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Some non-fiction films go beyond information and touch the very soul of what it means to be alive. Join us as we count down our picks for the most profound and visually stunning documentaries ever made! Which breathtaking documentary moved you the most? Let us know in the comments below!
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00:04Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most profound and moving
00:09non-fiction films that speak to the physical or emotional beauty of life.
00:22Number 10, Fire of Love.
00:32Some love stories are extraordinary, but not all of them deserve a documentary.
00:36Katia and Maurice Kraft certainly lived the kind of lives that demanded this kind of film treatment.
00:41The volcanologists embarked on lava-filled journeys that would have made the average couple blush.
01:00Showing off an obsessive desire for scientific research, the Kraft family represent true adventurers that love volcanoes.
01:07Their mission ultimately turns to tragedy, as they find themselves on Mount Unzin in Japan.
01:12Despite the fateful twist, Fire of Love still finds a way to turn a love of nature into an important
01:17lesson about living to the fullest.
01:28Number 9, Grizzly Man.
01:38Werner Herzog's documentary delves deep into the human soul, while asking profound questions about existence and fate.
01:45Grizzly Man follows the last recordings of naturalist Timothy Treadwell.
01:48Knowing the dark truth about what really happened, you start to dread the inevitable outcome.
01:52Take care of these animals. Take care of this land.
01:55He seems to hesitate in leaving the last frame of his own film.
02:01It's the only thing I know.
02:02It's all told with a mix of humor, insight, and philosophy.
02:06Herzog also gives viewers one of his more revelatory moments, as he listens to the tape of Treadmill's demise.
02:12It's an incredible look into the dangers of welcoming one of nature's more unforgiving beasts into your life.
02:17As you learn more about the subject, you realize how easy it can be to get seduced by nature.
02:21This is Timothy's camera.
02:24During the fatal attack, there was no time to remove the lens cap.
02:30Jewel Pallovac allowed me to listen to the audio.
02:33Number 8, They Shall Not Grow Old.
02:36I never realized there was anything unusual about it.
02:39There was a job to be done, and you just go on and did it.
02:42After The Lord of the Rings, Peter Jackson has been known to work on a handful of documentary projects.
02:47They Shall Not Grow Old takes footage from World War I, and updates it for 21st century audiences.
02:53Follow me!
02:57You've got the order, load.
02:59You put nine in your magazine, and one up the spout.
03:03And you put your safety catch on, and you always went into the line, prepared to use your rifle immediately.
03:09Bringing long-dead subjects back to life, the filmmaker and his imaginative team are able to make soldiers from 100
03:15years ago seem young again.
03:17There are also some harrowing scenes in the trenches, and brief moments of happiness ruined by war.
03:22And we were warned to be ready to advance at any moment.
03:25At any moment was quite a long time coming, and of course that added to the tension that we were
03:30feeling.
03:31Through some innovative techniques, the documentary further humanizes people that might have otherwise been forgotten by history.
03:37It's also a brilliant way to bridge the gap between generations.
03:40All things come to an end, and even a drama can go on too long.
03:44It didn't end with a whimper, but something very much like one.
03:48If you're eager for more history lessons, head over to WatchMojo's 24-7 livestream for more documentary content.
03:54Scan the QR code on screen to join us for more glimpses into the past and present.
03:58I was very happy to leave.
04:00I'd had enough, you know, after a time.
04:02It begins to wear on one, you know.
04:05Number 7.
04:06Waltz with Bashir.
04:24Using some incredible animation, this documentary fuses to gather memories and nightmares from the 1982 Lebanon War.
04:32Filmmaker Ari Fohman excavates the conflict through veterans that remember and suppress events from that time.
04:51Waltz with Bashir was well regarded for its storytelling, but it's also a visual marvel.
04:56The animated frames bring the Middle Eastern setting to life, letting viewers walk between reality and a dreamlike narrative.
05:02It's a powerful tale about post-traumatic stress disorder that brings about complex feelings about war, destruction, and empathy.
05:09Through the horrors of violence, shreds of humanity peek through this bleak vision of the past.
05:30And now, I want to, you know, play in the NBA like anybody else would want to be.
05:38That's who I, that's, that's something I dream to think about all the time, you know, playing in the NBA.
05:44What does it take to become a professional basketball player?
05:47Steve James followed two young prospects in Chicago, tracing their journey through school and basketball courts for several years.
05:54It's an incredible snapshot of raw determination, athleticism, and family support.
05:59Williams' first start is the final home game of the regular season.
06:07This critically acclaimed documentary is one of the finest of the 1990s.
06:11It's also an encapsulation of the American dream, with all of its highs and lows.
06:16You start to cheer for these subjects, wishing for William and Arthur to succeed, even with the odds stacking up
06:21against them.
06:22Hoop Dreams is a must-watch for sports fans, and anyone devoting their life to a noble pursuit.
