These Documentaries Offer The Real Deal
By Rashmi Goel
The best Netflix documentaries are available for something more substantial than fictional shows and films. This fact-based cinema and television provide us with plenty of pathos and beautiful moments of nature to immerse ourselves in. Netflix keeps us entertained and educated for hours with its wide selection of documentaries and docuseries. If you're a fan of true crime and murder mysteries or you're more intrigued by the natural world, Netflix has many options for you. One of the reasons it's the best streaming service: it has one of the widest selections of documentaries of any streaming platform, so you are almost guaranteed to find something that you love.
Abducted in Plain Sight
The documentary film Abducted in Plain Sight, also referred to as Forever B, was directed by Skye Borgman in 2017. Robert Berchtold kidnapped Jan Broberg Felt on two occasions in the 1970s. In a documentary about his kidnapping, the documentary covers the kidnappings of Jan Broberg Felt, an Idaho teenager who was abducted by him twice. Her family and wider community were greatly relieved when Jan Broberg, then 12, was returned to them after being abducted by a close family friend in 1974. Robert Berchtold kidnapped Broberg again, leaving many baffled as to how such a crime could have been allowed to happen a second time. There are many moments in Abducted in Plain Sight that will make you wonder what people are thinking, as many of the details are beyond belief. This makes it one of the best Netflix documentaries.
Sophie: A Murder In West Cork
https://www.netflix.com There is going to be a docuseries about Sophie Toscan du Plantier's death in 2021 called Sophie: A Murder in West Cork. If you enjoy dark, moody murder mysteries, this one is for you. The body of a French woman who visited her holiday home in West Cork, Ireland over the Christmas holiday season of 1996 was found on the rocky path leading to her secluded property. To date, no one has been convicted of the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier. Ian Bailey, a local journalist, was sentenced to 25 years in prison for the crime in France, but avoided extradition. The story of Bailey is made that much more intriguing and bizarre by Bailey's participation in the documentary.
My Octopus Teacher
https://www.netflix.com Netflix's 2020 original documentary film My Octopus Teacher follows filmmaker Craig Foster as he forges an extraordinary relationship with a wild octopus in South Africa's kelp forest. Freediving in a kelp forest in an area of False Bay, near Cape Town, South Africa, has been Foster's passion for years. It was near Simon's Town on the Cape Peninsula, which is exposed to the cold Benguela current of the Atlantic Ocean. As he documented his experiences, he encountered a curious young octopus that captivated his attention. Foster follows the octopus for nearly a year as he develops an intimate relationship with her. Foster and she form a bond in which she allows Foster to see what she does for a living, how she sleeps, and what she eats. She often has to defend herself against pyjama sharks. After losing an arm in a single attack, she retreats to her den to recover, slowly regenerating it over three months. Her creativity improves even more when she is attacked by a shark later on, including sticking to its back. In the aftermath of mating with a male octopus and producing a large number of eggs, she dies naturally while tending to her eggs. She is later scavenged by a shark and carried away. This mentorship-like relationship with the octopus taught Foster a lesson about life's fragility and humanity's connection with nature. As Foster's son develops as a diver and marine biology student, he creates a deeper bond with his son.
Athlete A
https://www.netflix.com The documentary film 'Athlete A' will be directed by Bonni Cohen and Jon Shenk in 2020. The Indianapolis Star reports on how investigative journalists uncovered Larry Nassar's abuse of young female gymnasts as well as the subsequent allegations against USA Gymnastics and Steve Penny. USA Gymnastics' subsequent cover-up of the sexual assault allegations against Dr. Larry Nassar shocked the nation. Sports that were often depicted as pure and wholesome struggled to accept the fact that they were hopelessly corrupted. In Athlete A, the author gives voice not only to the survivors of Dr. Nassar and USA Gymnastics, but also details the journalistic process that exposed these shocking acts. A documentary like this is a powerful warning to the rest of the sports world and perhaps even society at large.
