scala (2023) is a brilliant documentary about the scala cinema in london, and how it influenced a whole generation of creatives. absolutely brilliant film and made me reconsider how i look at movies generally.
while we watched (2022) is the story of a ravish kumar, an indian news reporter trying to fight against the misinformation put out by the indian media and the pressure put on him by the government.
squaring the circle (2022) is a really fun documentary if you’re into your classic rock. all about the group that designed half of the famous album covers from that period, and the story behind the group and the art.
and lastly i’ll say the sparks brothers (2021). just a brilliant display of how filmmaking can be used in a documentary. again, loads of fun, really beautiful shots, amazing lineup of interviewees. i hadn’t even heard of sparks before watching this but i was a big fan by the end.
May 14, 2024
Related Recs
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Hale County This Morning, This Evening — Definitely an acquired taste, but imo one of the best documentaries out there. Beautiful, slow, immersive. RaMell Ross took years worth of footage and curated a 76 minute work of art. Lots of discourse out there on it. HUGE rec.
Paris is Burning — basic rec but worth it if you’ve never seen. House/ballroom scene of the mid/late ‘80s NYC. I sob consistently every time.
Roger & Me — Love or hate Michael Moore, this doc is amazing. Covers US deindustrialization & the consequences for the midwest, specifically focusing on Flint, Michigan.
All That Breathes — Another breathtakingly beautiful doc. Follows two brothers in Delhi who run a bird hospital for injured black kites. Hindu nationalism, interspecies connection, ecological collapse. Nominated for an oscar. So good.
Jun 22, 2025
Incredibly insightful and intimate, if you watch anything on this list it should be this one!
But if you have time for more..
Paris Is Burning (1990)
El ruiseñor y la noche: Chavela Vargas canta a Lorca (2015)
Sun Ra: a joyful noise (1980)
Amy (2015)
Black Wax (1983)
McQueen (2018)
Feb 6, 2025
Feb 2, 2024
Top Recs from @paddy
this is genuinely the best breakfast recipe on the planet, i eat it at least once a week. heat butter in pan, throw in kimchi and fry for a small while, then crack in two eggs and fry (keep that yolk runny), then literally just add the kimchi and egg to some toast (or rice if you can be bothered to make some up) and top with sriracha and kewpie mayo, then some sesame seeds and white pepper. dangerously good.
May 9, 2024
it’s just the best film magazine out there. each issue is focused specifically on one new film that’s just been released and does a deep-dive into it.
it’s also just beautifully designed and i love having them on my shelf
May 11, 2024