Editorials

Best Documentaries For Winter

25 November 2016

By Lois

Winter is a time for staying indoors and watching some good telly, and of course we all know documentaries are up there with the best of them. So I have handpicked a few of my favourites that are great for nights in and those who enjoy some drama, which you absolutely must watch and are guaranteed to enjoy.

1. BlackfishBlackfish follows the life of whales in captivity, focusing on the deaths that have come as a result, and the case against Sea World’s treatment of its animals. It is extremely well-made and enlightening, as well as very, very sad. As someone who isn’t that interested in animals in general I do have a soft spot for whales, which may be somewhat as a result of this shocking and emotive film.
2. West Of Memphis – The story of the three teenage boys convicted of the violent murder of two young boys in Arkansas in 1993 has fascinated many over the years, attracting huge amounts of attention and it has been the subject of a film starring Colin Firth called Devil’s Knot. This documentary lays out the entire story from start to end with the input of all involved, including the families of the victims. Frank and fascinating, it is an essential watch for crime drama fans.
3. Making a Murderer – Most will be at least familiar with the story of Steven Avery, whether or not you have seen the award-winning Netflix documentary. If not, it follows one of the most widely discussed alleged miscarriages of justice in the past few years, and the ten-part series has been binge watched and argued over countless times since its release. If you haven’t seen it, you need to, and if you have, why not watch it again?
4. Team Foxcatcher – This is the second addition on the list to also have had a film made about its subject (Foxcatcher, Steve Carell and Channing Tatum). It compiles interviews with those involved and previously unseen home footage of the elusive John DuPont, telling the story of a wrestling team and the dramatic events surrounding it. I wasn’t sure how much I’d like it when I sat down, since I am, at the end of the day, no sports fan, but the story is overwhelmingly intriguing, and DuPont is the kind of figure you really just want to know more about, even if it isn’t for the right reasons.
5. The Central Park Five – If it isn’t already obvious, I love miscarriage of justice documentaries, and this is one of the most intensely upsetting of them all, largely because of the racial prejudice at its roots and those who fell victim to it. Stories like these are worth remembering, so that we don’t forget how far we, as a society, need to come. Especially now, following an outpour of hate crime since the election, and the continued striving we have seen from the black lives matter movement. Truly eye-opening and shocking.

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