Dave Saunders’ spirited introduction to documentary covers its history, cultural context and development, and the approaches, controversies and functions pertaining to non-fiction filmmaking. Saunders examines the many methods by which documentary conveys meaning, whilst exploring its differing societal purposes.

After a historical consideration of international documentary production, the author examines the impact of recent technological developments on the production, distribution and viewing of non-fiction. In addition, he explores the increasingly hazy distinctions between factual and dramatic formats, discussing ‘reality television’, the ‘docu-drama’, and less orthodox approaches including animated and fantastical representations of reality.

Documentary encompasses a broad range of academic discourse around non-fiction filmmaking, introducing readers to the key filmmakers, major scholars, central debates and critical ideas relating to the form. This wide-ranging guidebook features global releases from the 1920s through to 2009, and includes films such as:
Nanook of the North (1922) The Man with the Movie Camera (1929) Night Mail (1936) Night and Fog (1955) Primary (1960) Roger and Me (1989) Tarnation (2003) My Winnipeg (2006) Sicko (2007) Waltz With Bashir (2008) Say My Name (2009) Anvil: The Story of Anvil (2009)

Contents

@contents: Selected Contents: Acknowledgements Introduction Part I: ‘A Troubled and Difficult Art’: A Brief Introduction to Non-Fiction Film Chapter One: The ‘D’ Word: Definitions, ‘Obligations’ and Functions Chapter Two: Major Trends, Movements and Voices Part II: Reading Non-Fiction: Case Studies, Concepts and Criticism Chapter Three: Pioneers Nanook of the North (1922): Narrativising the Real The Man with the Movie Camera (1929): Montage and Ideology Night Mail (1936): The Poetics and Politics of Class Chapter Four: Bards Night and Fog (1955): Articulating the UnspeMy Winnipeg (2006): A City of the Mind Waltz With Bashir (2008): Conflict and Memory Chapter Five: Performers Tarnation (2003): Performance and Autobiography Sicko (2007): Michael Moore, Documentary Superstar Say My Name (2009); Anvil: The Story of Anvil (2009): Rockumentary Revivals Conclusion: New Challenges, Territories and Directions A Select, Chronological Filmography Bibliography

Author Bio

Dr. Dave Saunders is working on a number of research projects, the latest of which is a history of rock musicians acting in the cinema. His previous publications include Direct Cinema: Observational Documentary and the Politics of the Sixties (2007), and Arnold: Schwarzenegger and the Movies (2009).