47 Films Celebrating International Documentary Excellence
47 titles
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The Children of LeningradskyMovie · 2005 · 35mFollowing the collapse of the Soviet Union, an estimated four million children now live on the streets of its former nations. In Moscow alone, over 30,000 survive this way. This documentary focuses on a group of homeless children living in the Leningradsky train station. Eight-year-old Sasha, eleven-year-old Kristina, thirteen-year-old Misha, and ten-year-old Andrej all long for a home. They endure cold winter nights huddled on pipes and spend most days begging. Andrej is here due to family conflict; Kristina fled an abusive stepmother; and twelve-year-old Roma was driven to the streets by his father's constant drunken beatings. "At its worst, we try to earn money for food by prostitution," admits...IMDb 7.8TMDB 7.4 - 2
Minding the GapMovie · 2018 · 93m · DocumentaryThree young men find solace in each other as they try to leave behind difficult family situations in their Rust Belt hometown. Years later, as they navigate the challenges of adulthood, long-held secrets emerge and put their decade-long friendship to the test.IMDb 8.0TMDB 7.7 - 3
SlomoMovie · 2013 · 18mFeeling lost and unhappy with his life, Dr. John Kitchin quits his job as a neurologist and relocates to Pacific Beach. He then undergoes a complete change, becoming SLOMO, swapping his professional attire for rollerblades and seeking a spiritual awakening.IMDb 7.8TMDB 8.0 - 4
Children UndergroundMovie · 2001 · 104m · DocumentaryChildren Underground tells the story of five street children, aged eight to sixteen, who make their home in a Bucharest subway station. Daily, commuters pass them by as the children struggle to survive, resorting to begging, petty theft, and deception while desperately seeking paint to use for its intoxicating effects.IMDb 8.2TMDB 7.4 - 5
Mighty Times: The Children's MarchMovie · 2004 · 40mIn May 1963, children in Birmingham, Alabama, marched in protest against segregation.IMDb 7.7TMDB 7.9 - 6
Nostalgia for the LightMovie · 2010 · 93m · DocumentaryIn 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.IMDb 7.6TMDB 7.4 - 7
Mai's AmericaMovie · 2002 · 71mA spirited young woman, the daughter of Ho Chi Minh's revolutionary movement, travels from Hanoi to rural Mississippi for a high school exchange. There, her understanding of freedom, America, Vietnam, and her own identity is challenged.IMDb 8.1 - 8Woman RebelMovie · 2010 · 37m"Woman Rebel" tells the story of Silu, a woman who became a key figure in Nepal's decade-long revolution. During the conflict, women made up 40% of the guerilla army fighting against the government. The film follows Silu's remarkable journey from the jungles to the Parliament building. It’s a compelling story about women driving change, not simply being affected by events.IMDb 7.5TMDB 8.5
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For SamaMovie · 2019 · 100m · Documentary, WarThis film is a love letter from a young mother to her daughter, chronicling Waad al-Kateab's life during five years of the Syrian uprising in Aleppo. It follows her as she finds love, marries, and has a daughter, Sama, amidst escalating conflict. Through her camera, Waad documents stories of loss, joy, and resilience. She faces an impossible decision: whether to leave the city to protect Sama, or remain and continue fighting for freedom, risking the sacrifices she's already made.IMDb 8.5TMDB 8.2 - 10
Crip Camp: A Disability RevolutionMovie · 2020 · 107m · DocumentaryIn the early 1970s, a summer camp for teenagers with disabilities near Woodstock became a catalyst for change. There, a revolution unfolded, profoundly impacting the lives of the young people and sparking a significant social movement.IMDb 7.7TMDB 7.2 - 11
Edith+EddieMovie · 2017 · 30mEdith and Eddie, 96 and 95 years old, are America's oldest interracial couple. Their unique and peaceful love is challenged when a family conflict leads to a harmful misuse of legal guardianship.IMDb 7.0TMDB 7.3 - 12
