Netflix Documentaries
#1
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Netflix Documentaries
Evil Genius: Really well made series that we binge watched last weekend
I am your Father: All about David Prowse and his Darth Vader experience ( and his Green Cross Code days!)
Wild wild Country: Wow, I knew some of this story but not much. Really interesting, just a bit slow to get going. It was today's binge watch!
if your looking for something to watch check them out.
I am your Father: All about David Prowse and his Darth Vader experience ( and his Green Cross Code days!)
Wild wild Country: Wow, I knew some of this story but not much. Really interesting, just a bit slow to get going. It was today's binge watch!
if your looking for something to watch check them out.
#3
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#5
Re: Netflix Documentaries
Just caught the first episode of Evil Genius last night - really really good, definitely up there with Making a Murderer in terms of production and how gripping it is.
Haven't watched or even heard of Wild Wild Country?
Haven't watched or even heard of Wild Wild Country?
#6
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Re: Netflix Documentaries
We lived on the same street as David Prowse. My sister and his daughter were friends. She went to his house and came back with one of those things that has two photos - one of the actor, one of the character.
It was signed to my sister and says "Dave Prowse is Darth Vader". I was so jealous. He did come to our school as the Green Cross Code man though.
I never met Tufty the Squirrel, though.
It was signed to my sister and says "Dave Prowse is Darth Vader". I was so jealous. He did come to our school as the Green Cross Code man though.
I never met Tufty the Squirrel, though.
#7
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Re: Netflix Documentaries
You need to watch. The first episode is a little slow to get into it but half way through episode 2 we were hooked!
#8
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Re: Netflix Documentaries
Wild Wild Country is really good. The story begins in a strange manner and keeps getting more insane as it progresses. The people involved have amazing personalities. Also, it effectively captured certain aspects of America in the early eighties when cultish groups were popular, reactions against Reagan were as strong as reactions against Trump and the dream of the sixties was transforming into something a bit weirder. As someone who grew up in a very left wing / ex-hippie part of the country during that time, it brought me right back. I knew lots of people just like the Rajneeshi, minus the automatic weapons and salmonella.
#10
Re: Netflix Documentaries
This documentary gives a whole lot of details. I love the fact that they got "Sheela" to play a central role in the show - like her or not, she was a woman with a purpose, and it's great to get the story directly from her - and they have a ton of archival footage from the time. There are a few negatives for me - I believe they tried to make the old footage look way more scratchy/distorted/wobbly than it really was (to the point of looking amateurish and distracting), and they don't ever seem to try - despite 6 hours of coverage - to answer the question of 'why' so many people followed the guru. They also don't seem to give much insight into the financing, and logistics, of the operation.
But the negatives are minor and the subject matter is definitely in the 'stranger than fiction / you couldn't make this shit up' category. It has everything - voter fraud, salmonella poisoning, bombings, bigotry, group sex, semi-automatic weapons, religious rights, land use, immigration fraud, and a bunch of naked bodies. ETA: I forgot to mention the 93 Rolls Royces!
What I'm currently fascinated by, and trying to read more about, is just how they built a big town (complete with airstrip) in the middle of the wild country ... they put in power generation, sewage handling, water systems, dams, the lot.
Last edited by Steerpike; Jul 2nd 2018 at 8:37 pm.
#11
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Re: Netflix Documentaries
I'm loving 'Wild, Wild Country' - thanks for the pointer. I came to the US in the early 80s, and I remember these events quite well, but didn't know all the details. Coming not long after the mass suicides of 'Jonestown' (https://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...-a8232856.html), and with the 'Moonies' in the public eye (mass marriages at Madison Square Garden - https://www.tparents.org/Library/Uni...rs/40-4-10.htm ), this cult got a good deal of media attention at the time, but then gradually drifted from public view.
This documentary gives a whole lot of details. I love the fact that they got "Sheela" to play a central role in the show - like her or not, she was a woman with a purpose, and it's great to get the story directly from her - and they have a ton of archival footage from the time. There are a few negatives for me - I believe they tried to make the old footage look way more scratchy/distorted/wobbly than it really was (to the point of looking amateurish and distracting), and they don't ever seem to try - despite 6 hours of coverage - to answer the question of 'why' so many people followed the guru. They also don't seem to give much insight into the financing, and logistics, of the operation.
But the negatives are minor and the subject matter is definitely in the 'stranger than fiction / you couldn't make this shit up' category. It has everything - voter fraud, salmonella poisoning, bombings, bigotry, group sex, semi-automatic weapons, religious rights, land use, immigration fraud, and a bunch of naked bodies. ETA: I forgot to mention the 93 Rolls Royces!
