Self-reflection in documentary film
A selection of films in which documentary filmmakers tell stories about themselves.
Self-reflection in documentary film
Together with a film school, we've put together a selection of films in which documentary filmmakers tell stories about themselves. Save the list for a self-reflective mood.
Walden (1969), directed by Jonas Mekas
Daily recordings of the director's personal life and everyday events, edited into a year-and-a-half-long video diary.
The Beaches of Agnès (2008), directed by Agnès Varda
An autobiographical essay in which the director revisits places from her past, reflects on life and celebrates her eightieth birthday on camera.
News from Home (1977), directed by Chantal Akerman
The director's wordless visual response to letters from her own mother, which Akerman reads one after another against the exteriors of New York.
Skype (2019), directed by a documentary filmmaker
A film about trying to find yourself through your connection with family who are very far away.
How to Save a Dead Friend (2022), directed by a documentary filmmaker
The director tells the story of her love from the turbulent 2010s. A heartfelt chronicle of her relationship with her partner, through addiction and mental health struggles, paints a portrait of a whole generation of people in their twenties against the backdrop of regions shattered by change.
Cameraperson (2016), directed by Kirsten Johnson
The director's personal collage of old footage she shot over the course of her career as a cinematographer. A look at life experience in which the expressiveness of the frame and the edits themselves are the main storytellers.
