Grierson on Documentary
- 208 pages
- 8 hours of reading
The founder of the modern documentary movement discusses his early attempts to use the film for social comment
John Grierson, a pioneering Scottish filmmaker, is widely regarded as the father of British and Canadian documentary film. He coined the term "documentary" and championed the idea that "raw" footage, drawn from life itself, offered a more authentic representation than fictional narratives. His groundbreaking work, exemplified by films like Drifters, captured the heroic efforts of ordinary individuals and presented a stark contrast to the prevailing cinematic styles of his time. Grierson envisioned documentary as a potent new art form capable of interpreting the modern world through direct observation.

The founder of the modern documentary movement discusses his early attempts to use the film for social comment