When I was young, I found the few brief documentaries padding the "shorts" rather boring. Bring on Hopalong or the Creature from the Black Lagoon. Later full-length nonfiction features started to appear, with some Art and Interest, such as the efforts of David Wolper, where it was a treat to be educated, to see real people, History. Gems arrived such as "The Fog of War" "Sugarman" and Amy" and the work of Michael Moore. A well-done documentary now can be every bit as entertaining as the wild fiction on the screen.
I have not seen "Looking for Merkel" (I shall seek it out) -but I enjoyed "Merkel" by Eva Weber. Yes, it is incomplete, there is not much on the actual policies enacted by the Chancellor or her effect on Germany or Europe, apart from the reliance on Russian energy and the acceptance of refugees. The film suggests the latter may have been influenced by her younger years behind a Wall.
To me the main feature of the film was to flesh out who is Angela Merkel, what is she like, through her response to interviews- measured, and I thought candid - and comments from peers such as Blair and Obama. From these she appeared a thoroughly decent individual, free from the hubris and want of adulation so commonly seen. Expressed in a banal way, it looked to me like she wanted to "Do a Good Job".
I think the comparison with other countries was valid. This is a slice of History and features one of the major players. Some vignettes were striking, Putin with his dog, Trump with his petulant scowl disdaining the photographer's request for a photo that she so gently mentioned though probably didn't much want. The "men" team didn't look that good!
When she bade farewell at the end of her reign to a conga line of politicians, each one got a 10 second, intense fix of the Merkel eyes so strong you could have walked over it. She is Human but a better example than we often see in the "Ruler" brigade. I left with much respect for her.
I have not seen "Looking for Merkel" (I shall seek it out) -but I enjoyed "Merkel" by Eva Weber. Yes, it is incomplete, there is not much on the actual policies enacted by the Chancellor or her effect on Germany or Europe, apart from the reliance on Russian energy and the acceptance of refugees. The film suggests the latter may have been influenced by her younger years behind a Wall.
To me the main feature of the film was to flesh out who is Angela Merkel, what is she like, through her response to interviews- measured, and I thought candid - and comments from peers such as Blair and Obama. From these she appeared a thoroughly decent individual, free from the hubris and want of adulation so commonly seen. Expressed in a banal way, it looked to me like she wanted to "Do a Good Job".
I think the comparison with other countries was valid. This is a slice of History and features one of the major players. Some vignettes were striking, Putin with his dog, Trump with his petulant scowl disdaining the photographer's request for a photo that she so gently mentioned though probably didn't much want. The "men" team didn't look that good!
When she bade farewell at the end of her reign to a conga line of politicians, each one got a 10 second, intense fix of the Merkel eyes so strong you could have walked over it. She is Human but a better example than we often see in the "Ruler" brigade. I left with much respect for her.