6. Man with a Movie Camera

“Attention viewers: This film is an experiment in cinematic communication of real events without the help of intertitles, a story, or theatre. This experimental work aims at creating a truly international language of cinema based on its absolute separation from the language of theatre and literature.”

In 1929 Russian propaganda director Dziga Vertov released a sensational, experimental silent documentary film with no story and no actors - relying on the most advanced cinematic techniques of the period to portray the vibrant potential of post-revolutionary Russia.

Edited by his wife, Elizabeth Svilova, the daily routine of a city, from its inhabitants morning rush through to relaxed evenings, is depicted through split-screens, double-exposure, slow motion and ampliation. The film is still considered one of the most influential of all time.

20 greatest documentaries