Documentary films were originally called “actuality films”, and were one minute, or less, in length. In 1926, John Grierson, a pioneering Scottish documentary maker, often considered the father of British and Canadian documentary filmmaking, coined the term “documentary” in a review of Robert Flaherty’s, Moana, Over time, documentaries have evolved to be longer in length, and to include more categories including educational, observational and docufiction. Today, the Best Documentary Film award is one of the most anticipated awards on Oscars night.
Here are a few of our favorite documentary films — all are available via Netflix, Prime, Vimeo or YouTube. xxoo
ART: Carmen Herrera: The 100 Years Show
Carmen Herrera sketches by the window of her New York City apartment every morning. She is coming up on her 100th birthday and is bound to a wheelchair, but she still vibrates with the energy of a much younger woman. Carmen has been painting since her youth in Cuba, but it was only in the last few years that she found recognition. From architecture studies in Cuba to New York’s Art Students League to Le Salon des Réalités Nouvelles in Paris, Carmen’s life has spanned continents and art movements, and demonstrates a persistent devotion to her work. She was a pioneer and a peer of many male artists who received great recognition in their time. Her story is just one example of the many great artists whose accomplishments were overlooked because of their gender, ethnicity or nationality. “The 100 Years Show” demonstrates the power of artistic vision to sustain itself. 30 minutes. Vimeo. Trailer
COMEDY: Meet The Patels
Guaranteed to make you smile and laugh, Meet the Patels, is a real-life romantic comedy about Ravi Patel, an Indian American actor/comedian, who enters into a love triangle between the woman of his dreams — and his parents. Filmed by Ravi’s sister, Geeta, in what started as a family vacation video, this warmly humorous film filled with unique animation and a soulful soundtrack reveals how, for a Patel, love is truly a family affair. “One of the funniest documentaries I’ve ever seen.” [The Hollywood Reporter]. 87 min. Prime. Trailer
DANCE: Mad Hot Ballroom
“Irresistible! A kind of Spellbound crossed with Strictly Ballroom!” [Los Angeles Times) Following the lives of students from three New York city elementary schools, this heartwarming film is irresistibly charming. These fifth graders are introduced to the tango, the merengue, the swing, the rumba, and the foxtrot as they prepare for the citywide “Rainbow Team” competition that’ll have you cheering for your favorite pair. 105 min. Prime. Trailer
KIDS & FAMILY: Underwater Dreams
The epic story of how the sons of Mexican immigrants learned how to build an underwater robot from Home Depot parts. And defeat engineering powerhouse MIT in the process. 85 min. Prime. Trailer
LITERATURE: Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise
Maya Angelou’s distinctively lyrical voice flows through this wide-ranging documentary. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings brought her international attention in 1969 but it’s clear from And Still I Rise that Angelou was always a force to be reckoned with. 113 min. Netflix and YouTube. Trailer
MUSIC: The Jonas Brothers: Chasing Happiness
Get a closer look into the lives of these famous brothers and their band. Through home videos, archived footage, and personal interviews, the film recounts everything from their rise to fame, their dramatic breakup in 2013, to their recent reunion. While the film is filled with nostalgic moments, including some of their earlier performances together, it also includes some shocking revelations about Kevin, Joe, and Nick. 96 min. Prime. Trailer
NATURE: Mountain
In honor of Towwn’s home state of Colorado, we’re pleased to share one of the most beautiful nature documentaries we’ve ever seen. Prepare to be taken to dizzying heights as Mountain explores the physical beauty of the world’s highest places with Willem Dafoe narrating a journey that takes us from from Nepal to New Zealand and Austria to Antarctica. American film-maker, climber and Boulder Colorado resident, Renan Ozturk, takes us to breathtaking heights including the opening sequence when he show his friend, Alex Honnold, the most famous solo climber in history, perched on his toes hundreds of feet up El Potrero Chico, a limestone cliff in Mexico, with no rope to break his fall, casually shaking out both arms at the same time. 73 min. Netflix and Prime. Trailer
THEATER: Broadway Idiot
Follow Billie Joe Armstrong, Green Day’s lead singer, from a punk rock concert at Madison Square Garden to the opening of his musical, American Idiot, on Broadway — only ten blocks away, but worlds apart. From behind the curtain share in the crazy journey of turning the mega-hit album into a punk rock musical — and ultimately see how the world of theater transformed Billie Joe. 80 min. Prime and YouTube. Trailer
