This feature documentary is a portrait of Peter Watkins, an Oscar®-winning British filmmaker who, for the past 4 decades, has proved that films can be made without compromise. With the proliferation of TV channels, documentaries are enjoying an unprecedented boom fuelled by audiences seeking an alternative to infotainment. But now documentary filmmaking, too, finds itself constrained by the imperatives of television. However, there is a rebel resisting this uniformity of the spirit. Pre-eminent among today's documentary filmmakers concerned about this mind-numbing standardization, Peter Watkins has never strayed from either his principles or the cause.
Ages 16 to 17
Family Studies/Home Economics - Feminism
History and Citizenship Education - Culture and Currents of Thought (1500-present)
Discuss the concept of "the universal clock" as it pertains to television filmmaking. Suggest reasons why the universal clock has become the industry standard for television programming. Comment on the benefits and drawbacks of the universal clock. Elaborate on Peter Watkins' philosophy regarding the constraints imposed on the television filmmaking process. Revisit the scenes from Watkins' film, La Commune. Comment on his production style.