Working my way through DOC NYC 2020 this last couple weeks, I realize the multiple factors that are setting reactions to documentaries.
First, there is content, and how each of us connects to that material. Something we didn't know about something that fascinates us is always the "best" film. Something we know a bit about that is enhanced by a new film is excellent. Something that fits or refutes our personal and political interests is, depending on the viewer, fantastic or horrible.
Second, there is the filmmaking. Sometimes, a polished film loses high marks because it feels too clean. Sometimes, polish allows a complex subject to be seen more clearly than it has ever been before. Some love straight vérité while others are put to sleep by it. Shaky camerawork can make some go insane, while others see it as the most authentic style. Reenactment can be joy or a sin. And the other elements of these films, from music to editing to animation and more, are judged whether the viewer is consci…
