This week Project Nim hits the big screen as Oscar winner James Marsh once again directs a documentary movie.
In recent years documentary movies have become more and more popular at the box office and 2011 has been no different as a whole host of films have already hit the big screen.
So to celebrate the release of Project Nim we take a look at some of the documentary films that we have already enjoyed this year.
- Jig
Riverdance and Michael Flatley introduced the world to Irish dancing back in the nineties but never has a movie gone behind the scenes of the this very competitive world.
But Sue Bourne did find a way in and her latest movie Jig which told the story of the 40th Irish World Championships and the 365 days of hard work that led up to it.
Insightful, thought-provoking documentaries that open doors and throw a new light on subjects we thought we knew about - the movie was met well by the critics upon it's release earlier this year.
- Cave of Forgotten Dreams
Werner Herzog is famous for bringing us movies such as Rescue Dawn and, more recently, Bad Lieutenant but he has always had an interest in documentary movies.
He has presented the likes of Grizzly Man and Little Dieter Needs to Fly and he returned to this genre of film this year with Cave of Forgotten Dreams.
Cave of Forgotten Dreams shows the dramatic results of Herzog’s exclusive access to the recently discovered Chauvet caves in the South of France, and their truly extraordinary cave paintings, dating back 32,000 years.
- Life In A Day
Kevin Macdonald is another actor who has moved between documentary projects and live action movies over the years.
And 2011 saw him his documentary hat on as he directed Life In A Day, which was produced by non other than Ridley Scott.
A documentary shot by contributors all over the world that serves as a time capsule to show future generations what it was like to be alive on the 24th of July, 2010.
Those contributors were able to upload their segments onto YouTube and McDonald and co turned it into a 94 minute movie.
The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival at the beginning of the year and has been met with great reviews from the critics.
- Born To Be Wild
An inspired story of love, dedication and the remarkable bond between humans and animals.
This film documents orphaned orangutans and elephants and the extraordinary people who rescue and raise them - saving endangered species one life at a time.
The movie is directed by David Lickley and narrated by Morgan Freeman.
- Donor Unknown
Filmmaker Jerry Rothwell follows a group of youngsters who were conceived with the help of a sperm donor but now want to find the missing links in their family tree.
It's a very personal journey for all the 'donor siblings' involved as they uncover more brothers and sisters before some finally come face to face with their donor father.
Donor Unknown is a movie that has treated the subject and those involved with the greatest of respect and this film has been made with the up most integrity.
There are no greater stories than
- Vidal Sassoon: The Movie
Vidal Sassoon is more than just a hairdresser - he’s a rock star, an artist, a craftsman who ‘changed the world with a pair of scissors’.
A true rags-to-riches tale, Vidal Sassoon The Movie traces Sassoon’s path from his early days in an orphanage in the East End, to his time as a soldier in Israel, his beginnings on Bond Street, and ultimately to international success and celebrity.
Project Nim is released 12th August
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw