Movies About Culture And Society

From Louie Psihoyos, starring Richard O'Barry, Louie Psihoyos, Hardy Jones, Michael Illiff
Rated PG-13

The Cove is a 2009 documentary film directed by Louie Psihoyos about the illegal hunting of dolphins in Taiji, Wakayama, Japan. The film follows former dolphin trainer and activist Ric O’Barry and a team of filmmakers and divers in their effort to expose the dolphin hunting practices in the local waters. The team use high tech equipment to document the dolphin harvest in a hidden cove, uncovering the dark secrets of how dolphins are captured, killed, and sold for their meat. Along the way, they are harassed by the local fisherman and police, but their determination to expose the truth leads to a successful outcome. The film raises awareness of dolphin capture, consumption, and the environmental impact of mercury poisoning associated with dolphin meat consumption.

From Jonathan Karsh, starring Susan Tom, Anthony Tom, Faith Tom, Joe Tom
Rated Unrated

My Flesh and Blood is a 2003 documentary film directed by Jonathan Karsh which tells the story of Susan Tom, a single mother of eleven adopted special needs children. The film offers a heartfelt, insightful and often humorous look at Tom's life as she struggles to provide her children with a loving home and care for their unique disabilities. The film follows Tom and her children as they go about their daily lives. From the mundane chores of running errands and getting the kids to school, to the more emotional and difficult challenges associated with medical treatments and managing the children's behavior; all are illuminated with honest and intimate detail. Tom and her children's lives are far from ordinary, and their story is told with sensitivity and humor. Through their struggles, joys, challenges, and accomplishments, My Flesh and Blood affirms the special bond between mother and child and the power of unconditional love.

From Banksy, starring Banksy, Mr. Brainwash, Space Invader, Debora Guetta
Rated R

Exit Through the Gift Shop is a 2010 British documentary film directed by graffiti artist Banksy. The film tells the story of Thierry Guetta, an eccentric French shopkeeper living in Los Angeles, who is obsessed with street art. After meeting a few of the most notorious street artists including Shepard Fairey and Banksy himself, Guetta begins to document their work. When Guetta's footage fails to coalesce into a coherent movie, Banksy takes over the project and turns it into a documentary about Guetta himself. The film follows Guetta's transformation from a shopkeeper to a street artist, as he struggles to get the respect he believes he deserves from his peers. Along the way, the documentary satirizes the art world and its excesses, while offering a glimpse into the creative process of some of the most influential street artists of this generation.

From Directors: Albert Maysles, David Maysles, Charlotte Zwerin, starring Paul Brennan, Charles McDevitt, James Baker, Raymond Martos
Rated G

"Salesman" (1969) is an American documentary film directed by Albert Maysles, David Maysles and Charlotte Zwerin. The film follows four door-to-door Bible salesmen around Boston and New England as they try to make a living. It examines the personal lives of the salesmen, their desperation to make a sale, and their struggles to make a living. It is an insightful look into the pressures and difficulties of making a living as a door-to-door salesman during a time of economic upheaval. The film features interviews with the salesmen, showing their hopes and disappointments as they struggle to make a decent living. It also highlights the differences between their personal lives and professional ones. At its core, "Salesman" is a powerful commentary on American capitalism and the American Dream.

From Werner Herzog, starring Werner Herzog, Scott Rowland, Stefan Pashov, Doug MacAyeal
Rated G

Encounters at the End of the World is a documentary film directed by Werner Herzog that takes place in Antarctica. The film follows Herzog as he explores the remote continent and interviews the eclectic individuals who choose to live and work there. The documentary examines the landscape of Antarctica, along with its wildlife and the people that inhabit it. It looks at the day-to-day lives of the scientists, military personnel, and adventurers who have chosen to make their lives in this extreme environment, and provides an interesting and thought-provoking look at the world. Herzog also visits an underwater research station, where he meets with a variety of sea creatures and captures amazing underwater scenes. Through these interactions, he discovers the beauty and fragility of Antarctica, and the importance of protecting it.

From Directors: Jacques Perrin, Jacques Cluzaud, starring Pierce Brosnan, Pedro Armendáriz Jr., Jacques Perrin, Aldo Baglio
Rated G

Oceans is a 2009 French documentary film directed by Jacques Perrin and Jacques Cluzaud that chronicles the life of the various species that inhabit the world's oceans. Through stunning imagery and powerful storytelling, the film showcases the interconnectedness of the oceans and the creatures that inhabit them. The film also touches on the increasingly detrimental effects of human activity on the delicate oceanic ecosystem, including overfishing, pollution, and climate change. Oceans paints a vivid and moving picture of the beauty and fragility of the ocean environment, and is an important call to action for protecting our oceans and the species that inhabit them.

From Lixin Fan, starring Changhua Zhang, Yang Zhang, Suqin Chen, Qin Zhang
Rated Not Rated

"Last Train Home" is a 2009 documentary film by director Lixin Fan. It follows the story of the Zhang family, a migrant worker family from rural China, who travel thousands of miles each year to reunite with their children who were left behind in their home village in order to work in the city. The film follows their struggles over the course of three New Year's Eve journeys and vividly portrays the difficulties of living between two worlds. It reveals the humanity behind the annual mass exodus of 130 million Chinese migrant workers, and the heartbreaking personal impact of China's rapid economic transformation. Through the Zhang family, the film reveals the generational conflict between parents and children, the difficulties of preserving family ties, and the complex dynamics of the migrant workers' lives. Ultimately, the Zhang's story is one of hope, courage, and resilience in the face of enormous odds.

From Michael Moore, starring Michael Moore, Roger B. Smith, Rhonda Britton, Fred Ross
Rated R

Roger & Me is a 1989 documentary directed by Michael Moore. The film follows Moore as he attempts to track down General Motors CEO Roger Smith in order to confront him about the economic devastation of Flint, Michigan caused by the closure of GM's local factories. The film also explores other aspects of life in Flint, such as a pet cemetery business, a former GM worker struggling to survive on seasonal jobs, and Moore's own extended family. The film was a critical and commercial success and earned Moore an Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary Feature.

From Davis Guggenheim, starring Al Gore, Billy West, George Bush, George W. Bush
Rated PG

From Davis Guggenheim, starring Charles Adams, Jonathan Alter, Robert Balfanz, Harriet Ball
Rated PG

From Ron Mann, starring Woody Harrelson, Harry J. Anslinger, George Bush, Cab Calloway
Rated R

From Morgan Spurlock, starring Morgan Spurlock, Daryl Isaacs, Chemeeka Walker, Dania Abu-Rmaileh
Rated PG-13

From Directors: Henry Joost, Ariel Schulman, starring Nev Schulman, Ariel Schulman, Henry Joost, Angela Wesselman-Pierce
Rated PG-13

From Directors: Alison Ellwood, Alex Gibney, starring Stanley Tucci, Ken Kesey, Timothy Leary, Jim Meskimen
Rated R

From Jonathan Berman, starring Mahaj Seeger, Peter Coyote, Cedar Seeger, Mel Kramer
Rated Not Rated

From Directors: Heidi Ewing, Alex Gibney, Seth Gordon, Rachel Grady, Eugene Jarecki, Morgan Spurlock, starring James Ransone, Tempestt Bledsoe, Melvin Van Peebles, Morgan Spurlock
Rated PG-13