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What are some lesser-known but highly rated documentaries?

Victoria Nix

As a passionate documentary lover, I have stumbled upon some hidden gems that deserve more recognition. Here are some of my favorite lesser-known but highly rated documentaries that you must watch.

1. Dark Days (2000): This documentary tells the story of a group of homeless people who have built a community in the abandoned underground tunnels beneath New York City. The film is a powerful portrayal of human resilience and survival against all odds.

2. The Act of Killing (2012): This documentary takes a chilling look at the Indonesian genocide of the 1960s and the ongoing culture of impunity that allows the perpetrators to remain in power. The director uses a unique approach, asking the perpetrators themselves to reenact their crimes in a film noir style.

3. The Keepers (2017): This incredible true-crime documentary explores the unsolved murder of a nun in 1969 and the cover-up by the Catholic Church of the sexual abuse of young girls at the school where she worked. The film exposes the dark underbelly of institutional power and abuse.

4. Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father (2008): This heart-wrenching documentary tells the story of a father's quest to honor his murdered son and keep his memory alive for his grandson. The film is a powerful testament to the strength of human love and the devastating impact of violence.

5. The Imposter (2012): This mind-bending documentary tells the story of a young man who claims to be a missing boy from Texas. As the family welcomes him back, suspicions arise, and the truth becomes stranger than any fiction.

6. 20 Feet from Stardom (2013): This uplifting and captivating documentary celebrates the unsung heroes of the music industry, the backup singers who have lent their voices to some of the most iconic songs in history.

7. For Sama (2019): This compelling documentary tells the story of a young mother's experience during the Syrian civil war and her struggle to raise her daughter amid the chaos and devastation.

8. The Overnighters (2014): This documentary tells the story of a small town in North Dakota that has become the epicenter of the fracking boom, and the controversial pastor who offers a helping hand to the many desperate workers who have come there seeking jobs and a new start.

9. Three Identical Strangers (2018): This fascinating and disturbing documentary tells the story of triplets who were separated at birth and adopted by three different families, only to discover each other by chance years later. The film exposes the unethical nature of a secret psychological experiment that was carried out on the boys.

10. The Act of Living (2015): This raw and emotional documentary follows a group of survivors of the Guatemalan civil war as they participate in an innovative therapeutic theater project to confront and heal from their traumatic past.

In conclusion, these lesser-known but highly rated documentaries offer a window into some of the most profound and impactful stories of our time. They deserve more recognition and a wider audience, and I highly recommend that you watch them.