Documentaries are underrated works. In 2009, the Oscars decided to increase the Best Picture nominations from 5 to 10. hoping to facilitate the indication of animations, foreign films and documentaries. Even though, no documentary has ever been nominated for the category. Sad is not it?
But until that day arrives, we decided to indicate the best documentaries on the internet for you. In a post divided into parts, we chose the best documentaries from the main streaming platforms: today's picks came from netflix. Part two will feature picks from Amazon Prime, our new streaming favorite.
In 2017 the New York Film Academy (NYFA) did an article showing the impact of Netflix on the production and distribution of documentaries. At the time, there were around 50 such productions on the platform – whether original or not – and today there are more than 50 documentaries in Netflix original productions alone. Follow the thread with our 15 picks – 10 movies and 5 docuseries:
Content
Homecoming – A Film by Beyonce
Beyoncé was arguably the most important woman in music over the past decade. Last year, the singer closed a $60 million deal with Netflix to produce three specials. The first was a documentary record of Beyoncé's legendary performance at Coachella – she was the first black woman to headline the most famous festival in the world.
The documentary shows scenes from the show, preparations and rehearsals that started 8 months before the presentation. It's a really cool piece not only showing the grandeur of the show – considered one of the best in the festival's history – but also Beyoncé's professionalism. Jay Z, Solange Knowles and former Destiny's Child bandmates Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams appear in the production.
for those who like: song
Democracy in Vertigem
Democracy in Vertigem was one of the three Brazilian documentaries nominated for the Oscar of the category in the last decade. Directed by Petra Costa, it narrates the director's view of the impeachment of then-president Dilma Rousseff, the election of Jair Bolsonaro and the political-economic crisis in Brazil.
In addition to the appearances of the politicians themselves, Petra shows several scenes of demonstrations that took place in recent years, on both sides. The director's parents, as well as personalities (Lula, for example) appear in scenes and give testimonies and share memories of the past, from the dictatorship periods to the elections at the beginning of the century. The film was critically acclaimed and, beyond ideological issues, is a great portrayal of Petra's view of Brazilian politics.
for those who like: policy
American industry
Made by Michelle and Barack Obama, American industry beat "The Edge of Democracy" at that year's Oscars and took the statuette for Best Documentary home. The victory, although questionable, makes sense.
The documentary shows the installation of a Chinese glass factory in a collapsed American city in the state of Ohio. The factory, which was formerly a headquarters for General Motors, was renovated and reopened by the Chinese in the city. However, the Chinese were not only responsible for installing the space – in addition to managing the warehouse, many of the employees were brought directly from China, from administrators to operators.
The film addresses precisely these cultural nuances and clashes between employees of different nationalities. The difficulty of communicating through language, the difference in salary and workload, among other subjects, are covered very well in the documentary. Although it is a very “American” view of Eastern culture, it is a great reflection and study of a real case of globalization.
for those who like: politics, history
What Happened, Miss Simone?
Nina Simone was a controversial woman in the history of modern culture. One of the only famous black women in the music industry until the mid-70s, she earned her place thanks to her piano talent and her incomparable voice.
But to get to the top, Nina had to sweat a lot. She fought against her family and especially against a racist and sexist society. The documentary “What Happened, Miss Simone?” shows a bit of the singer's trajectory, with help in the production of Lisa Simone, Nina's daughter. Her career trajectory, black activism, reprisals and threats and recognition of one of the greatest legends jazz, pop and the world has ever seen.
for those who like: music, history, social movements
Winter on Fire: Ukraine's Fight For Freedom
It was not only in Brazil that 2013 was a year of demonstrations. In Ukraine, the young students decided to take to the streets for disagreeing with government attitudes at the time. What was supposed to be a free democratic demonstration became a chaotic and violent clash between the government and the population.
winter on fire was launched in 2015, bringing moving images and testimonials about the events that began in November 2013 and only ended in February 2014. There were more than 130 deaths in one of the most emblematic and sad episodes in our contemporary history. The struggle, even so, yielded the conquest of the protesters' demands, including the overthrow of the then Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych.
for those who like: politics, social movements
Feminists: What Were They Thinking?
“Feminism” seems too contemporary and modern a word, but the fight for women's rights has existed since the beginning – from Athens until today, women continue with their social rights denied.
“Feminists: What Were They Thinking?” is a documentary that discusses the cut of the feminism in recent years. With testimonials from many incredible women, including the legendary actress Jane Fonda, discusses the achievements of the movement throughout the XNUMXth and XNUMXst centuries.
With a more artistic approach, talking about films that changed the conception of the movement, and touching on subjects such as lesbianism, motherhood and race. A true class in empathy and one of the most important and strong social movements in our society.
for those who like: politics, social movements
Minimalism
It's hard to think about being detached from physical things and the luxuries we have living in the chaotic cities we live in. Life is an eternal rush in search of better results in career, education, personal life... but based on whose rule?
Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things is an incredible Netflix documentary that brings stories of people who abandoned their old lifestyle and now live with little. less is more. The large apartments are changed less and functional – the basic and necessary stays, the luxurious and unnecessary goes away.
