dokumentarizirati

Dokumentarizirati is a verb used in several South Slavic languages, including Croatian, Bosnian, Serbian, and Montenegrin. It denotes the act of turning something into a documentary form or presenting it in a documentary-style narrative. The term can refer to creating a documentary film or program, but it is also used more broadly to describe organizing information—such as archival materials, testimonies, and data—so that it is presented as a factual, documentary account. The formulation emphasizes the use of verifiable evidence and real events, though interpretation and selection of material may still influence the portrayal.

Etymology and form: the word is built from the root dokumentar- (related to dokumentarac, a documentary) with the verbal suffix -izirati, which yields verbs meaning to render or convert into a certain category. Related nouns include dokumentarizacija (the act of making something documentary or presenting it in documentary form) and dokumentarac (a documentary film). In everyday speech, speakers may also use phrases like “napraviti dokumentarac” (to make a documentary) or “prikazati u dokumentarnom filmu.”

Usage and nuance: dokumentarizirati is common in discussions of film, journalism, and academic work that adopts documentary methods. It signals an intention to foreground evidence and sources, even when the final product is not a traditional feature-length film. Critics may note that documentary-style projects can still reflect editorial choices and biases.

See also: dokumentarac, dokumentarizacija, dokumentarna produkcija, documentary.