Why You Should Watch Experimental Documentaries
Watch my experimental film Labyrinth Ion: labyrinthion.com
Letterboxd list of every documentary referenced: letterboxd.com/thomasflight/l...
Films referenced:
Koyaanisqatsi 1982
Leviathan 2012
Sans Soleil 1983
Samsara 2011
Lessons of Darkness 1992
Cameraperson 2016
Sleep Has Her House 2017
Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One 1968
Chronicle of a Summer 1961
Voyage of Time: Life’s Journey 2016
As I Was Moving Ahead Occasionally I Saw Brief Glimpses of Beauty 2000
Man with a Movie Camera 1929
London 1994
Fata Morgana 1971
Labyrinth Ion 2022
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#ThomasFlight #VideoEssay
Chapters:
00:00 Cold Open
00:26 The Power of Context
01:39 The Beauty And Chaos of Experimental Documentaries
02:38 Non-Verbal Narratives
05:17 The Birth of Reality TV
06:13 Herzog's Ecstatic Truth
09:02 The Subjectivity of Image
09:50 A Genre of Trickery
11:59 A Guided Meditation
13:44 Revealing the Full Potential of Cinema
16:43 My Experimental Film
Koyaanisqatsi is one of the greatest films ever made. Every human being should see it!
and the other 2 that go with it! Baraka, and Samsara!!
these are my favorite type of documentaries. in terms of purely visual ones, I'm surprised you didn't mention the excellent Apollo 11 documentary from 2019. watching that in 70mm IMAX was unbelievable
Absolutely amazing I agree!
Hmm how would that qualify as experimental?
@@cheetahluv210 because it's purely visual. No talking heads, no narration, just the 70mm print and any other archival footage and images
@@highwind1991 okay I see how it’s purely visual but that doesn’t seem experimental it just seems archival
Hey, I was wondering, how find out that documentaries like this will show in theaters. Like would I have to be in fandango or some smaller site that has some of these listed
So glad that F for Fake is mentioned here. That one is severly underlooked, like many movies Welles did after Citizen Kane.
Sans Soleil is my favorite movie of all time. After seeing it, I was desperate to find more movies like it, and so I found this niche, which includes so many great films and filmmakers that more people should be aware of. So glad you made this video!
Sans Soleil is mind-blowing. I don't talk about it much here because I hope that will get it's own video one day. (Lets also just say it has been very influential on the secret feature-length project I'm currently working on).
@@ThomasFlight that's a relief but Chris Marker deserved his name mentioned in this at the very least
Can you share a top list?
Can you please say the list
Baraka was my introduction to this genre and has become one of my favorite films. The older I've gotten the more I've grown to appreciate nonverbal storytelling in general.
I recall, many years ago, watching an interview with Sylvester Stallone, where he said the perfect movie script would only contain one word.
@@hodgemann Raul Ruiz made a movie called On Top of the Whale which kind of touches on this concept. In the movie, people are studying a tribe who speak a language with only a few words - but those words can be used to describe anything.
I have a lot of appreciation to The Man with a Movie Camera, when I watched that film for the first time I was blown away by the editing, it looked so modern being a movie from 1929.
It's videos like this which I yearn for on youtube when it comes to watching cinema related essays. It's videos like this which restore my love and faith in movies as a piece of art and not just as an entertainment.
More than 'experimental documentary" these are what used to be called "film essays", since they function more in the tradition of the literary essay. They share a lot of things in common regarding their relationship to reality, the fact that they both reject being pigeonholed as just "non-fiction" or just journalism, and their dealing with other forms of expression such as poetry. Some people classify the film essay as being a part of the documentary category of film but I personally think that the 'essay' name is what we should have been calling the category from the start in opposition to being just a fiction film and for the reasons I mentioned before. It makes more sense for the reasons outlined in the video to say that you’re making a film that is "essaying" with a subject or group of subjects than it is to say that you are just "documenting" which implies (again, like the video says) that you’re just an impartial spectator and aren't introducing your subjectivity into the film. The thing is, that in the youtube era the term has lost its original meaning and we use it for a much wider range of things and most of the public just associates the term with short videos online.
Holy shit. That was like reading an academic paper. I’ll have to reread that several times
@@julesdrums6167 I feel like I could have explained myself better but english is not my first language 🙃
@@marianoguy No way man, that was way better than I could have said it and I am a native english speaker. You're just a smart fellow!
@@julesdrums6167 that's high praise!
what are your favourite essay films or essay film directors?
Philip Glass is one of my all time favorite composers. An underrated score of his is from the film The Illusionist, check it out!
Every shot from your film at the end is incredible, any one of them made me want to walk a video game character through it and explore it as a "place"
sometimes I forget you like films, too
As I was looking at the visuals, and listening at how documentaries have to discover the story rather than write it, I was thinking that this is a quality the medium of videogames often uses, too. Especially those videogames that create worlds to explore and inhabit.