Seaspiracy
https://www.netflix.com A British filmmaker, Ali Tabrizi, directed and starred in Seaspiracy, a documentary film about the environmental impact of fishing. Human impacts on marine life are discussed in the film, and a call for the end of fish consumption is made. This documentary from 2021 focuses on the environmental impact of mass fishing and the destruction humans cause to marine life. It makes some convincing arguments for why eliminating fish consumption might be a very good idea. There clearly is a certain amount of propaganda involved - Seaspiracy's underlying message is to end fish consumption.
The Tinder Swindler
https://www.netflix.com Filmed by Felicity Morris, The Tinder Swindler is a true crime documentary about a British scammer. Shimon Hayut, an Israeli, toured Europe presenting himself as the son of Russian-Israeli diamond magnate Lev Leviev, aka the Diamond King. Simon Leviev posed as Simon Leviev on Tinder and tricked women into lending him money that he would never be able to repay. While using money borrowed from other women he had previously conned, he would charm women with lavish gifts and take them to dinners on private jets. In the following days, he would pretend that his "enemies" were targeting him, sending the same messages and images to each woman, indicating that he had just been attacked with a knife but that his bodyguard had saved him. As a result, he asked his victims to assist him financially by taking out bank loans and getting new credit cards in order to pay off the breach of security, supposedly preventing him from using his credit cards and bank accounts. In essence, he operated a Ponzi scheme by luring new victims with the money he gained from the deception. Then, he would give forged documents showing fake bank transfers to his victims and then break off all contact with them. To extort more money from his victims, he would sometimes go so far as to threaten them and manipulate them. Globally, he reportedly swindled $10 million from people.
American Murder: The Family Next Door
https://www.netflix.com A true crime documentary directed by Jenny Popplewell, American Murder: The Family Next Door tells the story of an American family. Taking place in Frederick, Colorado in 2018, the 2018 Watts family murders are the subject of the film. To portray the events, the film uses archival footage from social media posts, police recordings, text messages and home video footage. Chris Watts kills his family in this found footage film; interrogations and quotes from friends and family, Chris's shocked mistress who believed the couple were separated, and text messages copied from Shanann's cell phone reveal that Chris hasn't had a sexual encounter with her for five weeks straight. Chris' murders are also the subject of a variety of public theories. The two radio hosts said Shanann was a "narcissist" and a "bitch" obsessed with her phone. She was prolific on social media and constantly recorded her children in cell phone videos. Since the murders, the Watts Family has accused the public of repeatedly bullying and defaming them using digital technology to spread rumours. On the other hand, Chris Watts did not indicate that Shanann's constant cell phone use bothered him, instead implying that Shanann was physically abusive. At the end of the film, the movie reveals this was a false allegation, and it leaves no solid answers as to what Chris' motive was for the murders. Shannan was buried in a shallow grave at his workplace (an oil field). After killing both of Shannan's daughters, Chris stuffed their bodies in twenty-foot-high oil tanks on the property.
Fantastic Fungi
https://www.netflix.com Louie Schwartzberg directs the 2019 American documentary Fantastic Fungi. A creature that feeds you, heals you, reveals the secrets of the universe and could save the planet might be interesting. From 2019 Maui Film Festival Visionary Award honoree and director Louie Schwartzberg comes Fungi: a glorious time-lapse journey about the magical, mysterious, and medicinal world of fungi, their power to heal, sustain, and contribute to the rebirth of life on Earth that began 3.5 billion years ago.
The Social Dilemma
https://www.netflix.com In 2020, Jeff Orlowski and Davis Coombe will direct a docudrama film entitled "The Social Dilemma" written by Orlowski, Davis Coombe, and Vickie Curtis. It explores how social media's design engenders an addiction, manipulates people's views, emotions, and behavior, and spreads conspiracy theories and misinformation to maximize profit. In the documentary, psychological underpinnings and manipulation techniques are exposed by which social media companies allegedly enslave their users. According to interviewees, this often leads to an increase in depression and suicide among teens and young adults. A cast of actors portrays this in Orlowski's dramatization. Skyler Gisondo plays Ben, a teenager, who falls for these tactics and falls deeper into a social media addiction. The film touches on the dangers of artificial intelligence and fake news. According to Harris, this is a "disinformation-for-profit business model", where companies make money by allowing "unregulated messages to reach anyone for the cheapest price".
