‘Bowling for Columbine’ (Moore, 2002)
Voice-over is used by Moore to set the scene of America as a gun-loving nation – expository documentary elements. Moore likes to engage with the subjects he is talking to. He is often seen on camera talking. He is the one who goes and signs up with the bank to get a free gun – interactive documentary elements. There is a montage edit of examples of how American’s love guns and Moore’s personal history with guns. This sets the scene as well in an interactive way.
The montage elements of the documentary are to show realism of how guns are viewed in America. The voice-over and interviews are also used to show realiam as it sets the scene for America in the 90’s/2000’s. Moore is a very realistic documentarist.
I think Moore is using this montage edit to send a message that America might have a gun problem, and he is asking, why?
Michael Moore likes to get very personal with his films by talking with the subjects. He is often on screen and the one asking questions. This is because his documentaries is him exploring issues in America.
The difference between this film and a mainstream fiction feature is the narration explaining the world. It is rare for a film to have a narration. And if they do, it is common for it to be at the beginning for exposition and then at the end. The Fault in Our Stars is an exception to the rule with Hazel’s thoughts being throughout the film, like how Moore uses narration to guide the film.
News programs will more focus on the events. So, during Columbine, they would have exclusively focused on the shooting and with Parkland, the events of the students fighting for gun control. Moore more focuses on why America is like this and why no one was willing to change.
Digital filmmaking has allowed Michael Moore to not take a while to get ready to talk to someone. He can just press play and go into an interrogation. This means that his subjects can’t escape.
‘Divorce: Iranian Style’ (Longinotto, 1998)
Voice-over is used to tell the audience what they are witnessing – expository documentary elements. Most of the footage just lets the recording play out with minimal cuts – observational documentary. Occasionally, Longinotto will asks question but just for context – interactive.
As for the most part, this documentary uses observational documentary techniques like minimal editing to show the audience what is happening. This makes it a realistic as we are not being deceived by the editing.
Longinotto is using minimal editing to show the audience the gender bias in Iran when it comes to divorce.
Longinotto has hardly any interaction between herself and the subjects of the documentary. The only time she will is to ask the occasional question to ask what is happening.
The difference between this film and a mainstream fiction feature is the lack of structure to the opening. There is no scene establishing the setting through dialogue, Longinotto simply tells the audience where they are and there is not an individual main set of characters.
News programs will focus on big things like war, not divorce in Iran. This subject is only a small part of a larger issue surrounding women’s rights in Iran.
Digital Filmmaking has allowed people like Longinotto go to places like Iran and document what it is like out there with ease. It has made people more aware of what it is like in other countries that wouldn’t be as documented.
Film Studies 