<p>My brother-in-law is in the midst of treatment for colon cancer and after his first round of chemo I gave him a copy of the documentary that originally showed on PBS about the Endurance and Shackleton’s antarctic trip. He really enjoyed it as I thought he might - he has an active mind but there are stretches where he is just not up to reading anything.</p>
<p>I need some suggestions for a few other documentaries to order for him. Any thoughts?</p>
<p>I enjoyed The Sound and the Fury, about cochlear implants in young children and deaf culture. Two families face the decision and all sides are examined.</p>
<p>New Year Baby (a daughter learns the story of her parents escape from Cambodia)
Daughter from Danang (a Vietnamese woman who was adopted by an American returns to visit her birth family)
The Baader Meinhof Complex (actually a movie, not a documentary, but documents terrorist activity in Germany starting in the 70s)
Every Little Step (Documents the audition process for a New York production of A Chorus Line)
Tyson (about Mike Tyson)
Earth (Nature program captures three animal families in action over the course of a year)
This American Life (quirky stories about American life – I also recommend the podcasts)
Join Us (Documentary about families who join and then leave a cult-like church)
The Fog of War (Robert McNamara explains himself HIGHLY RECOMMENDED)
Operation Filmmaker (What happens when a Hollywood star helps a young Iraqi by giving him a job in the making of a movie?)
The Ground Truth (stories from soldiers adjusting to their return from combat)</p>
<p>Caltech boys trying to win one basketball game after 21yr losing streak:</p>
<p>[Quantum</a> Hoops](<a href=“http://www.quantumhoops.com/index2.htm]Quantum”>Quantum Hoops)</p>
<p>Also doc about wild world of origami like you’ve never seen before: </p>
<p>[Between</a> The Folds - a film by Vanessa Gould](<a href=“http://www.greenfusefilms.com/]Between”>http://www.greenfusefilms.com/)</p>
<p>“Man on Wire”, the interesting and quirky story of Philippe Petit. It won the Oscar for Best Documentary within the last few years. It tells the story of “Philippe Petit’s 1974 tightrope walk between the twin towers of New York’s World Trade Center, an illegal stunt that the Frenchman planned as carefully as a bank heist.” Highly recommend.
Surprisingly entertaining. I didn’t expect to be so enthralled about this story–Mr Petit is such an interesting character!</p>
<p>^^^</p>
<p>I second Man on Wire for all the reasons mentioned above.</p>
<p>“Sandwiches that you will like” is endearing.</p>
<p>Frontline can keep a person pretty busy. There are quite a few documentaries…and you can watch the documentaries online for free.</p>
<p>I think this one is my favorite…“The Tank Man”.</p>
<p>[FRONTLINE:</a> the tank man: watch the full program online | PBS](<a href=“http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/tankman/view/]FRONTLINE:”>The Tank Man | FRONTLINE)</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/[/url]”>http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/</a></p>
<p>It isn’t a documentary, but the John Adams miniseries is great.</p>
<p>And “The Rape of Europa” (about art during WWII) is a wonderful documentary.</p>
<p>Any of the Michael Palin travel shows-- perhaps starting with Around the World in 80 Days.</p>
<p>Anything on Independent Lens - my favorite show of all time.</p>
<p>Young at Heart - about a senior choir who sing rock songs
Hands on a Hard Body - a contest of endurance to win a new car
To Be and to Have - the last year of a one room school in rural France
The Parrots of Telegraph Hill - one man’s crusade to save the wild parrots in San Fran
The Seven-up Series - interviews British children from different walks of life every 7 years
Hoop Dreams - what happens to inner city kids recruited to play basketball by private schools</p>
<p>Our favorite documentary of all time is the Up series. This series of documentaries follows the lives of 14 British children form age 7 to the current in seven year intervals. Amazing documentary as you follow the lives of these children. My wife and I watched the whole series over a few days. </p>
<p>[Up</a> Series - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Up_Series]Up”>Up (film series) - Wikipedia)</p>
<p>Anything David Attenborough narrates.</p>
<p>I was going to say “Man on Wire” too…engrossing!</p>
<p>VERY inspiring:
“Dad’s in Heaven with Nixon”
[Marcia</a> G. Yerman: “Dad’s in Heaven with Nixon” - a Documentary About Autism and Bipolar Disease](<a href=“HuffPost - Breaking News, U.S. and World News | HuffPost”>"Dad's in Heaven with Nixon" - a Documentary About Autism and Bipolar Disease | HuffPost Life)</p>
<p>You all are great…thanks so much.</p>
<p>Re *Young at Heart<a href=“the%20senior%20choir”>/i</a> - really good, but I know that more than one of the choir members dies before the documentary ends - one from a unexpected recurrence of cancer, if I remember correctly, which I may not. I don’t know if this would or would not bother your brother-in-law. Watch it first maybe and decide; it’s good so …</p>
<p>Not PBS but HBO and very, very enthralling- Rome- both seasons and The Tudors. My husband and I were hooked on these.</p>
<p>I like most anything from Ken Burns. His work is so tight! Best wishes for your brother-in-law’s progress.
[Ken</a> Burns | PBS](<a href=“http://www.pbs.org/kenburns/]Ken”>http://www.pbs.org/kenburns/)</p>
<p>I’ll second anything by David Attenborough.</p>
<p>Lost in La Mancha: Terry Gilliam’s abortive attempt to film “Don Quixote”
The Hobart Shakespeareans: inspirational teacher in Los Angeles has his elementary students perform Shakespearean plays
The Story of the Weeping Camel: nomads, baby camels, totally different way of life
Step into Liquid: Surfing, with lots of “look, ordinary people surf” moments</p>