dokumentär

A dokumentär is a non-fiction film or television program that documents aspects of reality, such as people, events, places, or phenomena, with the aim of informing, explaining, or analyzing. In Swedish usage, the term covers a broad range of non-fiction media and is closely aligned with the international concept of a documentary.

Documentaries use various methods to convey information. Common techniques include interviews, voice-over narration, and the use of archival footage. Observational footage and direct cinema approaches aim to present events with minimal interference, while expository styles rely on clear narration to guide the audience. Re-enactments, graphics, and animation may be employed to illustrate or reinterpret past events. Documentaries can be investigative, biographical, nature-focused, historical, or social-issue oriented.

The documentary tradition has evolved from early ethnographic and travelogues to contemporary, immersive forms. Influential strands include expository documentaries that aim to argue a point, observational and cinéma vérité approaches that emphasize spontaneity, and reflexive or participatory works that examine the documentary process itself. Ethical considerations—such as accuracy, consent, representation, and potential manipulation through editing—are central to the genre.

Today, dokumentärer appear in cinemas, on television, and via streaming platforms, covering topics from science and history to politics and everyday life. They often seek to provoke reflection, inform public debate, and document perspectives that might otherwise be overlooked.