Documentary Reviews and Features | Little White Lies

Genre Documentary

Group of people swimming in a clear, blue ocean.
Review

Futura

by Trevor Johnston

Alice Rohrwach­er, Pietro Mar­cel­lo and Francesco Mun­zi offer an illu­mi­nat­ing por­tray­al of Ital­ian youth in the midst of glob­al uncertainty.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Shelves displaying many magazine covers featuring a late public figure.
Review

The Princess

by Saskia Lloyd Gaiger

Ed Perkins’ archive doc­u­men­tary offers fresh insight into the life and lega­cy of the People’s Princess.

2
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
A person floating in water, with only their face visible above the surface.
Review

Faya Dayi

by Cheyenne Bart-Stewart

Jes­si­ca Beshir’s strik­ing debut fea­ture offers an immer­sive look into the rit­u­al prac­tices and com­mod­i­fi­ca­tion of Khat in Ethiopia.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
A black and white photograph of a person using an old-fashioned film camera, looking through the viewfinder.
Review

The Camera is Ours: Britain’s Women Documentary Makers

by Matt Turner

A fine and nec­es­sary port­man­teau of British doc­u­men­taries all made by less­er-known women filmmakers.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
A person huddled in a doorway beside piles of refuse and debris. A small child sits on the ground nearby. The scene depicts poverty and homelessness in an urban setting.
Review

a-ha: The Movie

by Josh Slater-Williams

Norway’s favourite synth-pop sons receive the full music biog­ra­phy treat­ment in this inti­mate documentary.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Musicians performing on stage, with a grand piano, drums, and other instruments.
Review

This Much I Know To Be True

by Marina Ashioti

Nick Cave and War­ren Ellis per­form an inti­mate yet expan­sive ses­sion at the Bat­tersea Arts Cen­tre. The results are mesmerising.

2
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Close-up of a grey and white cat with bright yellow eyes peering through foliage.
Review

The Velvet Queen

by Natasha Jagger

Marie Amiguet and Vin­cent Munier track the elu­sive endan­gered Tibetan snow leop­ard in this poet­ic wildlife documentary.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
A man wearing glasses and a black suit conducting an orchestra, with his arms raised and hands gesturing expressively.
Review

Ennio

by Saskia Lloyd Gaiger

Great detail abounds in Giuseppe Tornatore’s doc­u­men­tary cel­e­brat­ing the life and work of the late film com­pos­er Ennio Morricone.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Collage of digital images featuring a woman's face, a window display, and a night-time scene with neon lights.
Review

Charli XCX: Alone Together

by Cassidy Olsen

This unique and often insight­ful doc­u­men­tary shows Char­li XCX col­lab­o­rat­ing with her fans on a DIY quar­an­tine album.

4
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Smiling young girl with curly hair and flower in her hair, looking sideways against dark background.
Review

A Night of Knowing Nothing

by Marina Ashioti

The rela­tion­ship between the art of film­mak­ing and the neces­si­ty of protest lies at the heart of Pay­al Kapadia’s spell­bind­ing fea­ture debut.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
5
In Retrospect