What I'm currently fascinated by, and trying to read more about, is just how they built a big town (complete with airstrip) in the middle of the wild country ... they put in power generation, sewage handling, water systems, dams, the lot.
This documentary gives a whole lot of details. I love the fact that they got "Sheela" to play a central role in the show - like her or not, she was a woman with a purpose, and it's great to get the story directly from her - and they have a ton of archival footage from the time. There are a few negatives for me - I believe they tried to make the old footage look way more scratchy/distorted/wobbly than it really was (to the point of looking amateurish and distracting), and they don't ever seem to try - despite 6 hours of coverage - to answer the question of 'why' so many people followed the guru. They also don't seem to give much insight into the financing, and logistics, of the operation.
But the negatives are minor and the subject matter is definitely in the 'stranger than fiction / you couldn't make this shit up' category. It has everything - voter fraud, salmonella poisoning, bombings, bigotry, group sex, semi-automatic weapons, religious rights, land use, immigration fraud, and a bunch of naked bodies. ETA: I forgot to mention the 93 Rolls Royces!
What I'm currently fascinated by, and trying to read more about, is just how they built a big town (complete with airstrip) in the middle of the wild country ... they put in power generation, sewage handling, water systems, dams, the lot.
Glad you enjoyed it. And yes I read everything I could find about it as well.it was amazing as well as scary to think how easy people can be led!
#12
Re: Netflix Documentaries
I found this great article from the time. Clive James ... now he was worth listening to! The Bagwash speaks | clivejames.com
#13
Re: Netflix Documentaries
Or more to the point, 'want to be led'!
I found this great article from the time. Clive James ... now he was worth listening to! The Bagwash speaks clivejames.com
I found this great article from the time. Clive James ... now he was worth listening to! The Bagwash speaks clivejames.com
And here's more stuff I found ...
And here's a 'where are they now ...' page: http://www.vulture.com/2018/03/wild-...-they-now.html
and more ... https://www.refinery29.com/2018/03/1...ding-episode-6
I've also ordered this book from Amazon - "My Life in Orange: Growing Up with the Guru": https://www.amazon.com/My-Life-Orange-Growing-Guru-ebook/dp/B01BL4HHEU
Last edited by Steerpike; Jul 3rd 2018 at 6:35 pm.
#14
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Re: Netflix Documentaries
As I search for more related info online, I came across this fairly low-key article, which has many links and references for further reading - https://www.oregonlive.com/tv/2018/0...n_rajnees.html .
And here's more stuff I found ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDMjBdHjLBo . badly edited, including several minutes of 'nothing' at the beginning, but about 5 minutes in, you see (who I think is) the lawyer 'Niren' who features heavily in the documentary (and very eloquent), and then starting at about 10 minutes in, you see an interview with Baghwan himself ... hard to watch due to his stop/start style of speaking ... and then a real fun interview with the lady who I think took over from Sheela ... very open and charming.
And here's a 'where are they now ...' page: http://www.vulture.com/2018/03/wild-...-they-now.html
and more ... https://www.refinery29.com/2018/03/1...ding-episode-6
I've also ordered this book from Amazon - "My Life in Orange: Growing Up with the Guru": https://www.amazon.com/My-Life-Orang.../dp/B01BL4HHEU
And here's more stuff I found ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDMjBdHjLBo . badly edited, including several minutes of 'nothing' at the beginning, but about 5 minutes in, you see (who I think is) the lawyer 'Niren' who features heavily in the documentary (and very eloquent), and then starting at about 10 minutes in, you see an interview with Baghwan himself ... hard to watch due to his stop/start style of speaking ... and then a real fun interview with the lady who I think took over from Sheela ... very open and charming.
And here's a 'where are they now ...' page: http://www.vulture.com/2018/03/wild-...-they-now.html
and more ... https://www.refinery29.com/2018/03/1...ding-episode-6
I've also ordered this book from Amazon - "My Life in Orange: Growing Up with the Guru": https://www.amazon.com/My-Life-Orang.../dp/B01BL4HHEU
Interesting! I might order that book as well.
All the documentaries we watch I always search to find out what has gone on afterwards, it makes it even more interesting!
#15
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Re: Netflix Documentaries
Not a documentary this time but a movie based on a true story.
The Seige of Jadotville. When you start reading about the events that happened at this time and how the Irish contingent of UN Forces were treated so badly it is amazing WW3 didnt break out.
I have read a lot about this since watching this movie. It really was kept very quiet. I'm glad they finally got the recognition they deserved
The Seige of Jadotville. When you start reading about the events that happened at this time and how the Irish contingent of UN Forces were treated so badly it is amazing WW3 didnt break out.
I have read a lot about this since watching this movie. It really was kept very quiet. I'm glad they finally got the recognition they deserved