Top 10: The Best Documentaries of 2017

von Clayton Davis · 03.01.2018

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times," is a famous quote from Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities that refers to the social climate of 18th century Paris and London. It's a quote that can also be easily applied to today's world.

While there seems to be no end in sight for mankind's obsession with war and destruction on Earth, there are also many extraordinary individuals dedicated to making the world a better place. This year's fine crop of documentary films offers a vivid reflection of this juxtaposition within humanity, drawing our attention to some of the most urgent social issues and inspiring people. From the crises in Syria to the work of activists like Jane Goodall, the subjects covered by this year's non-fiction filmmakers were diverse and unforgettable. They prove that the medium is as important and impactful as ever.

With an increasing number of documentaries being produced each year, it's almost impossible to watch all the films worthy of consideration. But based on my own efforts, here are my recommendations for 2017's best in non-fiction film.

10. "Faces Places"

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dir. JR, Agnès Varda

One of the most humanist documentaries of the year, Faces Places has been rightfully celebrated by critics and festival audiences alike. Directed by legendary filmmaker Agnès Varda and muralist JR, this film follows this unlikely pair as they travel along the French countryside seeking inspiration for larger than life portraits to be featured in the communities. Along the way, they affectionately meet an array of ordinary working people who become the muses and subjects of the art. This heartwarming documentary celebrates our shared humanity, exemplified by its unlikely but adorable directing duo. It's part buddy comedy, part road movie and completely irresistible.

9. "Step"

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dir. Amanda Lipitz

If you're unfamiliar with the traditionally African-American dance called "stepping", then Amanda Lipitz' lively documentary Step is as good an introduction as any. Set in the heart of Baltimore at a unique girls' high school, it follows a group of graduating seniors in their final year on the step team. Through the course of this formative year in their lives, they must face the challenges of their academics, difficult socioeconomic backgrounds, and competitive aspirations. "Step" premiered at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival, where it appropriately won the Special Jury Award for Inspirational Filmmaking. Indeed, the stories of these girls are positive and life-affirming, epitomizing the concept of #BlackGirlMagic.

8. "Oklahoma City"

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dir. Barak Goodman

The events that occur in Barak Goodman's Oklahoma City took place more than two decades ago, but this timely documentary could easily have been set in 2017. Revisiting the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, the film is a sobering examination of American society. Going in depth into the white supremacist, anti-government, gun fanatic ideology that resulted in this act of domestic terrorism, "Oklahoma City" is a thorough and horrifying analysis of the psychology of evil. Coupled with a few shootouts through its absorbing depiction of the FBI's pursuit of justice, it definitely satiates our appetite for true crime stories. "Oklahoma City" is one of the most unsettling films of the year, but I dare you to look away.

7. "Jane"

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dir. Brett Morgen

In 1960, a young Englishwoman named Jane Goodall embarked on a life-changing journey to Tanzania. With just a deep love for animals and no formal university training, she was given the opportunity to study chimpanzees in their natural habit. Her ground-breaking research was recorded on video and became the awe-inspiring cinematic experience that is Brett Morgen's Jane. Indeed, "Jane" would be worthy of this list for the stunning footage alone. However, Morgen's enthralling directorial flourishes and the enlightening storytelling provide the icing on top of this visual treat.

6. "Last Men in Aleppo"

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dir. Firas Fayyad, Steen Johannessen, Hasan Kattan

Firas Fayyad's extraordinary Last Men in Aleppo is a documentary that defies mere art or entertainment. Its very existence is something to marvel at. What really makes it one of the year's best films, however, is how up close and personal Fayyad gets to his subjects. These subjects, known as the White Helmets, prove themselves to be infinitely worthy of this spotlight, as they're regular citizens who volunteer to help save the victims of an ongoing war in Syria. As Fayyad captures them at work, acting tirelessly to recover children and adults from the rubble of destroyed buildings, it's impossible not to feel both devastated and inspired. "Last Men in Aleppo" is humanity laid bare, documented through filmmaking at its most raw.

5. "Cries from Syria"

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dir. Evgeny Afineevsky

There are times for subtlety and then there are times to scream from the rooftops, "I'm mad as hell and I ain't gonna take it anymore." Director Evgeny Afineevsky's films embody the latter, demonstrating an outstanding ability to capture the emotionally charged atmosphere of a revolution. Like his Oscar-nominated Winter on Fire: Ukraine's Fight for Freedom, Afineevsky transports viewers to the frontline of a seemingly never-ending struggle in Syria. In this film, he shows the horrors of civil war, terrorism and the associated refugee crisis in thorough detail. Spanning events from 1963 to present day, it's an ambitious and vital account of some of the most severe human rights violations of our time.

4. "LA 92"

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dir. Dan Lindsay, TJ Martin

A series of documentaries (in addition to a Netflix special titled "Rodney King") were released in remembrance of the infamous LA Riots that happened 25-years-ago. Expertly assembled, these documentaries included amazing footage of preceding events as well as footage showing the devastating aftermath. LA 92 is perhaps the most accomplished of them all. Daniel Lindsay and T.J. Martin deliver a masterclass in direction and editing as they put the rage and tragedy into stark context, illustrating a seamless timeline of long-standing tensions between the African-American community and the LAPD. Further heightened by the judicious use of Danny Bensi and Saunder Jurriaans' pulsating score, "LA 92" paints a sobering and holistic picture of a time that stands as a warning sign for today's Black Lives Matter movement.

3. "One of Us"

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dir. Heidi Ewing, Rachel Grady

New York City is often described as a melting pot of cultures. This includes one of America's most secluded communities, the Hasidic Jews. Settling largely in the borough of Brooklyn, they have created a haven of familial support...unless you decide to abandon their way of life. Such is the decision made by the three individuals whose lives are explored in Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady's One of Us. This documentary is insightful and at times heartbreaking, particularly when it deals with a custody battle of a courageous woman named Etty. Sensitively directed, it is less a takedown of Judaism than it is a universal appeal to the right to freedom, especially for anyone who has felt like a trapped outsider in their everyday life.

2. "City of Ghosts"

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dir. Matthew Heineman

Two years after examining the violence of the Mexican drug trade in Cartel Land, Matthew Heineman is back with another bracingly intimate account of an ongoing state of terror. With City of Ghosts, the talented documentary filmmaker is once again at his unflinching best, documenting the rise of ISIS in Syria. In this hard-hitting chronicle, he follows the efforts of an activist group fighting to reclaim their homeland from radical extremists. Through their work emerges a story of true heroes, displaying admirable courage against seemingly insurmountable odds. Full Review

1. "The Work"

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dir. Jairus McLeary, Gethin Aldous

One of the best qualities of non-fiction filmmaking is its potential to influence social change. As the plague of toxic masculinity continues to run amok, a documentary like Jairus McLeary's The Work possesses that urgent relevance. "The Work" showcases a game-changing experiment that takes place twice a year in California's Folsom Prison. It's here that a selected group of civilians join inmates in a special 4-day therapy session. As these hardened men subsequently dig into deep wells of pain to reveal their innermost vulnerabilities, McLeary's camera gets up close and personal to an almost overwhelming extent. It's through this, that "The Work" redefines our notions of empathy, rehabilitation and most importantly, masculinity.
What were your favorite documentaries of 2017? Let us know in the comments below.