Must-See Documentaries

Kaitlin's Book'd Lists
Return to Book'd Home

Must-See Documentaries

Created by Kaitlin - Updated on March 02nd 2023

Documentaries are one of my favorite ways to learn more about the world. Here are some particularly engrossing ones. Go ahead; expand your perspective!

Amazing grace

From the Publisher

A documentary presenting the live recording of Aretha Franklon's album 'Amazing grace' at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Watts, Los Angelese in January 1972.

Infinity : the life and art of Yayoi Kusama

From the Publisher

Now the top-selling female artist in the world, Yayoi Kusama overcame impossible odds to bring her radical artistic vision to the world stage. After working as an artist for over six decades, people around the globe are experiencing her installation Infinity Mirrored Rooms in record numbers, even as Kusama continues to create new work every day.

Free solo

From the Publisher

Despite attempts by his friends, loved ones and his new girlfriend to dissuade him from this dangerous feat, Alex Honnold, the worlds most accomplished free soloist climber, prepares mentally and physically for his most daring adventure to date: scaling the 3200-foot El Capitan in Yosemite without a rope or safety gear. If he succeeds, it will mark the largest wall he, or anyone else, for that matter, has ascended without any kind of equipment.

Hoop dreams

From the Publisher

This documentary follows two inner-city basketball phenoms' lives through high school as they chase their dreams of playing in the NBA.

My Thoughts

Complex and heartbreaking look at race, class, and education via sports.

Dark horse

From the Publisher

Set in a former mining village in Wales, an inspirational true story of a group of friends from a working men's club who decide to take on the elite 'sport of kings' and breed themselves a racehorse.

My Thoughts

I love when people fly in the face of convention and see their vision through.

Pick of the litter

From the Publisher

Meet Patriot, Potomac, Primrose, Poppet, and Phil, five spirited puppies who, from the moment they're born, begin an incredible journey to become guide dogs for the blind. It's a rigorous two-year process that will take the pups from the care of selfless foster volunteers to specialized trainers to, if they make the cut, a lifelong human companion.

Dogtown and Z-boys

From the Publisher

Documentary about a gang of kids who virtually revolutionized skateboarding with an aggressive style, awe-inspiring moves and street smarts, and in the process, transformed youth culture forever. Captures the rise of the Zephyr skateboarding team from Venice's Dogtown, a tough "locals only" beach with a legacy of outlaw surfing, who used abandoned swimming pools to sharpen their skills.

My Thoughts

Really intense subcultures are the best!

Octopus : making contact

From the Publisher

What happens when a professor invites an octopus to live in his home? NATURE follows Dr. David Scheel as he links behavioral discoveries to amazing octopus stories around the world, from the Day octopus that can change color and texture, to the Coconut octopus who carries around its coconut shell to hide. But most fascinating is Scheel's and his daughter's evolving relationship with 1Heidi.2

First position

From the Publisher

Every year, thousands of aspiring dancers enter one of the world's most prestigious ballet competitions, the Youth America Grand Prix, where lifelong dreams are at stake. In the final round, with hundreds competing for only a handful of elite scholarships and contracts, practice and discipline are paramount, and nothing short of perfection is expected. This documentary follows six dancers as they prepare for a chance to enter the world of professional ballet.

My Thoughts

Passionate young people for the win! Again!

Sour grapes

From the Publisher

Documentary about the fine and rare wine auction market centering around a counterfeiter who befriended the rich and powerful and sold millions of dollars of fraudulent wine through the top auction houses.

My Thoughts

True crime story about wine. Yes please!

Ballet 422

From the Publisher

When 25-year-old NYCB dancer Justin Peck begins to emerge as a promising young choreographer, he is commissioned to create a new ballet for the Company's 2013 Winter Season. With unprecedented access to an elite world, the film follows Peck as he collaborates with musicians, lighting designers, costume designers and his fellow dancers to create Paz de la Jolla, NYCB's 422nd new ballet.

My Thoughts

Did I mention intense subcultures make the best documentaries? Good, because they do.

Step

From the Publisher

The senior year of a girls' high school step dance team against the background of inner city Baltimore. Empowered by their teachers, coaches, families, and each other, they strive to win a championship and go to college.

Gleason

From the Publisher

After diagnosed with ALS, former professional football player, Steve Gleason, begins making a video diary for his unborn son. Steve chose to live with purpose for his son, wife, and others with ALS.

My Thoughts

Heroic story about a Washington native and his family.

Mad hot ballroom

From the Publisher

Eleven-year-old New York City public school kids journey into the world of ballroom dancing, and from their candid and hilarious perspectives, reveal pieces of themselves along the way. This school program started in 1994 and today has over 6,000 kids from 60 schools involved.

My Thoughts

So many charming moments as these kids challenge themselves.

The Vietnam War

From the Publisher

In an immersive narrative, Burns and Novick tell the epic story of the Vietnam War as it has never before been told on film. Features testimony from nearly 100 witnesses, including many Americans who fought in the war and others who opposed it, as well as Vietnamese combatants and civilians from both the winning and losing sides in this 10 disc DVD set.

My Thoughts

No good documentary list is complete without a Ken Burns title, and this one is a doozy.

Won't you be my neighbor?

From the Publisher

An exploration of the life, lessons, and legacy of iconic children's television host, Fred Rogers.

My Thoughts

This doc is everything you want it to be: sweet, funny, sad and poignant.

Born into brothels

From the Publisher

While living in the red light district of Calcutta, documenting life in the brothels, New York-based photographer Zana Briski embarked on a project by which she gave cameras to the children of prostitutes and taught them photography, awakening within them hidden talent and creativity and giving them a means to transform their lives.

My Thoughts

Powerful, transformative, simply great!