Nonfiction Film: A Critical History

by Richard Barsam

Covers the worldwide development of the non-fiction film, from the first factual films of 1895 to the cinema of the 1980s. This work discusses the important non-fiction film movements - the factual film, exploration film, war film, documentary film, compilation film, films of developing countries, and women's, lesbian, and gay liberation films.

Genres: Nonfiction, Film

482 pages, Hardcover

First published January 19, 1973

Reviews

[Catnaitab · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite a lot of detail put into most of the reviews of the films. It is the history of nonfiction film between the 30s and 70s (mostly in America and England) and although it gives an insight to the production of a lot of films, it lacks a deeper analysis of what nonfiction nonfiction is. The author tends to analyse films that don't seem to be nonfiction and he doesn't address this issue at all.

[Lena Nechet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Descriptive; 1920-70 only, might be a bit opinionated about films' ideas and purposes.