Anvil! The Story of AnvilMovie · 2008 · 81m · Documentary, MusicRobb Reiner and Lips, best friends since they were 14, made a promise to play music together for life. Their band, Anvil, known as the "demi-gods of Canadian metal," inspired bands like Metallica, Slayer, and Anthrax. After a disastrous European tour, Robb and Lips, now in their fifties, embark on recording their 13th album – a final effort to realize the dreams they shared as young men.IMDb 7.9TMDB 7.6 - 13A Son's SacrificeMovie · 2008A SON'S SACRIFICE tells the story of Imran, a young American Muslim who faces challenges as he tries to run his father's halal slaughterhouse in Queens, New York City.IMDb 7.0
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Angel’s FireMovie · 2006 · 13m - 15Judy's TimeMovie · 2000 · 40mIMDb 8.8
- 16Still MissingMovie · 1999 · 42m
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Human RemainsMovie · 1998 · 30mHuman Remains is a documentary that explores the ordinariness of evil through intimate portraits of five dictators of the 20th century: Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Joseph Stalin, Francisco Franco, and Mao Tse Tung. The film reveals personal details about their lives – their tastes in food and movies, their habits, and their sexual preferences. It avoids any discussion of their public actions or historical impact, focusing instead on the private and commonplace aspects of their days. The deliberate absence of information about their atrocities creates a disturbing undercurrent throughout the film.IMDb 7.7TMDB 7.3 - 18
Donka, X-Ray of an African HospitalMovie · 1996 · 85mThe film offers a glimpse into the everyday lives within Donka Hospital, the country's largest public hospital in Conakry, Guinea.IMDb 6.3 - 19The Burning BarrelMovie · 1997 · 30mThe film follows a rural farm where waste disposal is a hands-on affair. Bottles and cans are gathered for landfill trips, food scraps composted, and paper burned in a barrel each week. Through home movies, family photos, prairie scenery, and vintage advertisements spanning 35 years, the film chronicles the evolution of this small community and examines the impact of consumerism on its people and relationships.
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Chavez Ravine: A Los Angeles StoryMovie · 2003 · 23mA community suffers when ambition outweighs integrity, political promises are broken, and well-meaning efforts backfire.IMDb 7.2TMDB 6.7 - 21
All That BreathesMovie · 2022 · 97m · Documentary, DramaIn a New Delhi choked by pollution and growing unrest, two brothers dedicate themselves to safeguarding a single black kite, a creature struggling to survive amidst the chaos.IMDb 7.0TMDB 6.9 - 22
The SquareMovie · 2013 · 88m · Documentary, Drama, History*The Square* examines the daily struggles of Egyptians striving to establish a new democracy. The film centers on Cairo's Tahrir Square, following several young activists who believe the fight for democracy truly began after Hosni Mubarak's ouster. Driven by their principles, resilience, creativity, social media, and unwavering resolve, they navigate a perilous conflict between the people and the authority of the state.IMDb 8.0TMDB 7.6 - 23
CitizenfourMovie · 2014 · 113m · DocumentaryIn June 2013, filmmaker Laura Poitras and journalist Glenn Greenwald traveled to Hong Kong to meet Edward Snowden. Poitras documented their meetings with her camera.IMDb 8.0TMDB 7.7 - 24A Walk to BeautifulMovie · 2007 · 85m"A Walk to Beautiful" follows five Ethiopian women who have suffered severe childbirth injuries. Rejected by their families and isolated by their communities, they face a lifetime of loneliness and shame. The challenges they overcome and their efforts to find new purpose offer a powerful story about hope, bravery, and personal change.IMDb 8.1TMDB 6.1
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The Revolution Will Not Be TelevisedMovie · 2003 · 74m · DocumentaryHugo Chavez, a charismatic and often unpredictable leader, gained immense popularity among Venezuela's working class. He became president in 1998 and fiercely resisted those who sought to remove him from power. The filmmakers were present in the presidential palace when he was ousted from office by force on April 11, 2002.IMDb 8.2TMDB 7.7 - 26
Tashi and the MonkMovie · 2015 · 39mThis touching documentary follows a former Buddhist monk who operates an orphanage in the Himalayas. It explores his connection with Tashi, a difficult five-year-old child who has recently joined the home.IMDb 7.9TMDB 7.9 - 27
