Documentaries that change the way we see the world
Several of this year’s Insights documentaries imbed us in worlds and circumstances that few of us could ever imagine and detail how individuals persist in the face of unthinkable adversity. Others examine our evolving relationship with nature, as our actions impact the denizens of both land and sea, and with technology, as we contemplate precisely how AI will shape our future. We’re afforded intimate access to remarkable individuals driven to create and reminded of how youth can inspire us with their single-minded determination.
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Ninan Auassat: We, the Children
Shot over six years, this groundbreaking documentary brings us the moving stories of three groups of youth from three different Indigenous nations. With no adult voices included in the film, we meet a new generation with a burning desire to be heard.
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The Chef & the Daruma
The inventor of the California Roll, chef Hidekazu Tojo helped bring sushi to mainstream popularity through his renowned Vancouver restaurant, Tojo's. The Chef & the Daruma is a mouthwatering film touching on immigration, identity, and reinvention.
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Living With Wolves
This fascinating and beautiful doc explores wolf life in the lower Alps, as well as the contentious politics surrounding the animals. As an exploration of ecology, it’s illuminating; as a gander at the great outdoors, it’s delightful.
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Balomania
In the labyrinthine underworld of São Paulo, Sissell Morell Dargis spent a decade documenting the story of illegal baloeiros, hot air balloonists, and guerilla artists, who risk their lives crafting and releasing huge, lavishly decorated paper balloons.
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Democracy Noir
As Viktor Orbán dismantles Hungary’s democratic institutions, three women--a journalist, a politician, and a nurse--work tirelessly to fight for their country’s soul. A chilling exposé of far-right nationalism and an inspirational beacon of resistance.
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At Averroes & Rosa Parks
Averroès and Rosa Parks are psychiatric units in Paris supporting patients with mental illness. A powerful, thought-provoking follow-up to 2023 Golden Bear winner On the Adamant by veteran documentarian Nicolas Philibert.
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Unlikely Allies
What does it take to unite right-wing billionaire Charles Koch with hip hop legend Snoop Dogg? This urgent and uplifting film documents an extraordinary response to an appalling injustice: a young man sentenced to 55 years for three marijuana sales.
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Fish War
This deep dive into the contentious history of fishing rights in Washington State proves richly rewarding. It's a genuinely compelling film about the transformative Boldt decree of 1974, which granted PNW bands equal status in fish management.
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Blink
When their kids start going blind, Edith and Sébastien Pelletier take their family on a globe-trotting adventure to see the world before they lose their sight. An inspirational journey of reflection, self-discovery, and heartwarming family connection.
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Curl Power
This uplifting documentary follows a curling team from Maple Ridge as they navigate the uncertainties of their teenage years and strive to become Canadian Junior Curling Champions with coaching from three of their moms, who are former Olympians.
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The Thinking Game
Through in-depth interviews, cutting-edge technological demonstrations, and the unrelenting ambition of Demis Hassabis, The Thinking Game follows innovative AI research company, DeepMind, as it works towards AGI (Artificial General Intelligence).
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Searching for Amani
Years after his father's murder while working in Kenya’s largest private wildlife sanctuary, 13-year-old Simon Ali searches for the killers. An unflinching chronicle of postcolonial upheaval and one family’s choice to search for peace.
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