Documentary, Drama
This film isn't about gun control. It explores the underlying anxieties of the United States and the 280 million Americans who can legally own a Uzi. Examining Columbine High School security footage, the home of NRA President Charlton Heston, a…
7.5
7.9
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