It's a good reflection for the chaotic times we live in, all with a great production.
for those who like: social sciences, behavior
The Game Changers
O Veganism it is a taboo, even in the middle of the 21st century. Many point out that a diet without any type of animal food can hinder body growth and development. It will be?
The Game Changers is a documentary that tries to show just the opposite. Narrating the story of James Wilk, a UFC athlete who changes his diet after an injury that almost left him paralyzed, the film brings a very different approach to veganism.
With testimonials from the athlete, health professionals and even Arnold Schwarzenegger, the film demystifies and brings data on veganism as an alternative to a healthy life and without animal suffering. Supporters or not of the cause, the film is a great reflection.
for those who like: behavior, nutrition, veganism
Icarus
In the world of sports, doping is a great villain. As well as being a dirty move against the basic principle of fairness in any competition, it is a major health issue.
Launched in 2017 and Oscar winner for Best Documentary, Icarus tells the story of Fogel, the film's director and amateur cyclist who was involved in a doping scandal. With the help of the head of one of the great Russian anti-doping laboratories, the director unmasks a huge system of circumvention in the world's doping rules.
for those who like: science, sports, medicine
Period. End of Sentence
It's 2020 and menstruation is still a taboo and a problem in many societies. The mini-documentary “Period. End of Sentence” shows some of the problem that Indian women face in relation to their bodies.
Over the course of a short 25 minutes, the documentary features reports from Indian women who came together to produce and disseminate the use of pads, made at a low cost. What may only sound like an improvement in the quality of life is the beginning of a veritable sexual revolution in the history of women in India.
Sensitive, short and direct. Period. End of Sentence it shows the inequalities in the world and how women still have a lot of struggle to conquer their spaces in our society.
for those who like: politics, social movements
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Documentary series
explaining
Explaining is a series of mini-documentaries made available weekly by Netflix. A lot of people don't know that the production derives, in fact, from a YouTube channel from Vox Media, an American media company. Netflix, which isn't silly or anything, saw potential in the videos and ordered two seasons.
With 20 episodes, Explaining deals with a different subject in each episode. To exemplify, it is worth mentioning the episode “Why Women Are Paid Less?” (“Why do women earn less?”). The chapter, narrated by Rachel McAdams (Regina George from Mean Girls) brings several historical and social explanations about why, even today, women still earn less – explaining machismo, exclusion policies, history of the feminist movement, etc.
The series also addresses topics such as k pop, eSports, Astrology e Eternal life. In addition, there are three other sensational spin offs also on Netflix: Explaining - The Mind; Explaining – The Sex and the recent Explaining – The Coronavirus. The episodes are all short, with more or less 20 minutes each, and are worth introducing extremely interesting subjects.
for those who like: science, curiosities
Rotten
Rotten is one of the most interesting series on Netflix. It's a series of documentaries, lasting about 45 minutes/1 hour, that address a problem in food chain. From the honey industry (the chances that you are consuming adulterated honey are very high!) to real wars caused by the Avocado industry, the topics are controversial and current.
With two seasons of 6 episodes, it is a very human and important series. In addition to bringing complaints and reflections on important topics, it shows testimonials and real scenes of lives affected by these problems. Oh, and the documentary photography is AWESOME. Serious.
for those who like: policy
Abstract: The Art of Design
If you like comics, this series is for you. And if you like cars, this series is also for you. If you like bioarchitecture, this series is for you.
Abstract: The Art of Design is a Netflix documentary series that follows and exposes the work of the most important and renowned designers in various fields. Architect who revolutionized modern architecture (inspired by Oscar Niemeyer), Designer responsible for creating the Nike's Air Jordan, winning costume designer Oscar.. There are many facets of different art forms shown in several amazing and fun episodes. Worth a lot!
for those who like: design, art, fashion, architecture, cars
The Bill Gates Code
Bill Gates is the second richest man in the world – his fortune comes mainly from his company founded in 1975, Microsoft. But in addition to being a billionaire and computer genius, Bill Gates is also a person of other tastes and skills.
In the documentary series “The Bill Gates Code”, the life of the American is unveiled. The episodes focus on Bill's childhood, his friendships, the emergence and growth of Microsoft and the philanthropy, the tycoon's main activity today. It's an interesting series about one of the most important figures in contemporary industry, who went from the owner and founder of Microsoft to one of the strongest voices in the fight against climate change today.
for those who like: activism, education, science
The Most Extraordinary Houses in the World
who has never seen Lord of the Rings and wanted to know what it must be like to live underground, right? Or dreamed of having a tree house in the middle of the forest. Or on top of the mountains… Can you imagine that people with money made their own versions of these houses? So it is.
“The Most Extraordinary Houses in the World” is a Netflix documentary series with 12 incredible episodes, divided into 3 seasons. Each episode shows an architectural work that leaves many people with their jaws dropped, in incredible places. It has houses from Norway to Japan, all with their particularities and impressive architecture.
for those who like: design, architecture
