Point of View Documentary Versus News Journalism
Michael Moore's documentary "Fahrenheit 9/11" is regularly attacked by Bush supporters, calling it unbalanced reporting. Is this a fair criticism of his film?
A documentary is a non-fiction film or video. The next time you visit your local bookstore, look over the top-selling non-fiction books and you'll find a great variety of opinions and perspectives. Best sellers are often "point of view" books -- the author has a particular angle on a story that expresses a point of view. This includes books and films that either support or are against the current war in Iraq.
Some books are artistic expressions that deal with the real world via photography or language. The same expression can be done with documentary. Some of these films are categorized as experimental, but would also qualify as documentaries.
One of my documentaries "The Cu Chi Tunnels" includes stories as told by Viet Kong, our former enemies, as well as creative segments of sound, music, and bomb explosions. I have worked both as a documentary filmmaker and also as a journalist - two very different hats! I am far better as a documentary storyteller since I struggle with the discipline of journalistic constraints.
Obviously "Fahrenheit 9/11" is a Point of View documentary, and not a news documentary. Michael Moore's magic strikes a nerve in our society with his point of view - valid as a documentary art form. Michael Moore, like me, would probably have to struggle if working under the journalistic constraints of a show like "60 Minutes."
It might help to cite topic headings in Erik Barnouw's famous book "Documentary: A History of the Non-Fiction Film." His topics categorize the various forms of the documentary:
1. Explorer - such
as in Robert Flaherty's "Nanook of the North."
2. Reporter
3. Painter - such as in Joris Iven's "Rain"
4. Advocate - such as in Leni Riefenstahl's "Triumph of the Will"
advocating Nazi Germany
5. Bugler - such as in Frank Capra's "Why We Fight" films (World
War II era)
6. Prosecutor - such as in Bossak and Kazimierezak's "Requiem for
500,000" a documentary on genocide in Warsaw's Ghetto.
7. Poet - such as "Glass" by Bert Haanstra, an incredible film
about an automated assembly line in Holland.
8. Chronicler - such as the "March of Time" series featuring
works of Roman Karmen including his visit with Ho Chi Minh in 1954.
9. Promoter - such as in "Louisiana Story" by Frances Flaherty
and sponsored by Standard Oil.
10. Observer - such as in Frederick Wiseman's "Titicut Follies,"
which was filmed in an institute for the criminally insane
11. Catalyst - such as in Jean Rouch's film "Jaguar," shot in
Africa.
12. Guerilla - such as in "Why Vietman," which was produced
by the Department of Defense.