Best documentary feature film is almost always the most politically-charged Oscar category, both in the nominees that are chosen and the eventual winner’s speech. If you have more conservative tastes, this is the part of the ceremony when you should go get a snack. Or, you can listen and see how the other half lives. Your choice.
The most raw film here is “Navalny,” a depiction of events surrounding Russia’s opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Alexei has been a boil on dictator Vladimir Putin’s neck for years, but their personal conflict reached its most dire moments after Alexei was mysteriously poisoned. This documentary is an interesting deep dive into the poisoning incident, the victim, the accused party, and authoritarian rule in general. In more current terms, “Navalny” is a disturbing reminder that the man with the largest nuclear weapon arsenal in the world is also a quivering, petty coward.
“A House Made of Splinters” is in a similar cultural position to “Navalny,” seeing as it also takes place in the shadows of Russia’s darkness. Set in eastern Ukraine, “A House Made of Splinters” follows the heroic workers tasked with socially and physically protecting children in a warzone. Now is a good time to remind you that the nominated filmmakers in this category don’t get to fall asleep in the Hollywood Hills after a day of shooting. They live their films and, in the process, put their lives at risk.
French volcanologists Katia and Maurice Krafft put their lives on the line constantly in the name of research, and they are the subjects of the film “Fire of Love.” Using archival footage from the Kraffts’ adventures, “Fire of Love” goes beyond their volcanic research and explores their chemistry and love for one another. Available on Disney+, thanks to its ties to National Geographic, “Fire of Love” is a powerful watch for casual audiences and film fanatics alike.
“All the Beauty and the Bloodshed” should hit hard in areas like Northeastern Pennsylvania, where the opioid crisis has been especially damaging. In the film, activist Nan Goldin attempts to hold the pharmaceutical industry, specifically Purdue Pharma and their collaborators, accountable for the role they played in the crisis. Goldin is a deeply devoted figure, and her cause in this film is one that many people from a wide range of backgrounds can get behind.
Two brothers and their quest to help and care for birds of prey is the backdrop for “All That Breathes.” More than just a quaint little animal documentary, the film touches on themes like spirituality and the interconnectedness of all living things, hence the title. “All That Breathes” was a major hit on the festival circuit, which may lead to larger awards success. Though it probably has the least intense messaging of the nominated films in this category, there’s a lot of love for “All That Breathes” across the industry.
It’s always incredible to see the difference in scale between the nominees in this category. Even the smallest movie here is a tale of how each living creature deserves a chance at a healthy life, perhaps the most universal messaging possible. No matter how these honorable morals are framed, they all have a place to temporarily coexist at the Oscars.
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