Pray Away
https://www.netflix.com Producer and director Kristine Stolakis produced and directed the documentary film Pray Away in 2021. It features former religious leaders and victims of conversion therapy. Blum and Murphy serve as executive producers. In this heartbreaking and at times enraging documentary, former leaders from the "pray the gay away" movement, started by evangelical group Exodus International, discuss their departure from the church. Survivors of conversion therapy are also interviewed, giving them a chance to share their stories while at the same time being shown compassion. Barbaric practices like these are still occurring in the world today, but the more they are brought to light, the closer we will be to eliminating them for good, we can only hope.
High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America
https://www.netflix.com This 2021 Netflix docuseries, High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America, stars Stephen Satterfield, Gabrielle E.W. Carter and Jessica B. Harris. There's no way to understand American cuisine without acknowledging and respecting African American recipes and techniques which have deeply informed, influenced, and changed it throughout history. High on Hog travels across the country and traces African American cooking back to its pre-enslavement origins in four episodes that provide both a compelling and informative look at American cuisine. This is a must-watch for foodies and those who want to learn more about the culture surrounding the American food scene.
Making a Murderer
https://www.netflix.com The television series Making a Murderer is based on the true crime documentary written by Laura Ricciardi and directed by Moira Demos. In this show, Steven Avery from Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, tells the story of his wrongful conviction for sexual assault and attempted murder of Penny Beerntsen. From 1985 to 2003, he was in prison for 18 years. He was later convicted of Teresa Halbach's murder in 2007. Brendan Dassey, convicted as an accessory to murder, has a connection to the murder.
A Secret Love
https://www.netflix.com Christopher Bolan directed a 2020 American documentary film called A Secret Love. Jason Blum is the executive producer of the film, under his Blumhouse Productions banner. Ryan Murphy serves as a producer on the film. A Secret Love explores the history of former professional baseball player Terry Donahue and her longtime partner Pat Henschel through a touching and romantic story. Despite keeping their love affair hidden from their families for over 70 years, the women eventually decided to come out. The documentary examines the fallout from this decision and the enduring love shared between these two women who have spent their lives together but kept their love a secret from anyone else.
Murder Among the Mormons
https://www.netflix.com A true crime documentary television miniseries about Mark Hofmann, one of the world's most renowned forgers, who created forgeries related to the Mormon movement. Producer Joe Berlinger serves as executive producer. There are three episodes. As part of a docuseries set to upend the Mormon church as we know it, Murder Among the Mormons examines the life of Mark Hofmann, one of the world's most famous forgers. It just so happened that Hoffman created a couple of forgeries related to the Latter Day Saint movement. It is an interesting watch even for those who are unfamiliar with the Mormon faith, even though he is now in prison for creating an explosive device that killed two people.
Killer Ratings
https://www.netflix.com On May 31, 2019, Netflix released the true crime documentary series Killer Ratings, which focuses on Brazilian television host and politician Wallace Souza, who was accused of ordering a series of murders to boost the ratings of his television news program Canal Livre. Wallace Souza's program, which exposed and exposed murders, kidnappings, and anti-trafficking operations, became very popular and resulted in him being elected congressman for the state of Amazonas. Police began investigating Souza in 2009 for ordering murders to boost the ratings of his show.
13th
https://www.netflix.com Ava DuVernay directed the 2016 documentary 13th. The documentary looks at the relationship between the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery in the United States and ended involuntary servitude except as a punishment for crime, and the mass incarceration of Black citizens in America. The documentary 13th focuses on how, despite the "abolition" of slavery, things like Jim Crow laws, the school-to-prison pipeline, the war on drugs, and the prison industrial complex have all contributed to what is essentially "slavery with extra steps".
