US elections and awards season have led to documentaries about Trump from both sides of the political divide. But how do we separate the lies from the truth?
You can say what you like about Donald Trump’s presidency … And that’s pretty much all the instruction the documentary film world has needed. So manifold are the contentious aspects of Trump’s brief reign, documentary makers of every persuasion have latched on to the subject. Like hibernating insects being awakened by the first breath of spring, here is the moment they have been waiting for: the onset of the all-important US midterm elections and awards season. The big guns of the genre are locked and loaded. Although, as we shall see, the Trump phenomenon has also attracted the very worst film-makers out there.
Rather than a test for Trump’s presidency, this could turn out to be a testing time for documentary itself. The intention for these films to sway hearts, minds and voting intentions. But let’s also admit that Trump sells because outrage sells. Trump has caused such disruption and division, and so brazenly made everything about himself, he seems to be the only story in town. With the stakes and the temperature raised, both his opponents and his supporters crave ammunition. (War metaphors are entirely appropriate.)
Continue reading...from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2EucEEV
via
0 Comments