The Swell Season shakes up the pop music doc in a way that suggests new possibilities for the form. Its beautiful black-and-white cinematography (the shots of Ireland are often breathtaking) and terrific editing go a long way toward explaining why The Swell Season works, but one can't help but suspect that it's the off-camera relationships that were the special ingredient. And "relationships" in this case doesn't refer to those between Hansard, Irglová, and their bandmates, but rather between the entire group of musicians and the filmmakers themselves. Over time a deep sense of trust apparently developed so that subjects became less guarded, and the ensuing spirit of direct and disarming honesty is compounded by the innately down-to-earth personalities of the performers.

TRIBECA 2011: THE SWELL SEASON REVIEW

The Bear Family and Me

Great nature doc.

BBC's best programmes in the last few years have been similar Lost Land of the Tiger, and Lost Land of the Volcano some epic shows with likable experts not necessarily presenter led with genuine twists and turns with revalatory discovaries.