Essential documentaries about film directors and filmmaking
A selection of great documentaries about important film directors and the process of filmmaking.
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- DirectorChris MarkerStarsShigehiko HasumiChris MarkerAkira KurosawaA documentary that shows the production of Ran and discusses the film techniques of Kurosawa himself.
- DirectorWerner HerzogStarsWerner HerzogKlaus KinskiClaudia CardinaleThe love-hate relationship between Werner Herzog and Klaus Kinski, the deep trust between the director and the actor, and their independently and simultaneously hatched plans to murder one another.
- DirectorLes BlankStarsWerner HerzogKlaus KinskiClaudia CardinaleA documentary following German auteur Werner Herzog as he deals with difficult actors, bad weather and getting a boat over a mountain, all in an effort to make his film Fitzcarraldo (1982).
- DirectorPeter MedakStarsPeter MedakJoe DunneSimon van der BorghA comedy genius, a hot new director and a 17th Century pirate film. What could possibly go wrong?
- DirectorKaneto ShindôStarsTakako IrieDaisuke ItôKyôko KagawaA documentary film on the life and works of director Kenji Mizoguchi.
- DirectorRon MannStarsMichael MurphyRobert AltmanKathryn ReedA look at the life and work of American film-maker Robert Altman.
- DirectorFax BahrGeorge HickenlooperEleanor CoppolaStarsDennis HopperMartin SheenMarlon BrandoDocumentary that chronicles how Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now (1979) was plagued by extraordinary script, shooting, budget, and casting problems--nearly destroying the life and career of the celebrated director.
- DirectorPaul JoyceStarsMark KermodeRoy BairdMichael BradsellHell on Earth is about Ken Russell's 1971 film, The Devils which is one of the most controversial films ever made. Included are chats with Russell as well as films stars Goergina Hale and Murray Melvin. Also included are scenes which were cut from the release for being too controversial.
- DirectorPeter BogdanovichStarsJohn FordPeter BogdanovichOrson WellesA documentary on the life and films of director John Ford.
- DirectorMichele SoaviStarsDario ArgentoRomano AlbaniFiore ArgentoDocumentary on horror/mystery film maker Dario Argento. Features an in-depth interview with Argento and covers his work from 1969 to 1985.
- DirectorCraig McCallStarsJack CardiffMartin ScorseseKirk DouglasIn 2001 Jack Cardiff (1914-2009) became the first director of photography in the history of the Academy Awards to win an Honorary Oscar. But the first time he clasped the famous statuette in his hand was a half-century earlier when his Technicolor camerawork was awarded for Powell and Pressburger's Black Narcissus. Beyond John Huston's The African Queen and King Vidor's War and Peace, the films of the British-Hungarian creative duo (The Red Shoes and A Matter of Life and Death too) guaranteed immortality for the renowned cameraman whose career spanned seventy years.
- DirectorSami SaifStarsHarriet AnderssonLauren BacallPaul BettanyThis film depicts the intense drama that takes place during the making of Dogville. Lars von Trier and Nicole Kidman work through this creative process under very extreme conditions.
- DirectorMartina KudlácekStarsMiriam ArshamStan BrakhageChao Li ChiDocumentary about the life of avant-garde filmmaker Maya Deren, who led the independent film movement of the 1940s.
- DirectorRuben GevorkyantsStarsSergei ParajanovAndrei TarkovskyA bunch of stories, portraits and images about people of amazing destinies, including Parajanov and Tarkovsky, merging into a non-traditional and polemic image of Armenia.
- DirectorFrank PavichStarsAlejandro JodorowskyMichel SeydouxH.R. GigerThe story of cult film director Alejandro Jodorowsky's ambitious but ultimately doomed film adaptation of the seminal science fiction novel.
- DirectorAlex CoxStarsBernardo BertolucciFrancis Ford CoppolaMike HodgesA profile and history of film director Akira Kurosawa.
- DirectorJennifer M. KrootStarsGeorge KucharMike KucharDan CarboneThe definitive documentary about the zany, underground filmmaking twins, George and Mike Kuchar.
- DirectorJason S.StarsJay AasengJeremy AlterDavid LynchCompiled from over two years of footage, the film is an intimate portrait of David Lynch's creative process as he completes his latest film, Inland Empire (2006). We follow Lynch as he discovers beauty in ideas, leading us on a journey through the abstract which ultimately unveils his cinematic vision. The director of the documentary immersed himself in David Lynch's world; living and working at Lynch's home. His unobtrusive style has captured a personal side of David Lynch not seen before. The film reveals Lynch not only as one of the most original and compelling directors of contemporary film but also as an artist who continues to explore and experiment in countless mediums. We witness his "hands on" approach to painting, sculpting, music and screenwriting. His enthusiasm is infectious; inspiring us to tap into the well of creativity that Lynch believes we all have.
- DirectorLaurent BouzereauStarsMartin ScorsesePaul SchraderPeter BoyleTo highlight Taxi Driver's 38th anniversary, this 70-minute documentary delves into the making of Scorsese's film and highlights the many contributions put forth by Taxi Driver's ensemble of talented actors and artisans.
- DirectorJoey FigueroaZak KnutsonStarsJohn MiliusEthan MiliusAmanda MiliusA look at the life of filmmaker John Milius.
- DirectorPaul JoyceStarsMichael JaystonPaul MayersbergRoger PulversProfile of Japanese filmmaker Nagisha Oshima, featuring interviews with Paul Mayersberg, Donald Richie, Roger Pulvers and Oshima himself.
- DirectorMark HartleyStarsPhillip AdamsGlory AnnenChristine AmorThe story of the Australian exploitation genre cinema of 1970s and 80s.
- DirectorHoward HillStarsCarla LeonePiero De BernardiEnrico MedioliPersonalities, enthusiasts, actors, writers and others take a look back at Sergio Leone's final film "Once Upon a Time in America", sharing good stories and also sad ones about one of the most important epics of all time. James Woods and the screenwriters talk about their personal experiences with the legendary director while admirers, like Quentin Tarantino, open up about Leone's influence in their filmmaking. And of course, there's time to cover the infamous topic on the shameful butchering of the film in U.S. at the time of its release, in 1984, which caused not only the uproar from audiences and critics, but also hurt very deeply its most excited creator: the director, who devoted several years in its making.
- DirectorLeslie MegaheyStarsPeter BogdanovichCharlton HestonMicheál MacLiammóirA two-and-a-half hour documentary retrospective on the career of Orson Welles.