Documentary - Archives - NFB Blog

Documentary

Explore the world of documentary—including biography, history, social and political issues, global cultures, and aboriginal topics.

Last Dance in Baghdad

Last Dance in Baghdad

History goes in cycles, and we need to learn from our past and build bridges that open dialogue. I am an Arab, even if I’m a Jew. Those two are not incompatible. I want people to see Baghdad Twist as a universal story, about a woman, a family, a community

Gilles Groulx at 90 | Curator’s Perspective

Gilles Groulx at 90 | Curator’s Perspective

Filmmaker Gilles Groulx was born in 1931 and would have turned 90 on August 30. The anniversary of his birthday is an opportunity to reflect on the significance of this director and his work.

Luben and Elena: The Love of Art and the Art of Love

Luben and Elena: The Love of Art and the Art of Love

By the time I decided to make this documentary, I had known Luben and Elena for 20 years, and I’d witnessed their growth as artists and human beings.

Atlanticanada: The NFB Turns Its Lens to the East | Curator’s Perspective

Atlanticanada: The NFB Turns Its Lens to the East | Curator’s Perspective

The documentary films of the Atlanticanada series produced by the National Film Board of Canada are highlighted.

Adieu Alouette: Contemporary Quebec… in English | Curator’s Perspective

Adieu Alouette: Contemporary Quebec… in English | Curator’s Perspective

The Adieu Alouette television series produced by the National Film Board of Canada in 1973 was a look at the contemporary Quebec of the time.

Standing on the Line: For LGBTQ2+ Athletes Who Still Suffer in Silence

Standing on the Line: For LGBTQ2+ Athletes Who Still Suffer in Silence

Today, I’m thinking fondly of all the other LGBT athletes and their friends and loved ones who have suffered, and continue to suffer, in silence.

Headline Hunters: News Reporting during WWII | Curator’s Perspective

Headline Hunters: News Reporting during WWII | Curator’s Perspective

The World War II short documentary Headline Hunters is discussed. It highlights the work of Canadian war correspondents.

The Troubled History of the North American Bison | Curator’s Perspective

The Troubled History of the North American Bison | Curator’s Perspective

The long and troubled history of the North American bison is recounted in the National Film Board film The Great Buffalo Saga.

The Apollo of Gaza: The Discovery and Disappearance of a National Treasure

The Apollo of Gaza: The Discovery and Disappearance of a National Treasure

The Apollo of Gaza is partly a chronicle of these claims and local and international political rivalries. But it’s also a reflection on the passage of time and the cyclical nature of history.

John Ware Reclaimed: A Conversation With Cheryl Foggo And Miranda Martini

John Ware Reclaimed: A Conversation With Cheryl Foggo And Miranda Martini

Read this conversation between the filmmaker and musician and songwriter Miranda Martini, whose music is featured in the documentary (and who also happens to be Cheryl’s daughter).

Dresden Story: Racism in 1950s Canada | Curator’s Perspective

Dresden Story: Racism in 1950s Canada | Curator’s Perspective

The 1954 documentary Dresden Story, the first NFB film to deal with racial discrimination in Canada, is discussed.

Borealis: Seeing the Forest Through the Trees

Borealis: Seeing the Forest Through the Trees

Canadians can be proud of the fact that our boreal is arguably the most important forest in the world. Though it is heavily logged and dotted with mines, it is still less disturbed than any other forest, and home to countless wild animals.