The White HelmetsMovie · 2016 · 40m · Documentary, WarAmidst daily airstrikes targeting civilians in Syria, a dedicated team of first responders bravely risk their lives to rescue people from the wreckage.IMDb 7.5TMDB 7.4 - 28
Iraq in FragmentsMovie · 2006 · 94mIraq In Fragments is a three-part documentary offering deeply personal glimpses into life in a war-torn Iraq. It follows an orphaned 11-year-old who becomes an apprentice in a Baghdad garage under a harsh owner; Sadr followers in two Shiite cities organize for regional elections while also enforcing Islamic law with force; and a Kurdish farming family embraces the US presence, which has brought them a newfound freedom. American director James Longley spent over two years filming in Iraq, creating a powerfully photographed and poetic portrait of the country as experienced by Sunnis, Shiites, and Kurds.IMDb 7.1TMDB 6.6 - 29
Last Day of FreedomMovie · 2015 · 32mBill Babbitt struggles with the difficult choice of whether to report to the police when he discovers his brother Manny has committed a crime.IMDb 7.5TMDB 7.1 - 30The CrownMovie · 2008 · 40mThe competition brings together dangerous individuals: murderers, guerrillas, and thieves. The victor will be named Queen, but her reward is not fame. Instead of a public appearance as a role model, she will be returned to her prison.IMDb 7.7TMDB 6.5
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The Look of SilenceMovie · 2014 · 100m · History, DocumentaryA man who works as an optician confronts the brutal Indonesian mass killings of 1965-1966, a period that saw the death of his own brother.IMDb 8.2TMDB 7.8 - 32
The Wildest Show in the South: The Angola Prison RodeoMovie · 1999 · 30m"The Wildest Show in the South: The Angola Prison Rodeo," a 1999 American short documentary directed by Simeon Soffer, centers on the inmates' experiences participating in the prison rodeo. For many prisoners, the rodeo represents their primary source of hope. It received a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Short.IMDb 6.3TMDB 7.0 - 33
DinaMovie · 2017 · 101mIn suburban Philadelphia, Dina, a vibrant 49-year-old with a unique perspective on life, asks her fiancé Scott, a Walmart employee, to move in. Both have navigated the world as neurologically diverse individuals and deeply love each other, but living together brings unexpected difficulties. Scott struggles with physical intimacy, while Dina, influenced by popular culture and past experiences, wants to share her understanding of desire. Her attempts to connect with Scott are repeatedly met with obstacles, revealing underlying anxieties and communication problems as they navigate their different ideas about romance and closeness.IMDb 6.8TMDB 6.5 - 34
Man on WireMovie · 2008 · 94m · DocumentaryIn 1974, French high-wire artist Philippe Petit performed an illegal walk between the New York World Trade Center towers, then the tallest buildings in the world. He spent nearly an hour on a wire strung 1,350 feet above the city streets before being arrested. This documentary recounts Petit's extraordinary feat.IMDb 7.7TMDB 7.4 - 35
Waste LandMovie · 2010 · 90m · DocumentaryThis inspiring documentary follows acclaimed artist Vik Muniz as he journeys from the world's largest landfill in Rio de Janeiro to international fame. Muniz collaborates with the "catadores," the landfill's waste pickers – resourceful individuals who offer a unique perspective on life and recycling. Through their stories, the film explores the transformative power of art and the resilience of the human spirit.IMDb 7.8TMDB 7.6 - 36
SaltMovie · 2009 · 28mSALT follows acclaimed photographer Murray Fredericks as he undertakes his yearly solitary trip to the heart of Lake Eyre in remote South Australia. The film explores the artist’s personal journey, his creative process, and the stark beauty of the landscape. Alone in the most barren place on earth, Murray documents the environment in a video diary, which unexpectedly sparks a profound personal change. With subtle storytelling, gentle humor, and haunting music by Aajinta, SALT examines what emerges from emptiness – exploring the hidden depths of reality and the power of creation from nothing. The film blends stunning visuals of the surreal landscape with delicate soundscapes.IMDb 7.3TMDB 5.2 - 37
