"Intro into documentary" Response

            I really like documentary film and one of my favourite documentary films is called Bowling for Columbine. It is talking about the role of guns plays in the American society. The issue is raised by a gun killing event happened in Columbine Elementary School. In the film, the voice of authority is used as a narration in the part of the interview or introduction, which brings effective and convincing argument to the audience. Many scene shows without music, without cutting and without narration, with only the show of the facts.

            Specially, director in the film uses montage way of cutting many trusted TV news, such as BBC news and Fox news, in order to make the credibility of the facts about the tragedy of the gun killing event which happens in the Columbine Elementary School. There are also many particular scenes for the survivors and victims’ parents to take interviews to talk about the process of the tragedy that they have experienced. Their memory of the tragedy emotionally appeals to the audience which points out the seriousness of the guns’ use.

            In addition, director presents himself as one of the character in the film. His interview with all sorts of authorities, his voiceover narration and his on-screen interactions with people and the way of handhold camera of shooting all brings a live experiment to the audience. The audience may have the similar experiences and emotion as the director and they will notice that the story in the film is actually something happening next to them in their country instead of some fake stories in the film. For example, when the director films the autobiographical information about his childhood experience and he makes the parallels between himself and Charlton Heston. The director uses himself as a narrator instead of creating some superficial heroes. This type of filming makes the film real and closer to the audience. The audience might even recall that if they have similar experience in their childhood or if they have the similar interaction with guns. It might also arouse the audience’s fear for the gun because such kind of experience does happen to them or to somebody around them.