Documentary Effect in Cinema

The article explores the phenomenon of the ‘documentary effect’ in cinema and its impact on the viewer’s perception. It considers various philosophical approaches to understanding documentary films, including the theories by G. Currie, N. Carroll, and C. Plantinga. Critically analysing these concepts, the author proposes his own understanding of the documentary effect based on the idea of interrupting aesthetic perception. Two types of the documentary effect are identified: ‘filming of reality’ and ‘the reality of filming’. The first type is associated with the viewer’s emotional response to shocking or ‘practically’ significant events, while the second one relates to unintentional elements in the filming process. It is argued that the documentary effect occurs when the continuity of the narrative is disrupted, which makes the viewer think about the reality of what is happening on the screen. This leads to a specific phenomenal experience balancing between engagement in viewing and critical evaluation of the film as a work of art. The article contributes to the ongoing discussion about the nature of documentary cinema and its relationship to fictional films, offering a nuanced perspective on how viewers interact with and interpret documentary content.