As the nights get longer here in the US, that means more time for catching up on the great documentaries you’ve heard about but never have had the time to watch. These eight films will change how you look at the world you live in today.
Food Inc.
This Oscar-nominated documentary that looks at the health and environmental impact of the food we eat. The New York Times writes in its review: "'Food, Inc.,' [is] an informative, often infuriating activist documentary about the big business of feeding or, more to the political point, force-feeding, Americans all the junk that multinational corporate money can buy. You’ll shudder, shake and just possibly lose your genetically modified lunch."
Blackfish
A documentary examining the life of the killer whale Tilikum while living in captivity. "Unapologetically designed both to inform and affect, Gabriela Cowperthwaite’s delicately lacerating documentary, 'Blackfish,' uses the tragic tale of a single whale and his human victims as the backbone of a hypercritical investigation into the marine-park giant SeaWorld Entertainment," writes the New York Times in its review.
Living on One Dollar
Four American friends travel to Guatemala and attempt to live on $1 per day to experience living in extreme poverty. "Living on One Dollar follows the journey of four friends as they set out to live on just $1 a day for two months in rural Guatemala. They battle hunger, parasites, and extreme financial stress as they attempt to survive life on the edge. An unimaginable reality for most young Americans, the challenges they face are real and plague over 1.1 billion people around the world," its IMBD profile reads.
Cowspiracy
"Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret" follows filmmaker Kip Andersen as he uncovers the most destructive industry facing the planet today – and investigates why the world’s leading environmental organizations are too afraid to talk about it, according to its website.
The Mask You Live In
What does it to be a man? This film looks at how boys are taught about masculinity and how to raise a healthy generation of men.
Finding Home
"'Finding Home' is a gripping documentary following the lives of three young Cambodian women who were victims of sex trafficking at a young age. Filmmaker, Derek Hammeke, brings to life the brutal and evil world of modern day slavery. Through three years of filming their post trafficking experiences, Hammeke allows these young women to reveal their stories with dignity. — IMDB
The Testimony
This film dhronicles the longest rape trial in Congo and the brave women who told their stories. "The conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has cost more lives than any other since World War II. THE TESTIMONY chronicles the largest rape tribunal in Congo's history, offering an unprecedented glimpse into the lives of its women and the unshakable strength of the human spirit." — IMDB
The True Cost
This film looks at the price of fashion and the factory workers who make our clothes. "It's about the clothes we wear, the people who make them, and the impact the industry is having on our world. The price of clothing has been decreasing for decades, while the human and environmental costs have grown dramatically. The True Cost is a groundbreaking documentary film that pulls back the curtain on the untold story and asks us to consider, who really pays the price for our clothing?" — IMDB