Seen recently at Film Streams
I'm in the midst of reading "Writing, Directing and Producing Documentary Films and Videos." Author Alan Rosenthal contends that in order to make a good documentary, you need "a strong narrative thrust and a tale that can be recounted in the most compelling, dramatic way possible."
Goran Olsson, the director responsible for editing together footage shot by a group of Swedish journalists who documented the Black Power Movement in the United States, might have benefitted from a quick perusal of Rosenthal's book prior to beginning his work. The footage itself was indeed compelling - I headed straight for my laptop after leaving the theatre to read more about Angela Davis (where is the biopic chronicling her life?). However, the strong narrative thrust was absent.
I don't know much about Swedish culture, but perhaps thrusting isn't their forte.
Bonus Bones: 0
No puppies - not even snarling police dogs, which you would expect given the content.
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