If I were to summarize your videos (at least recently), I’d say you are fascinated with how the medium of film can be used to evoke subjective experience. You talk a lot about objectivity vs. subjectivity, and how playing with those notions can make the audience see, hear, feel, and experience things more viscerally and authentically. I love it, keep up the great work, Thomas! Thank you for some of the best video essays in KZhead!
I can put into words how it does, and it's probably different for everyone who sees it but I don't think you can walk away from Koyaanisqatsi without your perception of "reality" on Earth deeply challenged, if not upended. I just stumbled across it on public TV, not long after it was released, with know context or introduction. There it was. There I was...transfixed, stunned, confused, revolted, ecstatic, breathless, and moved almost tears by both the beauty and tragedy of it's unflinching reality. The sequel, Powaqqatsi, is equally as amazing.
I loved this. I'm a big fan of experimental Documentaries. Cameraperson being a more recent example. There is so much more that can be done with film and we are lucky to have artist willing to try to push the boundaries. A more traditional documentary which did a lot for me was the classic American Movie.
I am so impressed by your ability to write and narrate with a clear, academic, and intentional tone while still maintaining a consistent personal candor. Thank you for your work and introducing these documentaries! Im excited to check them out!
“Stories are discovered not created.” I have seen none of the films you mentioned here yet I find myself nodding vigorously with what are being said. THANK-YOU so much for making this essay and for leaving those references so I can make my own discovery.
Strongly recommend watching documentaries made by Artavazd Peleshyan
I gotta admit... I watched Koyaanisqatsi for the first time when I was high on weed. Then it has since become a habit, every time I smoke weed, I watch Koyaanisqatsi. Until one day I watched it for the first time fully sober. 10 minutes into the movie, I was instantly high.
This is the best video essay I ever watched, truly spoke to me and made me want to watch every single doc you mentioned while contemplating my life
You might've just made my favourite youtube video in a long while, THANK YOU
I saw Herzog's "Lessons of Darkness" in 2004 as a senior in high school and to this day contains some of the most frightening and evocative imagery every imprinted on my mind; I find myself going back to it often, for whatever reason.
I highly recommend "Voices Through Time" by Franco Piavoli, a beautiful non-narrated documentary about the cycles of life.
Since I’ve been going to more museums I’ve been seeing imagery similar to this and just been desperate to find little clues to where I can see more of it and you just blessed us with this little golden nugget of a video. Thank you so much for sharing this !
I'm only halfway through the video but I just want to jot down my thoughts of this film. This is by far the most thought provoking film I've ever seen. Your writing and choice of footage to structure the narrative is a dazzling display of KZhead content creation. The quintessential video essay channel. I hope you find great joy with making these videos, God bless you.
I fucking love your channel, dude. I'm learning so much about filmmaking. Congrats on the release of the film too.
Thanks for the great collection of documentaries.. very inspirational
Watched Grey Gardens the other day, I think it would fall under what you're talking about here and it was really amazing. Surprisingly profound.
Extraordinary "commentary" encapsulating staggering visuals. Amazing. The world is huge, so many subjects to study, to attempt to comprehend and understand. Didn't even know this study existed before stumbling onto your video, "Why Better Call Saul is Brilliant." Thanks!
Stark! Love your videos, they expand my interests and the way I see cinema, films and the world. Thank you for your work.
When I understood what kind of movies you were referencing, I instantly thought of Manufactured Landscapes (2006), of how it makes you feel and perceive the world differently. I haven't seen Lessons of darkness but the images reminded me of that. The scale of the transformation we impose over the world is impressive, and as people in developed countries we're rarely used to seeing that perspective. That movie really stuck with me.
You are definitely shaping my understanding of the art of film. Love every video you make, this is one of the best. Also love your own film, looks like a great experience i’d love to watch it.
Herzog "Lessons of Darkness" is truly a masterpiece. These aerial shots.....
What a truly wonderful channel. Strictly for the sophisticated palate.
Thank you so much for the ideas !
Fantastic list, well written and read.
Nice essay and congrats for the documentary
Thank you for making a beautiful video! I feel enriched having listened to you speak!
AMAZING video, thank you for this. You really tap into something profound and examples of artists challenging the limits of the medium. Kepp them coming
If you haven't seen Apollo 11, you seriously need to. Probably one of my favourite films, period. And definitely take some time to checkout Jennifer Baichwal's films like Anthropocene, Watermark & Manufactured Landscapes. Highly recommend.
a favorite video of yours. gonna be checking these out. love the way you described the herzog film - thanks!
Absolutely stunning!! I didn’t expect to be hypnotized in my waking up time until I realized 18 minutes had gone by.
