Cinéma Vérité: Defining the Moment(2000)
A documentary about direct-cinema from its very beginnings (Nanook of the North) to the fake-direct-cinema of the Blair Witch Project. All the important direct-cinema filmmakers are portrayed and/or interviewed: Leacock, Wiseman, Maysles, Pennebaker, Reisz and others.

Movie: Cinéma Vérité: Defining the Moment
Cinéma Vérité: Defining the Moment
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Overview
A documentary about direct-cinema from its very beginnings (Nanook of the North) to the fake-direct-cinema of the Blair Witch Project. All the important direct-cinema filmmakers are portrayed and/or interviewed: Leacock, Wiseman, Maysles, Pennebaker, Reisz and others.
Release Date
2000-06-09
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6
Rating:
3.0 startsTagline
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