Documentaries. Before a certain age (say, 21) it's easy to view them as the antithesis of entertainment. Maybe that's because your introduction to the genre is often in grade school, via a film screened by a substitute teacher that features lots of people sitting in chairs against academic-looking backdrops while speaking to the camera in unusually monotone voices. But, like many things in life, you eventually learn you were mistaken. When Jessica told us watching documentaries was her favorite way to unwind, we knew we had to get a list of recs from her.

Jessica:

I just love documentaries. Maybe because it's a lazy way to obtain knowledge as well as see and discover new things. Or maybe it's the visual aspect, reading or hearing about something new is one thing but seeing it brings it to life. Yes, I am pretty lazy, highly influenced by visuals and I love to discover new things especially if they are strange or unbelievable. Most of all I love to be inspired or to be in awe of something. The following is a list of documentaries that created a highly emotional response within me and I feel each one is just a gem and seriously worth watching!

1. Planet Ocean, Yann Arthus-Bertrand and Michael Pitiot

Beyond diving into the most remote & mysterious areas of the ocean, this focuses on the human relationship we have with this two-thirds mass of our planet. The film takes us through the facts into some frightening prospects but does it in an incredibly calming and beautiful way.

2. Baraka & 3. Samsara, Ron Fricke

Both of these films are pure art. I remember as a freshman at RISD we were all required to file into the auditorium and they screened Baraka for us. Needless to say we were all blown away! Samsara came out like a decade later and it's just as stunning and exciting. Warning: There is a scene in Baraka involving baby chicks which is very hard to watch and there is a scene in Samsara (by performance artist Olivier de Sagazan) that is the trippiest shit I've ever seen. See these films.

4. Pink Saris, Kim Longinotto

This film follows Sampat Pal Devi, the most badass woman ever. After you watch the film you want to do anything you can to help her. She travels around rural India with her 'Pink Gang' standing up for women who have been abused & mistreated. She does so in a very intimate, in-your-face and effective way. It's sad and hard at times to watch but also incredibly empowering.

5. The Secret Life of Plants, Peter Tompkins and Christopher Bird

This is a book made into a film and details how plants are likely a lot more capable and commutative than we give them credit for. There is some science in the film (though somewhat questionable) but being a massive plant owner/plant lover myself, I've seen firsthand what giving extra attention and love-vibes to a plant can do: good things. Also, the entire film is soundtracked by Stevie Wonder. So.

6. Grizzly Man, Werner Herzog

It's hard to say this is my favorite Herzog doc because I'm such a crazy big fan of everything he has done. I have seen all his films and documentaries but Grizzly Man stands out to me. Herzog does a brilliant job at narrating and interviewing. It's almost the pauses he leaves that are more special than what's spoken in his films.

7. The Other Shore, Timothy Wheeler

Diana Nyad, (Nyad means water nymph - how perfect) is that lady that swam from Cuba to Florida but it didn't just take her one attempt. It took five! She finally made it at age sixty-four. What happens to her along the way is absolutely insane. Whenever I'm half ass-ing anything, I think of her.

8. Watermark & 9. Manufactured, Jennifer Baichwal and Edward Burtynsky

Similar in style to Baraka and Samsara in that these are almost more art then film, these two films are spectacular and horrifying all at once. What I love most is how they examine scale and magnitude. Both will leave you with goosebumps.

10. Deepwater, Jerry Rothwell and Louise Osmond

I found this out of the blue one day and it's a story that has really stuck with me ever since. I don't want to give anything away so I'll just say the outer shell is about sailing in a race around the world and getting in over your head.

11. Andy Goldsworthy River and Tides, Thomas Riedelsheimer

I'm forever inspired by the work [of Goldsworthy] and to get to know the man and process behind that work is special. A beautiful film.