From controversial history lessons to interesting celebrity biographies, the streamer has something for any mood or interest.
The streaming landscape can seem limitless. It is not and here you'll get all covered up. Netflix offers hundreds of documentaries in its streaming collection, but not all of them are created equal, so here are a few options that are narrowed down for you with all top selections for the greatest documentary films now available on the streaming site. If you want something light and visually appealing, you have come to the correct place. If you are looking for something both horrific and fascinating, check out the alternatives below. If you only have 30 or 40 minutes to kill, Netflix offers something for you.
The 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, but this harrowing documentary contends that both have simply taken on various forms in the years since its ratification. The Emmy-winning film directed by filmmaker Ava DuVernay traces the systematic oppression of Black Americans after slavery was officially abolished in 1865, from segregation to the disproportionate targeting of minorities during the drug war to the prison-industrial complex, from which private contractors profited financially, DuVernay covers several and sophisticated sorts of corruption here, but the 13th is meticulously organised to show how each act of disenfranchisement leads to the next, acting as a fascinating rallying cry.
Sarma Melngailis, the celebrity restaurateur behind popular upmarket vegan restaurants such as Pure Food and Wine and One Lucky Duck, is a story unlike any other in New York’s food sector. Melngailis’ restaurant business was on the rise in the raw food world, thanks to critical praise and celebrity clients until her marriage to a deceitful guy brought it crashing down.
This first film from Brack and Michelle Obama's production firm Higher Ground, which won the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature, takes an even-handed look at the struggles and tribulations of a Chinese-owned windscreen manufacturing in Dayton, OH. As domestic workers are charged with more intensive labour for lesser pay, their Chinese employers face culture shock as they adjust to the American way of life.
Following the success of American Factory, Higher Ground launched this Oscar-nominated documentary on Camp Jened, a New York summer camp that provided a safe refuge for people with disabilities. The film, which includes video from co-director James LeBrecht’s experiences there in the early 1970s, shows how the campers went on to battle in the late-twentieth-century disability rights movement. Crip Camp, which balances tenderness and intensity in its message, provides a more three-dimensional depiction of this marginalised population than most films, emphasising the strength of pushing for one’s rights.
Similar to the 1995 groundbreaking film The Celluloid Closet, which discussed about LGBTQIA+ representation on screen, this documentary focuses on trans people in Hollywood. While the material often speaks for itself, the documentary's value stems from real-life performers and artists addressing how cultural images affected not only social perceptions of trans people but also how they see themselves.
In this stirring documentary, the tales of three adopted American teenage girls reveal the repercussions of China's one-child policy. Each gets adopted from China and learns they are cousins, prompting them to investigate their ancestry. What makes found so fascinating is how it allows for multiple viewpoints from cousins - one feels totally at home in America, while the other hopes that reconnecting with her roots will give some resolution. Keep tissues handy when watching.
From light and pleasant to fascinating and dark, all kinds of documentaries are served here for you to decide.