Saving FaceMovie · 2012 · 40mEach year, hundreds of people, predominantly women, are victims of acid attacks in Pakistan. The film follows several survivors as they pursue justice and a Pakistani plastic surgeon who returns to his country to provide them with reconstructive surgery, helping them rebuild their faces and their lives.IMDb 8.0TMDB 7.0 - 38
On Tiptoe: Gentle Steps to FreedomMovie · 2000 · 58mThis film profiles the South African singing group Ladysmith Black Mambazo, internationally recognized for their work as backing vocalists on Paul Simon's acclaimed "Graceland" album.IMDb 7.5 - 39
FleeMovie · 2021 · 89m · Documentary, AnimationMostly told through animation to protect his privacy, Amin reflects on his childhood as an Afghan refugee while confronting a secret he has guarded for two decades.IMDb 7.9TMDB 7.7 - 40
Searching for Sugar ManMovie · 2012 · 85m · Music, DocumentaryTwo South Africans travel to the United States to uncover the story of Rodriguez, a little-known rock musician from the 1970s who achieved a surprising level of fame there. They aim to find out what became of him.IMDb 8.2TMDB 7.9 - 41
Born Into Brothels: Calcutta's Red Light KidsMovie · 2004 · 85m · DocumentaryThis documentary follows the lives of child prostitutes in Kolkata's Songachi red-light district. Filmmaker Zana Briski initially intended to photograph the prostitutes, but she befriended their children. Briski started teaching the children photography, believing it could offer them a path to a brighter future.IMDb 7.1TMDB 6.8 - 42
Favela RisingMovie · 2005 · 82mA man rises from the poverty of Rio de Janeiro to become the leader of Afro-reggae, a movement centered on nonviolent cultural expression.IMDb 7.1TMDB 5.8 - 43
Poster GirlMovie · 2010 · 38mPOSTER GIRL follows Robynn Murray, an American high school cheerleader who became a machine gunner in the Iraq War and a prominent symbol for women in combat, featured on the cover of Army Magazine. After returning from Iraq as Sergeant Robynn Murray, she confronts a different kind of challenge: post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The documentary, shot and directed by Sara Nesson, captures Robynn's two-year journey of self-discovery and healing. She uses art and poetry to redefine her life and find redemption.IMDb 6.7TMDB 7.8 - 44
Little Dieter Needs to FlyMovie · 1997 · 77m · DocumentaryWerner Herzog explores the life of German-American pilot Dieter Dengler, shot down over Laos during the Vietnam War. Thirty years later, Dengler returns to the sites of his captivity, reflecting on the bonds he formed with fellow prisoners.
The film recounts Dengler's experience, blending memories with present-day reflections. Herzog details Dengler’s escape, offering a stark look at the human spirit under extreme pressure. In a unique approach, Herzog encourages Dengler to recreate his torture experiences with local villagers, providing a powerful sense of the physical and emotional suffering endured by prisoners of war.
The film examines the complexities of war and its effects on those involved. Through Herzog's storytelling, viewers witness a deeply moving exploration of survival, friendship, and the strength of the human will.IMDb 8.0TMDB 7.5 - 45
On the RopesMovie · 1999 · 94mThis is the story of three young boxers and their coach, who is dedicated to helping them succeed both in their boxing careers and in their lives outside the ring.IMDb 7.3TMDB 6.5 - 46
Waco: The Rules of EngagementMovie · 1997 · 136m · DocumentaryThis documentary examines the Waco siege, one of the most tragic confrontations between law enforcement and a religious group in recent history. Using archival footage and recorded conversations, the film explores the events leading to April 19, 1993. It analyzes how the FBI's rigid tactics escalated a difficult situation into a devastating outcome for everyone involved. The documentary examines the Branch Davidian sect and raises questions about law enforcement approaches to dealing with isolated communities. By carefully reconstructing those events, the film provides an in-depth look at the tensions that ultimately resulted in the Waco tragedy.IMDb 7.8TMDB 7.6 - 47
ZionMovie · 2018 · 10m · DocumentaryThis is the story of Zion Clark, a young man who became a wrestler. Zion was born without legs and spent his childhood in foster care.IMDb 7.1TMDB 6.6
