We have already discussed here on Uliving's blog the importance of documentaries in the history of cinema. after we get the best productions on netflix, we came up with yet another great list, this time from another service: Amazon Prime Video.
A lot of people don't know, but Prime Video has been around for nearly 15 years – named Amazon Unbox, in 2006 the company launched a digital movie platform. Of course, the scheme was different – you paid for the movie download, not directly for the streaming service. It was in 2014 that the guys pulled up their sleeves and invested heavily in the platform, which was completely reformulated and relaunched with over 5 titles on air.
Earlier, we already mentioned some of the best series available on Amazon in our blog post. series to watch in quarantine. Now, we've chosen the top 10 documentaries on the platform, which talk about politics, fashion, music and even food.
Super Size Me
Who has never been to a fast food, like McDonald's or Burger King in their life and thought “I would eat that every day if I could”? Well, there are those who have tried.
Director Morgan Spurlock decided to replace all his food with items from the McDonald's menu for an entire month. The documentary “Super Size Me”, directed by Morgan himself, follows this period of change in the guy's life.
It is a very interesting documentary due to its approach and the visible transformations in Spurlock's behavior. With weight gain, loss of motivation and various other problems developed throughout the process, the film brings an approach to the harm caused by such foods and the company's methods of persuasion.
for those who like: behavior, nutrition
An Inconvenient Truth
Released in 2006, An Inconvenient Truth was a milestone in the history of contemporary cinema. The documentary won two Oscars (Best Documentary and Best Original Song), raised almost 50 million dollars at the box office and guaranteed the Nobel Peace Prize to Al Gore, the main character of the film.
In this incredible and, at points, almost timeless documentary, former US Vice-President Al Gore gives a lesson on climate change happening in the world. Focusing mainly on the impact of global warming, the film brings in a very visual way the rapid transformations that nature has been going through with the interference of human beings.
In Al's own words, the film and its content are "beyond politics, it's a matter of morals." And it's not wrong: it's important to remember that resources are exhaustible and that every day we stop taking care of the planet, we are the main ones impacted.
for those who like: environmentalism, politics, geography
Space Beyond
Serbian artist Marina Abramović is one of the most recognized women in the world of art. Enchanted by Brazil and our particularities, Marina came to our country to get to know our different cultures and different regions.
The result of this trip and the artist’s interventions is the documentary “Espaço Além – Marina Abramović”, released in 2016. Showing controversial scenes of the artist in contact with candomblé, shamanism and spiritism, it is an incredible film that shows the inspirations of religion in art – and vice versa.
for those who like: art, religion, culture, travel
Makala
Makala premiered in 2017 in Brazil at the São Paulo International Film Festival. Made available by Amazon on Prime Video, it is one of the most incredible and genuine documentaries you will ever see. Serious.
The documentary follows the life of Kabwita, a young Congolese man who dreams of changes in his life. But none of those beautiful films where sad reality is overcome by a successful career. There is no glamorization of pain or overcoming problems here: they are daily.
The film shows Kabwita cutting down trees, riding his bicycle for more than 50 km to sell charcoal, and various other functions he performs. But even so, misery still reigns. Far beyond a beautiful story, it is actually a real, painful and essential story to be seen to understand the world we live in.
for those who like: policy
One Child Nation
As we saw above, the clash between China and the United States of America is recurrent. In the American documentary One Child Nation, the one-child policy in China, in force from 1970 to 2015, is the main focus.
However, the approach is different: it does not talk about the history and implementation of the one-child policy, but about the stories and changes that they generated. The documentary deals with abandoned children, sexism against women in Chinese families and violence applied to families that broke the rule.
All this in the view of two Chinese brothers – a woman and a man – residing in the United States. It's a little told story, but absurdly interesting. West and East are really very different.
for those who like: politics, history
China vs USA: Empires at War
The clash between China and the United States has been intensifying over the years – with the arrival of COVID-19, disagreements and attacks by the leaders of both countries have increased even more.
“China vs. USA: Empires at War” is one of many documentaries about the political crises between both countries, but with a different approach. Directed by the Frenchman Dufour, it shows the Chinese attempt to dominate the island of Taiwan, recognized by the Chinese government as part of the Republic.
The United States appears as a counterweight in the play, which shows American concern with the Chinese market and culture. Through testimonials from citizens of both countries, it is an interesting piece to understand the geopolitics that divide our contemporary world.
for those who like: politics, history, geography
Far Beyond Weight
The word pandemic has made headlines in recent months with the spread of COVID-19. But before the disease, the world was already facing diseases that afflicted populations on all continents. One of them is childhood obesity.
The documentary “Uma Além do Peso” brings a series of reports about this problem, very present in Brazil. In addition to bringing reports from specialists, it shows the routine of children and parents in Brazil, revealing the problems of poor diet and poor education.
Excessive consumption of sugar, distancing children from natural products (a child looks at a chayote and thinks it's an avocado, for example) and the lack of exercise and physical play are some of the points discussed. Whether you have children at home or not, it is one of those documentaries that is indispensable for our society.
for those who like: nutrition, social sciences
Human – A journey through life
Homophobia, xenophobia, racism, war. These are some of the themes addressed in the testimonials of the documentary “Human – A journey through life”. The film is so incredible and so necessary that its premiere took place in the hall of the United Nations General Assembly. Yes, the UN liked the film. And rightly so.
There are more than 60 testimonies recorded in more than 60 different countries, each person reporting a social problem they have experienced or are experiencing. And the coolest thing about the documentary is really the closeness it creates with us – you feel the truth and pain of each person. Of a sensitivity that few documentaries have.
for those who like: communication, art, politics
We are language
You certainly know who Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Criolo or Emicida is. But could you mention a Mexican rapper? We imagine not.
Somos Lengua is a sensational documentary about the rap music scene in urban Mexico. It shows the importance of the genre as a form of social denouncement and also talks about how rap is a tool for change – especially for minority groups.
“[Rap] was my first literature” is one of the phrases that most characterize the film. Music is transformative. This documentary no doubt too.
for those who like: song
Stripper
The documentaries of the past decades were constructed in very different ways from the documentaries of today – thematics, approach, editing and everything else. Strippers, by director Jerome Gary (the same man who made Arnold Schwarzenegger a star), talks about the lives of women who worked as strippers in the USA in the 1980s.
However, the cut is somewhat different: less in the profession and more in people. The director focused on listening to the stories and lives of the women in the film, showing much more from their side jobs than their nightly gigs. The film also talks about a burlesque competition to be held in Las Vegas and the race of strippers to become stars;
Of course, it is still a documentary from the 80s and the vision is somewhat sexist and conservative, but it is the representation of a scenario rarely shown in cinema in the voice of the women themselves.