I'm late to the party, but this is a wonderful video! One of the influences on my most recent documentary project was the film "Into Great Silence", about a monastery full of silent monks. It's nearly 3 hours and almost entirely devoid of "plot," but absolutely the definition of meditative, prayerful art.
What a beautiful video essay, thank you.
The beauty and choas
Amazing! Thank you Thomas for your wisdom!
this is an awesome video, and I can't wait to see Labyrinth Ion!
Thank you for this Thomas
A really fantastic and important topic about film. I’ve always wanted to watch more of these kinds of movies. Truly a great video. F for Fake really is incredible, though. The editing is truly breathtaking.
Dude you just described what I love so much about chris marker stuff (nice Sans Soleil reference!)
Purchased the special addition in order to support the important work you're doing. Look forward to reviewing… 🙌
This blew me mind - subscribed.
I remember seeing 'Koyaanisqatsi' in a theater, back in the early '80s. It certainly rocked my world. I believe there is great value to be found in these experimental documentaries - they give us a very different experience of what non-fiction film can be. Herzog's 'Lessons of Darkness' is amazing, as is his 'Into the Inferno'; both of which give the viewer a new way of looking at events, or as he says 'tell an ecstatic, poetic truth' that is deeper than mere cinema-verite. All these films are valuable to the film experience. Even Warhol's 'documentaries' are interesting, and have worth. Your film looks intriguing. :)
I was on the DOK Leipzig this year due to my work as a journalist. It's a film festival for documentary and animation in, well, Leipzig. I watched about 25 short and long films and critiqued some of them as well as doing some interviews with directors and "actors". All of that made me fall in love with documentaries forever and I highly recommend visiting the DOK next year to all of you!
What incredible recommendations, I can't wait to dive in
this is so very much my jam , can't wait to buy your film!
Very good job, Thomas, and a truly fine survey of experimental docs. I happen to have seen most of the films depicted. And yes, they truly are eye-opening. I think perhaps you might have included (part II?) some of the wonderful personal documentary essay films of the past 40 years. To choose just two (out of hundreds) there’s Alan Berliner’s Intimate Stranger at the more personal end of the spectrum, and Chris Marker’s seminal Sans Soleil as a profound social and more global style commentary. Really glad you decided to go down this path!
Sans Soleil is a personal favorite, saving that one for its own video one day.
Watched Koyaanisqatsi for the first time two week ago. I since watched and rewatched it, Chronos and Baraka multiple times and yesterday, finally, my Samsara Blu-Ray arrived, which I had also never seen before. So inspiring!
Thank you for making this.
this is my favorite channel on KZhead
What a fantastic essay! Definitely inspires me not only to go and watch a few of those stunning visual masterpieces, but to think about what I could make in that genre as well! Fascinating! Appreciate it a lot! Oh, and the preview of your own film also looks great! (I’m guessing there’s a few shots of foods? At least it looked like that to my eye)
I remember being a freshman in high school and seeing Koyaanisqatsi at the Hollywood Bowl while a live orchestra played Philip Glass' score and having my mind completely blown -- that experience introduced me to so much, Koyaanisqatsi and Reggio's other experimental documentaries, Philip Glass, non verbal films (one of my favorites types of movies to watch)
I am not entirely certain of this yet, it will take more consideration, but I think you are my favorite KZheadr (maybe ever)
god i love Koyaanisqatsi, truly a masterpiece. I watched it at the Walden School of Music and it changed my life lol, that film is weirdly powerful. I would love to hear you go deeper into Phillips score, as in my opinion, it's the reason you interpret the humanity of everything, and it truly dictates the pace and the audio-visual narrative. That sounds pretentious, but I think you know what I mean. That score is fucking insane, it deserves a video in and of itself.
Samsara is one of my favorite films and since then i take time for these visual docs more and more
Great Video! Subscribed right away.
Love this video and experimental docs. Tokyo Noise is the experimental doc that opened me up to the genre.
Great job and what a deep perspective much respect
this is the best promo video I've ever seen
Couple of years ago there was this truly weird film on a doc film festival in Paris supposedly (according to a conversation among other audience members) about looking at society falling apart in front of us. The director came on stage afterwards and didn't even get to give his version of what it is because he had to referee different blocs of the audience arguing for one "truth" or another. Some russians in attendance felt outraged about how their country was depicted (the thing was shot all over the world but never mind),some thought it was some sort of sci fi, no clearly horror Comedy Cinema vérité.. Makes you wonder what it really was supposed to mean and if I would still be intrigued by it if I fully knew. Anyway, good introduction into more experimental doc films, well done. Shout out to Peter Mettler who could/should have been in this maybe and I guess sans soleil deserves it's own episode. Good work.
