Please select one film from the documentaries and performances listed below. These films are available from Ellis Library Databases or YouTube. The provided link should take you directly to each film, but you may need to sign in to gain access. After watching the film, write a 2-page, double-spaced (about 500 words) review of the experience. Your review should not only summarize the content of the documentary or film performance, but also offer a critical appraisal of the overall quality of the work. In addition to answering the specific questions listed below with each film, considering addressing the following issues in your review. (These questions are intended to assist you in your writing. You do not neccessarilly need to address all of these questions in your review!) General Questions to Address in Reviewing a Documentary – What is the intended audience for this film? What is the overall thesis or message you believe the filmmakers are trying to convey? Describe the style of the film. How do the filmmakers use various devices – narration, interviews, photographs, historic footage, musical performances, etc. – to communicate to the viewer? Do you sense any biases on the part of the filmmakers? How successful are the filmmakers at documenting their chosen subject? Would you recommend this documentary to others? General Questions to Address for Reviewing a Film Performance – How do the filmmakers translate a stage work into a film performance? What kinds of camera work, editing, narration, or text is added (if any) to the performance? Are aspects of the stage work changed to make it fit better to the medium of film? How successfully does the film reflect the stage work? Would you recommend this production to others as a way to experience the piece?
