A documentary that unveils the moral tensions that tear at soldiers' psyches through the lens of one highly personal story: Private Adam Winfield was a 21-year-old soldier in Afghanistan when he attempted with the help of his father to alert the military to heinous war crimes his platoon was committing. But Winfield's pleas went unheeded. Left on his own and with threats to his life, Private Winfield was himself drawn into the moral abyss, forced to make a split-second decision that would change his life forever.

2013 documentary film directed by Dan Krauss

A documentary from Werner Herzog about meteors and comets and their influence on ancient religions and other cultural and physical impacts they've had on Earth.

A fight on Everest? It seemed incredible. But in 2013 news channels around the world reported an ugly brawl at 6400 m (21,000 ft) as European climbers fled a mob of angry Sherpas. In 1953, New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay had reached the summit in a spirit of co-operation and brave optimism. Now climbers and Sherpas were trading insults - even blows. What had happened to the happy, smiling Sherpas and their dedication in getting foreigners to the top of the mountain they hold so sacred? Determined to explore what was going on, the filmmakers set out to make a film of the 2014 Everest climbing season, from the Sherpas' point of view. Instead, they captured a tragedy that would change Everest forever. At 6.45am on 18th April, 2014, a 14,000 ton block of ice crashed down onto the climbing route through the Khumbu Icefall, killing 16 Sherpas. It was the worst tragedy in the history of Everest. The disaster provoked a drastic reappraisal about the role of the Sherpas in the Everest industry. SHERPA tells the story of how, in the face of fierce opposition, the Sherpas united in grief and anger to reclaim the mountain they call Chomolungma.

Director Johan Grimonprez casts Alfred Hitchcock as a paranoid history professor, unwittingly caught up in a double take on the cold war period. Subverting a meticulous array of TV footage and using 'The Birds' as an essential metaphor, DOUBLE TAKE traces catastrophe culture's relentless assault on the home, from moving images' inception to the present day.

This film shows the disaster of the Kuwaitian oil fields in flames, with few interviews and no explanatory narration. Hell itself is presented in such beautiful sights and music that one has to be fascinated by it.

1992 Documentary film directed by Werner Herzog

Idi Amin Dada: A Self Portrait is an extended character study of its subject. It follows Amin closely in a series of formal and informal settings, combined with several short interviews in which Amin expounds his unconventional theories of politics, economics, and international relations. Amin is seen supervising the Ugandan paratrooper school, boating through a wildlife park, playing the accordion in a jazz band at a formal dinner, and staging a mock assault on a small hill representing the Golan Heights. He discusses his plans for an attack on Israel, and his letter to Kurt Waldheim, then Secretary General of the United Nations sent in response to the 1972 Munich massacre, which commended Hitler, is touched upon. On a TV program, it is announced Amin is in possession of a 'manual' which details Israel's plans: The Protocols of the Elders of Zion.

A former banker in Germany, who entered the business with the advent of modern computer systems reminisces of his working years in some of the world-leading banking corporations. His narration outlines the typical paradigm of the professional and personal life of a bank's employee, along with the ethical dilemmas they often faced. Also, he shares his views on the dynamics in financial markets and recession.

National Bird follows the dramatic journey of three whistleblowers who are determined to break the silence around one of the most controversial current affairs issues of our time: the secret U.S. drone war. At the center of the film are three U.S. military veterans. Plagued by guilt over participating in the killing of faceless people in foreign countries, they decide to speak out publicly, despite the possible consequences. Their stories take dramatic turns, leading one of the protagonists to Afghanistan where she learns about a horrendous incident. But her journey also gives hope for peace and redemption. National Bird gives rare insight into the U.S. drone program through the eyes of veterans and survivors, connecting their stories as never seen before in a documentary. Its images haunt the audience and bring a faraway issue close to home.

A documentary about the design of cities, which looks at the issues and strategies behind urban design and features some of the world's foremost architects, planners, policymakers, builders, and thinkers.

