Dokumentarfilmen

Dokumentarfilmen, or the documentary film, is a nonfiction cinema genre that aims to depict real events, people, and conditions with minimal fictional intrusion. Its purpose is to inform, analyze, or document reality, rather than to tell a traditional fictional story. In Scandinavian usage, dokumentarfilmen refers to this broad category of non-fiction filmmaking.

The roots lie in the early days of cinema, when actualités and everyday life were shown on screen by pioneers such as the Lumière brothers. In the 1920s the term documentary was popularized by British critic John Grierson to describe films that signaled social documentation and truth claims. Notable early works include Nanook of the North (1922), which helped define the documentary’s interest in real people and real settings, even as it raised questions about representation and manipulation.

Documentaries employ a range of modes and techniques. Observational or direct cinema seeks to film events with minimal interference; expository documentaries use voice-over narration to present an argument or information; participatory documentaries foreground the filmmaker’s presence and interaction with subjects; reflexive documentaries examine the documentary process itself and its construction of truth. Other approaches emphasize archival material, performative aspects, or poetic imagery. Common techniques include interviews, on-location shooting, archival footage, and occasional reenactments.

Ethical considerations are central to the genre, including consent, fair representation, bias, and the impact of editing on truth claims. Contemporary documentaries appear in cinemas, on television, and via streaming platforms, often funded by public broadcasters, foundations, or independent distributors. Notable titles include Hoop Dreams, Fahrenheit 9/11, Citizenfour, and My Octopus Teacher, each illustrating the documentary’s capacity to inform, persuade, and resonate with audiences.