You remember the name of the doc?
Thank you for this! Samsara is actually one of my favorite films of all time, and that film alone made me stop eatng meat and become a minimalist. And it just has no words. I really like documataries that just shows the feeling of something, like that fish boat, I gotta see that.
Very interesting introduction to a sub-genre I recently heard of for the first time, but knew nothing about. Thanks!
Great video. I love these types of documentaries and more people should watch them, no doubt.
You are very good . Well done from the deepest of my heart . Keep on ..
I saw an amazing doc recently that def fits this. It's called "I Didn't See You There" by Reid Davenport. It's all from his POV as he goes about his life mainly rolling in his wheelchair through Oakland, and it's beautiful.
Best art video ive seen in like a year
Man, great video essay!!
Your work has helped me learn a lot about film. Thanks.
Really interesting. Thank you!
Boy, this has me really inspired to create my own film now.
AMAZING THANK YOU AND THANK YOU AGAIN!!
So happy to see you talk about Leviathan and Sleep Has Her House. Psychogeographical films like these have always been my complete artistic obsession. If this is your shit too, I can't recommend enough the movies of the grandmaster James Benning, especially his California Trilogy or Ruhr, as well as any of the short films by his student Bill Brown or an Injury to One by Travis Wilkerson.
Definitely gonna put them on the list!
Yeah, I was going to mention Benning's California Trilogy - a filmmaker deeply rooted in the experimental scene and yet while the California Trilogy is experimental and harkens back to the actuality films of the early 20th century it is also fundamentally a documentary about the politics of land and space. Much closer to psychogeography though would be Patrick Keiller's London (which is credited in the video and sadly only used for a single frame, unless I missed something). Another rec would be another student of Benning, Deborah Stratman, her films In Order Not be Here and O'er the Land are phenomenal.
Incredible video as usual, Surprised you didn’t mention Close-Up by Abbas Kiarostami. Also, you must check out Cousin Jules (1973) and A Man Vanishes (1967)
Close-Up is great! Eventually you just have to stop somewhere though or the videos just get too long haha.
Watched Koyannisqatsi because of this vid. Really interesting experience. Never had any piece of media make me feel that way before. Getting bored yet enjoying myself. Seeing the beauty of nature and humanity together, juxtaposed against each other with some of the editing and music. Then that ending. Wow
loved it great piece! Your film looks awesome gonna have to check it out.
Koyaanisqatsi is beyond words brilliant. Visual imagery that produces emergent story telling that cannot be told any other way.
thank you so much for this video.
No ads in the intro-auto sub
Awesome stuff!
This is beautiful
Feels like I'm back in my Elements of Film class. We watched a 15min film on 16mm of a brick wall slowly coming into focus
Thomas, I wanted to say thank you for these recommendations. I was already well familiar with Koyaanisqatsi, but Samsara is special as well. ‘The Office Man’ segment almost struck me dumb. Interestingly, the director of Samsara was the DP for Koyaanisqatsi. I very much look forward to absorbing your other recommendations. Thanks again!
Thank you so much for this important work. i love ESSAY films try also for myself ti come on this route.
i stopped this video midway through to go watch Lessons of Darkness. great film. and great video. your title worked.
Koyaanisqatsi is one of my all time favorites. Not enough people have even heard of it, let alone seen it. Hopefully this brings it, along with similar films, the attention they deserve.
I remember goin to a local theater & watching the doc samsara, at some point in the movie the movie transcended into a primordial language that was communicating to me in the deepest level, purely off imagery I was put into a trip w/ no drugs & felt like it was just speaking to me alone & could understand everything it was saying, when I snapped out of it at the end, it was like something timeless awoke or was reminded within me & realized there were other ppl there too, I left the theater & before I crossed the street to go on my way I just stood there for minutes as the nyc world around me was moving.. haven't felt that since & never forgot how it felt
I recommend Ornette Coleman’s Made in America. The experimental filmmaking perfectly fits Coleman’s unconventional musicianship
You should watch Joel Haver's "Say That You Love Me"! It's such a beautiful and heart breaking film, and I still don't know whether it was done with actors or real people, neither do the rest of the viewers. Although Joel's best known for his silly skits this is a really beautifully crafted and poignant story about trying to find love and just connection as a sensitive male, alongside trying to deal with the grief from his father's death. He shot and edited the whole thing as well as being the main star.
I _REALLY_ love F for Fake. You have to invest a bit of attention, but where it leads you, ends up being a place you never knew existed, just behind a familiar doorway in your own mind. He breaks the fourth wall only for there to be another to be broken after charming you back into his impeccable narrative.
beautiful video
It reminds me of why I was so enamored by episode 8 or Twin Peaks The Return. Beautiful video thankyou
Thomas has such a beautiful voice.