The Observational Mode.

Now it is very clear to me that Observational documentary style is not only to set a camera in  a place without interrupting anything, just like a security camera. The observational mode is purposefully intended to tell a story without intervene, although frames and the course of the story and the time frame this all serve to shape a story in the documentary. According to the dictionary the word observe means watch (someone or something) carefully and attentively. With this small definition I’ll support the idea that leaving the camera recording is not enough, but to look attentively for a story without interfering letting the subject matter to follow the action as spontaneous as it can be.

Given this definition, the different films already watched such as the War Room  portraits how Clinton got elected, more than Clinton, how their staff helped to got him elected. I believe the director didn’t completely intrude, instead he showed how these people passionately work for this candidate. There are several examples of certain kind of tension or some highlights in this documentary, like the introduction of James Cartville, and the issue with the acussation Clinton had of a women who used to work with him, and the Bush campaing working in Brazil. All these little things compose a well-crafted summary of an exiting time in which the director leads the audience to this war room. I also think that partiality was key to presents this topic, because more than a pro Clinton documentary, it was about the campaign and the staff in itself. How these people reveal their character and individuality in each one of the scenes without being voyeuristic about it.

The other documentaries such as Les Racquetteurs, show in a very less aggressive way how a group of Motrealers enjoyed games in the snow. Although is a different treatment, this film also take you to the place and put you in the front line of this events. There director engages the audience with familiar and quotidian scenes of these games in the snow. Celebrations, competitions, and others are depicted by these images. Observational documentaries prove to be another interesting way to tell a story with hours of footage and a smart editing  it can be created a great way of representing reality, for some a fake and “spontaneous” reality, for others is to put a scope even closer to the subject than in any other style, seeing the true colors of the characters the film.