6 Documentaries to Start a Discussion
Documentaries are a great way to gain insight into a lot of topics we don't know much about or can help us see things from a different perspective. A great thing to come out of watching “controversial" (although half the time controversial is slapped on anything where someone has a different opinion), is the conversations we can have with those we watch it with afterwards. It's an excellent way to form a more educated opinion on a topic that we are either supportive, against or neutral for. So many times I've had my opinion swayed by these sorts of things.
In the topic of wellness and lifestyle, there are so many different paths each of us can follow, and sometimes it's scary to travel down a path that isn't as highly publicised or discussed as the 'normal'. However, each of us has a right to choose the way we go about our own health, and exploring and looking at new ideas is best approached with an open mind.
Today we've outlined six documentaries that are great ways to start a discussion with those around you.
THE BLEEDING EDGE
(2018)
Kirby Dick looks at the $400 billion medical device industry and how greed and profit-driven companies within it are rushing to implant medical devices into the marketplace without proper clinical trials. An eye-opening documentary into what can go wrong when greed comes before the wellbeing of patients. Outlining new and 'cutting-edge' medical devices such as Essure (a permanent birth control method), chrome-cobalt hip replacements and the da Vinci Surgical System, among many others. The film concludes by informing us that no one from the FDA or the companies spoken about in the documentary had agreed to be interviewed. Interesting.
FANTASTIC FUNGI
(2019)
Filmmaker Louie Schwartzberg's documentary 'Fantastic Fungi' is a visual masterpiece based on the magical and medicinal world of mushrooms. Tapping into topics such as psychedelic research of psilocybin for medicinal and spiritual uses, as well as various other mushroom species for immunity, cancer treatment and sustainable earth regeneration. An interesting film for those interested in growing trends such as many mushroom adaptogens, and the legalisation of psychedelic drugs for healing purposes.
EARTHLINGS
(2005)
The documentary that made my sister and brother-in-law vegan overnight, Shaun Morrison's Earthlings chronicles the day-to-day practices of some of the largest industries in the world, that rely entirely on animals for profit. Using hidden cameras and never seen before footage, Earthlings is a documentary that will stick with you forever. Perfect for watching before you sit down to eat your next steak. While I'm not vegan, there is many animal products and foods I refuse to eat, and while I'm not there yet, I hope to reach it one day on my path to living a more compassionate and sustainable life.
HEAL
(2017)
Boasting appearances by well-known figures such as Deepak Chopra, Anita Moorjani, Marianne Williamson and Bruce Lipton, Kelly Noonan's film eye-opening film is a must-watch. 'Heal' released in 2017 takes us on a spiritual and scientific journey to discover that changing one's perceptions, the human body can heal itself from any disease. Our beliefs, thoughts and emotions have an inarguable toll and impact on our health and ability to heal. We are not victims of unchangeable genes, nor should we buy into a scary prognosis. The film covers a lot of alternative therapies and their benefits when ways that conventional medicine cannot help.
VAXXED: FROM COVER-UP TO CATASTROPHE
(2016)
I tossed up whether to include this documentary due to the potential backlash I might receive. Whichever side of the debate you stand on regarding vaccinations, this movie is a great movie to start a discussion. The documentary is based around the alleged destroyed data by the CDC on a 2004 study showing a link between the MMR vaccine and autism. Especially now where the whole world is looking at a potentially mandatory vaccine for Covid-19, we're seeing a rise of people who have been outspoken about whether or not they will voluntarily take the vaccine if and when it becomes available. Whether you are firmly pro-vax and want to have a bit more insight as to why there are people against it, or whether you're anti-vax and wanted to get more insight into your beliefs, the documentary is an excellent place to start, if you can find it anywhere anymore - which leads me to my next film on the list.
OUT OF SHADOWS
(2020)
'The Truth Is Not Told - It Is Learned'. After a few days of being uploaded onto Youtube, Mike Smith's documentary 'Out of Shadows' has more than 6.5 million views, but is not trending nor is it shown in search results. If you google the name of the documentary, it is hidden by other films like a 2017 D-grade horror movie. It's situations like this that the documentary talks explicitly about. Described as an expose on how Hollywood and the mainstream media control and manipulate the narrative of the world around us through the content, the film throws off the lid into media censorship, and the governance that big money and business has on the news we're allowed to know. A must watch, and certainly a film to spark an interesting discussion with your peers.
Happy viewing!
Aleksandar
Disclaimer: Please note that the above-recommended documentaries are suggested with the intention of starting a discussion, and that Welluvia doesn't necessarily support or agree with everything discussed in these documentaries.Banner image: 'Tremolo' EP cover from My Bloody Valentine