Documentaries blend entertainment and education, making for a fun watch while also being great tools for learning. They shed light on overlooked stories and highlight important events that deserve to be remembered. Here are a few thought-provoking documentary options.
“Our Oceans”
Narrated by former President Barack Obama, the Emmy award-winning documentary “Our Oceans” was released in Nov. 2024 and explores Earth’s five oceans. Each of the five one-hour-long episodes follows sea animals through their daily lives in each of the oceans, ranging from dolphins to rarely spotted animals such as handfish. Each episode weaves multiple storylines together, from a story of a humpback whale struggling to raise her calves to a description of never-before-seen hunting tactics of Galapagos sea lions.
The documentary also raises awareness for climate change and how it is affecting our oceans. The documentary depicts the effects that pollution has on the natural world, from highlighting monsoons that carry in trash from the land to showing how rising temperatures in the Arctic have led polar bears to find new ways to hunt. These reminders show viewers the ways in which our actions impact the environment. Its use of dramatic stories from the animal kingdom not only provokes feelings of awe but also brings awareness to the current state of climate change.
Found on Netflix, “Our Oceans” is a great option for anyone interested in having a deeper understanding of oceanic life and the impacts of climate change.
“Lilith Fair”
“Lilith Fair,” available on Hulu and Disney+, tells the story of an all-female music festival that ran from 1997-1999. The festival stood out from others as it ran during a time when women weren’t respected like men in the music industry. This was due to persistent sexism which affected career opportunities and pulic perception.
While singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo appears at the start of the film, singer song-writer and creator of the festival Sarah McLachlan is the primary narrator. There are also other former performers who are interviewed on their experiences. Rodrigo explains that the history of Lilith Fair and its impact on society have not been emphasized as much to younger generations. This film seeks to change that image, as the fair was a significant moment in female music history. It proved that an all-female music festival could be a commercial success.
The film includes previously unreleased archival footage of the festival. The footage shows how the fair was a place where artists of all generations could perform together, including Sheryl Crow, the Indigo Girls, Christian Aguilera and Dido. This story is empowering and inspirational, reminding viewers that the world still has a long way to go for gender equality. “Lilith Fair” is a great documentary to learn about the history of female artists and their struggles to overcome sexism in the music industry.
“Won’t You Be My Neighbor”
“Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” follows the history of the children’s television show “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” a show hosted by Fred McFreely Rogers, which teaches kids emotional literacy through puppets. The show ran from 1968-2000 and a cartoon spinoff, “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood,” was created in 2012. The documentary is one-hour and 34-minutes and is available for rent on Amazon Prime and Apple TV.
The documentary highlights that “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” stood out at its time for being focused on emotional growth instead of academic growth. Most TV shows for children were academically educational, teaching about numbers and letters. Rogers’ show, on the other hand, educated on kindness, emotion and friendship.
“Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” interviews Rogers’ family and co-workers, painting a more personal picture of what he was like outside of the television studio. It includes archival footage of Rogers behind the scenes, and explains how the show was produced. The documentary looks at the show through a historical lens, showing the significance of Mr. Roger’s lessons for their time. This is a great documentary option for anyone who enjoys the feelings of childhood wonder and nostalgia.
