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I’m a documentary junkie. From nature features, to profiles on society’s most violent criminals (I’m obsessed with True Crime stories), you name it, chances are that I’m going to watch it.
Except for the Rachel Dolezal one.
For some reason, Netflix thought it would be a good idea to give airtime to a woman who has been making a name for herself for all the wrong reasons. Granted, documentaries often feature controversial subjects, but for me, the problem is that she is using her platform to capitalise on a narrative that never belonged to her. A narrative that’s rooted in the reality of racism, pain and marginalisation at that.
I think a big issue for me, and with many other folk who took to Twitter to complain according to The Independent, is that the trailer features a discussion with her adoptive black son who, in the teaser trailer, actually says that he’s tired of the drama surrounding his mother and that it’s hurting people.
Now if you’re dragging your son into the drama and you still insist on doing a documentary, then to me that says you couldn’t be bothered about the very feelings of those you claim to most identify with.
No, hers may be a story, but it’s not one I’d want to watch.
These documentaries, however? They’re worth gold and more.
1. Mommy Dead and Dearest
I’ve been fascinated with this mother and daughter story ever since I first read the excellent and in-depth report on Dee Dee Blancharde and her daughter Gypsy Rose Blancharde on Buzzfeed. The story relates how Dee Dee used her daughter’s illness to garner the sympathy of the community and to scam them out of money under the guise of raising funds for her daughter’s illness.
For years Dee Dee led her own daughter as well as their community to believe that Gypsy had life-threatening leukemia and that she needed money for constant treatments.
Watch what happens when the story implodes and results in a shocking twist that you may not necessarily see coming, but that would make you understand exactly why it ended the way it did.
Munchausen by proxy meets fraud and tragedy in a documentary that’s as fascinating as it is heartbreaking.
Watch the trailer:
2. What Happened, Miss Simone?
Not to be confused with the controversial biopic, Nina, which caused a massive amount of controversy over Zoe Saldana’s role and highlighted yet again the issue of colourism, What Happened, Miss Simone? is a masterful exploration of the life of soul singer, songwriter and civil rights activist Nina Simone.
Featuring never before seen footage of the legendary artist, her best known songs and interviews with family and friends, this documentary may never encapsulate her full greatness of her living legacy (to be honest, we don’t think anyone but Nina Simone can), but this glimpse is a gem that celebrates Nina the artist, Nina the activist and Nina the woman.
Watch the trailer:
3. Surfing Soweto
This award-winning documentary may have been released back in 2007, but is still as relevant as ever, given the high unemployment rate in South Africa.
According to Mahala.co.za train surfing, or staff riding, has existed since the days of Apartheid and not only became a way to escape cops but also provided a means of escape when black South Africans didn’t carry their dompas with them.
Surfing Soweto relates the story of three train surfers who constantly chase the high of train surfing, always unsure of their place in society.
Disenfranchised in a country that has barely given birth to hope, Prince, Lefa and Mzembe make train surfing their ultimate thrill-seeking high.
It’s dangerous, it’s reckless and it’s something, as a train traveller, I very much see, but this documentary shows the very real human side of why these three boys live life on the edge.
Watch the trailer below:
READ MORE: Winnie Madikizela-Mandela's documentary to be aired on eNCA
4. Blue Planet II
For nature lovers and perfect for those times when you want to retreat from the stress of the every day grind, David Attenborough’s familiar and soothing voice is part of what makes so many of the BBC developed nature documentaries incredible – that and the wildlife footage of course.
Blue Planet, as you can probably gather by its name, focuses on marine life in all of its beautiful, weird, tiny and majestic forms.
From oceanic depths where you’re almost convince no life exists (until shown otherwise), to colourful coral reefs and dolphins dancing on the surface, the second in the Blue Planet series is more than worth watching.
Watch the trailer below:
5. Dear Zachary – A Letter to a Son about His Father
Want to die of heartbreak? Watch the documentary that many people have labelled as one of the most gut-wrenching doccies of our time.
Heartbreak, murder and an exploration of how the legal system failed the people they should have been helping, forms part of a story where there’s just twist, after twist after heartbreaking twist.
Dear Zachary is the story of a Dr Andrew Bagby who was murdered by his ex-lover, Shirley Turner. It’s revealed that Shirley was pregnant with his child when she killed him and the story follows Andrew’s parents as they battle for custody of Zachary.
And that’s only the beginning. This is the kind of story you can’t reveal too many details of because it needs to be watched. Don’t google it; watch it.
It will make you rage, it will make you despair and it will grieve you to the very depths of your soul.
Keep tissues on hand.
READ MORE: Why we need more heroes like Black Panther on our screens
Watch the trailer below:
6. Mama Africa – The Many Voices of Miriam Makeba
Mother of the continent, voice of a nation – Miriam Makeba was all these things and so much more. She may have passed on in 2008, but her legacy and her heritage lives on.
This documentary takes a look at everything she’s achieved, including her bestselling hits and her dedication to fighting racism and injustice throughout the years. A great documentary not only for commemoration’s sake, but also because there are those yet not old enough to know and understand what Mama Africa meant to us.
And we can’t think of a better way to introduce them to her.
Watch the trailer below:
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