Documentaries have evolved from early films in the 1920s that captured singular moments, to the development of propaganda films in the 1930s like Leni Riefenstahl's "Triumph of the Will." Direct cinema in the late 1950s and cinema verite in the 1960s strived for a naturalistic style. John Grierson in the 1920s believed documentaries could build morale. While Robert Flaherty's 1922 film "Nanook of the North" was pioneering, it was criticized for staging some scenes. Audiences have become dependent on media like documentaries which they view as truthful sources of information.

1. Consider how Documentaries
have evolved?

2. Early Documentary
• Pre 1990 – Dominated by the novelty of showing an event. –
Single-shot moments captured on film.
• The term ‘documentary’ was not coined until 1926.
• John Grierson – Both a director and producer, he was
influential through his creations.
• Robert J. Flaherty – ‘Nanook of the North’ (1922) – First ever
documentary.
• Leni Riefenstahl – ‘Triumph of the Will’ (1935) – Shot her to
fame – First piece of propaganda

3. Propaganda
• Leni Riefenstahl – ‘Triumph of the Will’ (1935) – Shot Riefenstahl to
instant and everlasting fame.
• It has been condemned as a National Socialist propaganda film.
• Riefenstahl was hired by Adolf Hitler to create the documentary
which displayed the activities the Nazi Party carried out during the
1934 Nazi Party Congress in Nuremberg. – The documentary
contains both speeches given by various Nazi leaders and extracts
of speeches given by Hitler.
• Hitler chose Riefenstahl as he thought she would be able to put an
artistic style on to it and also believed she would be able to portray
what he was doing in a more ‘positive’ way.
• Techniques used by Riefenstahl include, moving cameras, use of
long focus lenses (to create a distorted perspective) and a
innovative approach to both cinematography and music. –
Commentary is used once which appears at the beginning of the
documentary which is in the form of a prologue.

4. Direct Cinema
• Documentary genre between 1958 and 1962 –
similar to Cinéma Vérité.
• Looks for ‘privileged moments’ – can result in
just a small percentage of footage being used
in the final piece – editing may be used
heavily to produce this outcome.
• No set-ups should be used and instead film
crews are just observing situations and not
interfering to produce certain outcomes.

5. Cinéma Vérité
• Cinéma Vérité is a documentary style it
translates to ‘truthful cinema’. – Developed by
French film directors in 1960.
• It combines naturalistic techniques with the
use of editing, cinematography, set-ups and
the use of the camera to provoke certain
scenarios.
• It suggests a naturalistic point of view to the
audience.

6. Influences - John Grierson
In 1927 Grierson had the belief that film could be enlisted to
deal with the problems of the Great Depression and would
help build national morale and consensus. He was also
involved in the making of ‘Night Mail’ (1936).

7. Nanook of the North – 1922 –
Robert Flaherty
• The first ever documentary to be produced.
• Received criticism for containing many ‘set
ups’. – Footage of trading, hunting fishing etc.
suggests its real, but scenes involve the ‘cast’
using ‘old techniques’ for these activities and
therefore suggest that it is staged.
• Launched the debate of what documentary is.

8. Media Dependency
• Audiences become dependent on media, such as TV
programs, Documentaries, Radio, Films etc. –
Highlighting the influence of these media types and the
impact the content has on the public.
• Documentaries suggest that what is being shown is
‘real’ and therefore people feel that they are watching
something that is true and are given correct
information etc.
• For example, if they are watching a documentary, the
information whether it be through voice-over or
facts/statistics, the information is still believed as real
because the audience are being told it.

9. Influence on TV and how its changed
over the years…
• Channels such as Channel 4 and ITV distribute
documentaries regularly on TV.
• Channel 4 distributed ‘Big Brother’ from 2000 – 2010
– it was then picked up by Channel 5. – Shown at
prime time – Every night 8/9/10pm and then Friday
8:30/9pm and 11pm ‘eviction night’.
• Channel 4 also distributes documentaries such as
‘Big Fat Gypsy Wedding’. – Tuesday 9pm – Prime
time.