The Staircase
https://www.netflix.com Michael Peterson, convicted of the murder of his wife Kathleen Peterson, was tried in 2004 in English-language documentary television miniseries, The Staircase, produced and directed by Jean-Xavier de Lestrade. Michael Peterson attributed his wife's death to a fall down the stairs in his home in 2001. A bizarre thing about this is that it is not the first time he has lost a romantic partner in exactly that fashion. As a result of the medical examiner's discovery that Peterson's wife had been beaten with a weapon, the writer was not longer a grieving widow but a suspect in a potential murder. This 13-part drama follows Peterson from the moment he is accused through to the moment he hears his verdict.
Elize Matsunaga: Once Upon A Crime
https://www.netflix.com The Netflix docuseries Elizé Matsunaga: Once Upon a Crime (Eliza Matsunaga: Era uma Vez um Crime) first aired in 2021. Brazil's Elize Matsunaga committed murder and dismemberment of her husband, Marcos Matsunaga, in 2012, shocking the country. The film allows Elize to tell her side of the story for the very first time. Although she doesn't deny shooting Marcos dead in their home and tossing his body parts onto the side of a road 20 miles from their Sao Paulo home, she plays the role for the first time on Once Upon a Crime. Marcos' family members, friends, as well as experts who worked on the original case are also interviewed, which makes the documentary feel more balanced, well-rounded, and comprehensive.
How to Become a Tyrant
https://www.netflix.com Netflix's Docu-Series How to Become a Tyrant features Peter Dinklage as the narrator. The truth is that abuses of power, including those committed by Adolf Hitler, Saddam Hussein, and Joseph Stalin, continue to be rampant and we're only ever a few steps away from repeating the past. Throughout How to Become a Tyrant, Peter Dinklage examines how individuals who are bold or simply unhinged enough can go about attempting to gain power. Even though the stories of some of the world's worst dictators may be a bit terrifying, it's worth the existential dread you may feel while watching it.
Chef's Table
https://www.netflix.com David Gelb, an American film director and co-founder of Supper Club, created Chef's Table. This show features some of the world's most renowned chefs as they share their stories, show off their culinary styles, and prepare inspired, sometimes mesmerizing meals. Innovative chefs such as Asma Khan, Christina Tosi, Alex Atala, Enrique Olvera, and Massimo Bottura lift the veil behind dining rooms and kitchens over six seasons. David Gelb's documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi is a follow-up to the series, which focuses each episode on a specific chef and explores his or her cooking philosophy and approach. Rather than using reality television, both documentaries utilize cinematography and production techniques based on traditional filmmaking.
David Attenborough: A Life On Our Planet
https://www.netflix.com In 2020, David Attenborough will narrate A Life on Our Planet, a British documentary film produced and directed by Jonnie Hughes. He has witnessed more natural wonders than any other person. His testimony appears in this feature documentary. At 93 years of age, David Attenborough has visited every continent on earth, exploring the wild places of our planet and documenting the living world in all its variety and wonder. It is the first time he has reflected upon both the defining moments of his life as a naturalist and the devastating changes he has witnessed. An honest, revealing, and urgent account of human impact on nature, DAVID ATTENBOROUGH: A LIFE ON OUR PLANET is full of hope for the future. It is produced by award-winning natural history filmmakers Silverback Films and global conservation organization WWF and directed by Alastair Fothergill, Jonnie Hughes, and Keith Scholey, with Colin Butfield as executive producer. Over the course of his long career as a broadcaster, Sir David Attenborough has become regarded as one of the world's most famous naturalists. Through groundbreaking natural history series, she has discovered the wonders of our living world on every continent on the globe. Life on Earth, Planet Earth, and more recently, the Netflix original series Our Planet are among his works.
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