Louisiana Story is an ominous closing to Flaherty career, and an indication of the dangers of getting financed by a corporation. I don't agree it is a docudrama; for me this is a low conflict drama with non-actors that best fits the Promotional Media genre. Its subliminal main message revolves around the harmlessness of the industry that would come to be the largest contributor to global climate change.
While Flaherty's first film Nanook of the North was also not an observational documentary as some people believe it to be, at least it really documented the habits of the protagonist's ancestors with their collaboration and consent. This film only uses Louisiana as a set and ignores its culture.
I gave it my time because I study documentaries, and would only recommend looking at it for Richard Leacock's cinematography. Leacock said making this film was transformative for him, and that he learned a lot about being always open to change filming plans to reap what the present moment has to offer from Flaherty.
While Flaherty's first film Nanook of the North was also not an observational documentary as some people believe it to be, at least it really documented the habits of the protagonist's ancestors with their collaboration and consent. This film only uses Louisiana as a set and ignores its culture.
I gave it my time because I study documentaries, and would only recommend looking at it for Richard Leacock's cinematography. Leacock said making this film was transformative for him, and that he learned a lot about being always open to change filming plans to reap what the present moment has to offer from Flaherty.