11 Controversial And Heartbreaking Documentaries Every In Their 20s Should Watch
If you're not watching any of these documentaries then you're not living. Watch all 11 of these before you hit the big 3-0 and be a true culture fiend. If you've already passed the 30 mark then start binge watching these anyway, you won't regret it:
1.What The Health (2017)
If you've ever wondered about what you're consuming then What The Health will change your world. Terrifyingly, WTH delve into to the world of pharmaceuticals, meat and the dairy industry and our role in usurping these rich and powerful conglomerates.
2. The Jinx (2015)
Before Steven Avery on Making A Murderer, Robert Durst was a multimillionaire whose family owned an empire in New York City. At first sympathetic, Robert was seen as an unfortunate victim who was falsely accused of killing his wife. The story becomes even more bizarre from episode to episode and the final moments in the documentary series is one of the best endings of all time.
3. The Bridge (2006)
A harrowingly look at suicide, The Bridge opens the lid on a spot that's the second most popular landmark for suicide - Golden Gate Bridge. With over 1,500 deaths reported, it's a difficult watch but a reality that can't be avoided.
4. Hot Girls Wanted (2015)
HGW is a look at one of the most profitable industries in the world and the young women who experience the difficulties of working in an unregulated industry - internet cam rooms.
5. Bobby Sands: 66 Days (2016)
A historical moment that few of us know or were alive for, the troubles between Northern Ireland, Ireland and the UK is a situation we should all understand, especially with Brexit just around the corner. One figure who defied the era was Bobby Sands, an IRA member who ultimately died from a hunger strike. If you're keen on learning more about The Troubles check out End Game, a four-part series on Youtube that looks at the broader social and political implications of the time.
6. Paris Is Burning (1990)
A breathtaking documentary on the struggles of growing up LGBTQ+ in New York, Paris Is Burning documents the lives of young gay men and trans women in NYC and their mission to turn rubbish into fierce gold. Paris Is Burning is the mother of Rupaul's Drag Race and is a crucial watch for anyone interested in early drag culture.
7. March Of The Penguins (2005)
A cinematic feat that's rarely captured on camera, two cinematographers spent a year in the freezing Antartic documenting a year in a penguins life. Ps. get the tissues ready.
8. Deliver Us From Evil (2006)
A documentary that explores the life of Oliver O'Grady, a Catholic Priest who admitted to raping and molesting children in California. A gut-wrenching watch, it's a reminder of the devastating cover-ups that have rocked Ireland in recent times and a reminder of a dark past.
9. Amy (2015)
We're all obsessed with the pitfalls of fame and success but few cases are as emotionally complex and heartbreaking as Amy. The documentary explores Amy Winehouse's tragic death at 27 and her mental health struggles and addiction despite being one of the most critically acclaimed and loved musicians of all time.
10. 13th (2016)
It's impossible not turn on social media or watch the news without hearing about the prevalent racism in the US. 13th historically traces the imprisonment of coloured people long before the overcrowded and predominantly African American incarcerated prison system.
11. Diana: In Her Own Words (2017)
Like Amy, Princess Diana grappled with constant exposure from the moment her engagement to Prince Charles was announced. There are countless documentaries unveiling the Royal family but few are as personal and in-depth as In Her Own Words as Diana's voice narrates the entire documentary.