A Story of Children and Film is the world's first movie about kids in global cinema. It's passionate, poetic, portrait of the adventure of childhood: its surrealism, loneliness, fun, destructiveness and stroppiness: as seen through 53 great films from 25 countries. A story of children and film is an eye opener, a landmark film and a celebration of both childhood and the movies.

This documentary offers a glimpse into the life of an English neurosurgeon (Henry Marsh) situated in Ukraine as we are exposed to the overwhelming dilemmas he has to face and the burden he has to carry throughout his profession.

A look at the growing disparity between different economic classes.

The unprecedented success story of the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi began high up in the Himalayas. In the late 50s the guru arrived in Hollywood to propagate his school of meditation and "achieve world peace". He attracted numerous prominent followers, including the Beatles, Mia Farrow and Clint Eastwood. Today almost six million people worldwide practice transcendental meditation (TM). David, a young filmmaker seeking inspiration, is also prepared to give TM a try. Not least because his great professional idol, legendary director David Lynch, has personally assured him that this form of meditation is a great source of creativity and the key to success. David determines to take his hero's word for it: he submits himself to the expensive TM training, receives his personal mantra and has a go at "yogic flying". But incongruities soon begin to pile up. Among other things, the organization of the humble Indian guru has, in the meantime, grown into an empire worth billions. When the Maharishi dies suddenly, conflict over succession arises. David Lynch becomes the organization's most important international ambassador. Despite mounting doubts and a split from his girlfriend, David Sieveking still holds out hope of enlightenment. The young filmmaker sets out on a pilgrimage to the stations of the TM movement. Along the way he manages to come a little too close to some well-kept secrets and David Lynch reacts to the research of the film team by threatening legal action. That really ignites young David's seeking spirit. He travels all over the USA and then on to India, penetrating ever deeper into the Maharishi's bizarre empire. Instead of the promised "heaven on earth", David gazes into abysmal depths. Finally, upon arrival in the Himalayas, at the frigid source of the Ganges, he finds his own truth. David Sieveking successfully pulls off a delicate balancing act, telling the story of his investigative truth-seeking as a light-footed journey into the cinematic self. On an adventurous odyssey that takes him from Berlin's Teufelsberg via Hollywood to the Himalayas he interweaves his spiritual experiences and observations of the eccentric with a gripping gumshoe saga.

From secret Parisian parties to Berlin's infamous Berghain club, Paris/Berlin documents the underground movement of techno through the lens of two different cities. This 52 minute documentary traces the evolution of techno telling the stories of the DJ's, producers, label managers, promoters, record shops and distributors that have stayed true to its original spirit. Screened in countless clubs, cultural events, cinemas and festivals across Europe - UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Sweden, Switzerland, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Croatia, Austria, Netherlands as well as in the USA (NYC, San Francisco and Washington), Australia (Melbourne, Sydney and Perth) and Singapore -12 month's since its release and Paris/Berlin continues to attract sellout crowds worldwide.

This documentary was five years in the making, and revolves around 62-year-old Okuzaki Kenzo, a survivor of the battlefields of New Guinea in World War II who gained notoriety by slingshooting steel pinballs at Emperor Showa to protest against what he considered to be the ruler's war crimes. Setting out to conduct interviews with survivors and relatives, he finds the truth of the past to be elusive, achieving a breakthrough only when he confronts ex-Sergeant Yamada, who grudgingly admits the occurrence and instructional source of certain atrocities.

Docs/Doc-series


movie

tv show

Matthew Olsen

Singers To Checkout

Podcasts

Comedy Podcasts

Italian composer and violinist (1678-1741)

Bedtime/Relax


best punk rock bands


British-American author and journalist (1949-2011)

People to read


Everything from punk rock to hip hop to pop. I'd like to think that the list is full of bands/people that do it better than most of their contemporaries. Most of the music has resonated with me at some level or in some time of my life. What would  the soundtrack of your life sound like?

just some great bands I love

Rando artists that don't assimilate to what would be considered "the norm". Spans from hip-hop to punk rock and lots between.