06:43Number five, Woodstock.
06:46Mike, what's the worst part of running one of these things?
06:50The worst part?
06:51What's the worst part about running one?
06:54I don't know.
06:55Huh?
06:56I don't know.
06:56Do you dig it all?
06:57Yeah.
06:58This is a priceless document about music and culture.
07:02It follows the three-day event in 1969 that brought together hundreds of thousands of spectators.
07:07Using a split-screen effect, director Michael Wadley and his camera operators captured the reality of a monumental event known
07:14as Woodstock.
07:30Jimi Hendrix and other legends also deliver unforgettable performances.
07:34It's beautiful to see so many people coming together in a peaceful way to celebrate the most beloved artists of
07:39a groundbreaking decade.
07:53As a gateway back to a mind-altering year, this time capsule transcends the trappings of a traditional documentary.
08:13Number four, as I was moving ahead, occasionally I saw brief glimpses of beauty.
08:18I have never been able, really, to figure out where my life begins and where it ends.
08:30Some documentaries become so intimate that they almost feel like a well-written piece of fiction.
08:34This Jonas Mekka's film is like a multi-hour poem, taking moments from the director's life and assembling them into
08:41a comprehensive look-back.
08:42The filmmaker puts together memories, home movies, and thoughts about his personal journey.
08:47What follows is a singular exploration of someone that's devoted everything to art and filmmaking.
08:52It took me long to realize that it's love that distinguishes man from stones, trees, rain, and that we can
08:59lose our love, and that love grows through loving.
09:02Yes, I have been so completely lost, so truly lost.
09:05As I was moving ahead, occasionally I saw brief glimpses of beauty.
09:09It seems like a rare document, speaking to the immense and profound past that life takes us down.
09:14Mekka's jumps through time on an extended and splendid trip through his past.
09:27Number three, Sos Soleil.
09:30He liked the fragility of those moments suspended in time.
09:33Those memories whose only function had been to leave behind nothing but memories.
09:38He wrote,
09:40I've been around the world several times, and now only banality still interests me.
09:45This film by Chris Marker is difficult to describe as just a documentary.
09:49It's a somewhat personal film told on a massive scale, with images taken from around the world.
09:54You could call it a travel log that finds a way to connect varied locations like North America, Europe, and
09:59Asia.
10:00He wrote,
10:16Marker's unique project feels at times like a vacation diary, charting its way across the globe, with narrow-rated letters
10:22to guide the viewer.
10:23The director lets you interpret these images as either universal or wildly intimate.
10:28Whether or not you've traveled well, you can find something to relate to in each new location, and with each
10:32unexpected surprise.
10:47Number two, Koyaanis Skatsi.
11:08This is the first in a trilogy of films that try to make sense of the world.
11:12It finds beauty in both natural formations and the seemingly monotonous patterns of human life.
11:17From gorgeous vistas to busy urban areas, this movie feels like a cinematic symphony about appreciating what we often take
11:24for granted.
11:36The music of Philip Glass accompanies gorgeous images and sends them to a sublime space.
11:41You're not exactly told what to think, but you are encouraged to focus in on some spectacular time-lapse cinematography.
11:47You could argue that this does for documentaries what Fantasia did for animation.
12:02Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
12:05March of the Penguins, a celebration of the Antarctic creatures and their brutal homeland.
12:10And now begins one of nature's most incredible and endearing role reversals.
12:18It is the penguin male who will tend the couple's single egg.
12:23While the mother feeds and gathers food to bring back for the newborn.
12:27Flee, a refugee story captures the ability for humans to endure.
12:54The salt of the earth, a Brazilian photographer's life plays out across varied landscapes and subjects.
13:00I first saw this picture here, in a gallery, more than 20 years ago.
13:06I had no idea who took it.
13:09Whoever it was had to be both a great photographer and an adventurer, I thought.
13:14Leviathan.
13:15Fishermen risk their lives as filmmakers follow an industry at sea.
13:33Before we continue, be sure to check out WatchMojo's 24-hour live stream.
13:37All of your favorite videos in one place, 24-7.
13:40Always on, always live.
13:42Are you not entertained?
13:45Number 1.
13:46Baraka.
13:55Shot in stunning 65mm, Baraka is a near-silent look at the world around us.
14:00The filmmakers explore a variety of countries, cultures, and ways of life.
14:05Ron Frick's camera captures people performing their own local rituals in peaceful and beautiful
14:09landscapes around the globe.
14:11It's a spellbinding experience that encourages each viewer to find the meaning in each new and
14:16sumptuous visual.
14:28While it might not have traditional narration or dialogue, the film lets you experience
14:32every sound and frame for yourself.
14:34It finds a way to connect nature, civilization, and the spiritual side of the ordinary world.
14:47Did we forget another documentary that makes you appreciate life?
14:50Let us know in the comments below.