Documentary Reviews and Features | Little White Lies

Genre Documentary

A man in a dark suit standing next to a patterned blanket on a table, in a room with shelves.
Review

High & Low: John Galliano – a superior profile doc

by David Jenkins

Kevin Mac­don­ald gives his sub­ject enough rope in this slip­pery doc­u­men­tary about how we project a sense of regret.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Three women in intimate, relaxed poses on a bed. Warm tones, dark hair, clothing in polka dot and red patterns.
Review

Four Daughters review – successfully bypasses the traps of the gratuitous

by Rafa Sales Ross

The lat­est doc­u­men­tary from Tunisian direc­tor Kaouther Ben Hania cen­ters a quar­tet of young women whose lives are changed for­ev­er when two of them join ISIS.

3
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Cluttered suburban garden with children's toys, old car, and small wooden shed.
Review

Occupied City review – a staggeringly ambitious feat of emotional stamina

by Sophie Monks Kaufman

Steven McQueen pro­vides a haunt­ing exam­i­na­tion of Ams­ter­dam under Nazi occu­pa­tion in con­trast to its present in his doc­u­men­tary adapt­ed from Bian­ca Stigter’s book of the same name.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Person floating on back in blue water, surrounded by hills and trees.
Review

Your Fat Friend review – heartfelt, clear-eyed filmmaking

by Hannah Strong

Jeanie Fin­lay pro­files writer and activist Aubrey Gor­don, whose epony­mous blog unex­pect­ed­ly led her to become an online sensation.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Group of people gathered around a gravestone, wearing black clothing.
Review

This Blessed Plot review – a rough-hewn Brit ghost story

by David Jenkins

The lat­est from British non-fic­tion film­mak­er Marc Issacs offers an ethe­re­al cross-cut of work­ing class lives in deep­est Essex.

3
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Man in warm clothing sitting on wooden steps, with a mountainous landscape in the background.
Review

Werner Herzog: Radical Dreamer review – shine on you crazy German

by Adam Woodward

Thomas von Steinaeck­er flips the cam­era on one of Ger­many’s favourite film­mak­ing sons, inves­ti­gat­ing his long and far-reach­ing career.

3
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
A woman with blond curly hair, wearing a nude-coloured dress, sitting at a desk and holding a newspaper or document.
Review

The Disappearance of Shere Hite – a profile doc with hidden depths

by David Jenkins

The life of the idio­syn­crat­ic US sex­ol­o­gist is par­layed into a sto­ry of rank misog­y­ny and vio­lent moral conservatism.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Illuminated "Scala" sign on theatre facade with circular windows, at night.
Review

Scala!!! review – an exhaustive and lively document of a cult scene

by David Jenkins

An affec­tion­ate new doc­u­men­tary cel­e­brates one of Lon­don’s most beloved cin­e­ma insti­tu­tions and the patrons who made it mythological.

3
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Intense flames erupting from rocky surface, a person in the foreground viewing the scene.
Review

Anselm review – a perfect combination of director and subject

by David Jenkins

Wim Wen­ders’ luxe 3D por­trait of the flame-throw­er wield­ing con­cep­tu­al artist Anselm Kiefer is a dreamy delight.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Older man reading to younger woman resting on sofa, warm tones.
Review

The Eternal Memory – Intimate, meandering doc

by David Jenkins

A sen­ti­men­tal docu-por­trait of a Chilean jour­nal­ist, famed for his report­ing on Pinochet’s atroc­i­ties, whose own mem­o­ry is leav­ing him.

3
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect