This will be the third and last list with recommendations from 2023. Last week and the week before that I already shared my book recommendations from 2023 and my series recommendations from 2023. Today I will share my documentary recommendations from 2023. After this post, you’re all set for a while haha. You’ll have enough to read and watch for the coming months! I think knowledge is power. The more you know about the world and how it works, the more you’re able to act in line with your values. The following documentaries will help you with that.
1 Wit is ook een kleur (Dutch)
The English name for this documentary is: White is a color too. The documentary is Dutch and makes very apparent that most white people in The Netherlands have no clue about racism. They think that it’s not an issue here and that white people ‘don’t see color’. This documentary makes it painfully clear that this is not true. And that white people see theirselves as ‘the normal’. They forget that white is a color too.
2 On the Basis of Sex
This is not a documentary, but a film. This film is based on the true story of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Ginsburg graduated as a lawyer, at the top of her class. However, no law firm wanted to hire her. They all thought she shouldn’t be a lawyer, on the basis of her sex. But this didn’t stop Ginsburg. One day, a special case comes to her attention and she uses it to set a precedent. It’s an extraordinary story about how she managed to fight against constitutional sexism. Ruth Bader Ginsburg is an exceptional women who has done so much for all of us. This film about her life deserves to be remembered.
3 Demain
Demain (The French word for Tomorrow) is an inspiring documentary about all the possible solutions we have to battle the environmental crises we’re facing today. It covers all domains, from food, to energy, to waste, to economy, democrary and education. It’s an uplifting documentary which makes you exited about the future. We can solve all the environmental challenges we face today, the solutions are there. It’s now up to us to actually use them.
4 Sea the Truth
This is a documentary starring one of my favorite Dutch persons: Marianne Thieme. Thieme has been a member of parliament for the Party for the Animals for a long time in The Netherlands. Sea the truth shows us the problems that come with the practice of fishing. We’re totally destroying all the ecosystems in the ocean by our fishing practices. And this film shows: fishing less is not the solution. We should stop fishing all together.
5 The Cleaners
This documentary shows us a scandal which isn’t highlighted very often, but is one that we all contribute too. Yes, even me. The Cleaners shows us the story of the people who make sure social media is safe. The cleaners are the people who asses possibly harmful video’s, before they’re spread on social media platforms. They have to watch suicides, murders, fatal accidents, mutilations, child porn, violence and a lot more to asses it and prevent these things from circulating on social media. This documentary shows what it’s like to do this job.
6 The Animal People
This is a story about activism. It shows the story of a small group of animal activist, 6 to be precise. These people were speaking out about the cruelty that comes with animal testing and were advocating against one specific animal testing facility. They use no violence whatsoever. This documentary shows how, despite them being non-violent, they were treated as terrorists. How the FBI and other American organizations deal with animal activists. It’s truly heartbreaking, as all they want, is to stop the cruelty.
7 Seaspiracy
Let’s be honest. Sea the Truth, the documentary I shared above, is a very unknown documentary about fishing. However, Seaspiracy is not. When it came out, everybody talked about it. If you ever want to share a documentary that’s going to stop people from eating fish, it’s Seaspiracy. Seaspiracy is a very professional documentary that shows us everything that is wrong with fishing. We are at war with the oceans and unfortunately we are winning. We’re digging our own grave by destroying all sea-life, in all possible ways.
8 The Ivory Game
I always have an issue with bringing Ivory up. I mean, Ivory traffic is horrible, yes. But there’s not that much we can do to change the Ivory hunt. Ivory is banned in Europe and illegal shipping is almost non-existing. So, if you’re interested in the subject like I am, you should watch this documentary. Because we’re not there yet. In some parts of the world, Ivory is still ‘cool’ to have. And so the hunt continues and that is what The Ivory Game shows us. But if you hate being powerless, don’t watch this.
9 14 Peaks
14 Peaks is a documentary that is made to inspire you. 14 Peaks tells the story of Nepalese mountaineer Nirmal Purja as he attempts to climb all 14 mountains over 8000 meter under 7 months. He attempt to break a world record with this undertaking. Purja calls the trip Project Possible and he wants to show others with this documentary that they can do just about anything as long as they put their mind to it. I don’t necessarily agree with that way of thinking, but I did enjoy watching 14 Peaks.
11 Liberated
Liberated was released in 2017 and man, I do hope that the norms they portrait is long gone by now. In Liberated, a camera crew follows students from all around the world who go on their spring break. In the documentary the team dives into the social norms which are formed due to pop culture. And gosh, these social norms are toxic. Basically, the student go to a sunny destination to drink and have sex as much as possible. It shows how these people have totally disconnected from love. They don’t even talk to other people, they just have sex and move on to the next one. I think it shows how people are scared of connection and vulnerability. And boy, it shows the immense sexism that is still the social norm. Don’t even get me started about that.
Yours sincerely,
Romee