REFLEXIVE DOCOS

Reflexive docos tend to emphasise the expressive and creative nature of film. They stay away from realism anjd opt for anti-realist techniques often employing cinematic and more avant garde approaches. They fully exploit cinematography, lighting, music and sound as well as lighting to create an emotional, subjective response in the viewer. They leave room for the audience to interpret the infortmation rthemselves more than some other modeas and voice-over are more likely to be questioning and uncertain rather than authoritative and they rely on suggestion more than fact.

The Lives of The Artists doco features freeride snowboarder Xavier de Le Rue in the incredible, untamed wilderness of Greenland before moving on to the World’s ‘most perfect’ wave, a simply awesome force of nature; Teahupoo in Tahiti with big wave surfers Tom Lowe and Fergal Smith, along with photographer Mickey Smith. Finally we get under the skin of an abrasive and dramatic tour across the US with British hardcore punk band Gallows. Three diverse domains, with a collection of seemingly diverse personalities but all united by uncompromising integrity, and a willingness to push and suffer for their art as they search for fulfillment.

http://www.relentlessenergy.com/films/view/lives-of-the-artists

Night Mail was a doco that made good use of reflexive cinematic techniques to tell the story of the journey of a Mail Train from London to Edinburgh. In the clip below it uses poetic verse written and performed by the poet W. H. Auden and music from the classical composer Benjamin Brittento help tell the story and capture the story of the journey. Listen too for the use of sound effects and consider the filmic cinematography.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmciuKsBOi0