35 Of The Best Documentaries To Learn From And Be Inspired By During Lockdown

The complex art of perfume making is revealed as Dior delve into the world of legendary perfumer, or 'nose', Francois Demachy. Traverse time and space (literally - two years and 14 countries) as Demachy travels from Grasse to Sri Lanka and back again in search of the highest quality raw ingredients to compose his next Dior perfume masterpiece. Consider your wanderlust, How It's Made geekery and beauty obsession satisfied.

- George Driver, Digital Beauty Editor

Take a trip back to the glory days of the 90s via original supers Christy Turlington and Naomi Campbell. Follow their backstage escapades (including hanging out with a baby Kate Moss) as they walk for John Galliano's legendary Scottish-meets-Russian-meets-Ascot SS94 show, manage long distance relationships with oversees boyfriends and pose for fittings with Isaac Mizrahi in this black and white diary style doc.

- Sara McAlpine, Fashion Features Editor

Is there anything better than settling in for an hour or so of fashion escapism during lockdown? Answer - no! Let the world of high fashion wash over you as you follow the original master of romantic haute couture, Valentino. Go behind the curtain where ethereal imaginings are made reality in his atelier, couture masterpieces make it down the runway and the business of fashion means big money.

- Katy Young, Beauty Director

In her first venture since she stood down as a senior royal along with husband Prince Harry, Meghan Markle has lent her voiceover skills to Elephant - a new documentary available from 3rd April via Disney Plus.

Meghan narrates the journey of the African elephants who travel hundreds of miles each year as a herd from the Okavango delta to the Zambezi River, when each respective pool of water dries up.The tough journey - which will truly leave you emotional at times - is led by the matriarch Gaia, who leads the rest of the herd, including mischievous calf Jomo, on the gruelling journey.

The former Suits actress talks animatedly as she jokes about Jomo's naughty ways and you can sense the admiration in her voice for the impressive female elephants who lead the herd. Couple this with beautiful African landscapes, a wealth of information delivered to you about the journey and an insight into the intelligent, protective and resilient nature of the animals.-

- Olivia Blair, Digital News Editor

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This new-to-Netflix doc highlights the shocking fact that more tigers live in US backyards than in the wild.

A bonkers, addictive true-crime investigation - you need to see this. Following the life of Joe Exotic, the mullet-donning, polygamy-practising, exotic cat breeder, this seven part series will have you picking up your jaw from the floor on a regular basis.

-Becky Burgum, Features Assistant

Ava DuVernay brings together a wealth of criminal justice and civil rights experts to talk us through the history of America's prison system in this mind-blowing Netflix documentary.

As Barack Obama explains in the first few minutes, the US possesses 5 per cent of the world's population but 25% of its prison population. Not only that, African Americans make up 6.5% of the American population but 40.2% of the prison population.

The title is derived from the 13th Amendment of the Constitution which abolished slavery in 1865, leaving you questioning if the slavery of African-Americans was never outlawed, but just replaced by mass incarceration.

-Olivia Blair, Digital News Editor

Asif Kapadia’s documentary of the beautiful and wonderful Amy Winehouse takes you through her pre-fame life to her time at the top up until her spiral into despair. Totally heartbreaking but it'll have you listening to, and reminiscing about, her albums for weeks.

-Lena de Casparis, Culture Director

Though it went viral at the time, the actual realities of what led to the most anti-climatic party of all time are laid bare in this shocking documentary. From Billy McFarland's background to the influencers who promoted the supposed festival to locals on the island who ended up losing a lot - believe us, you do not know the full story until you've watched this Netflix doc.

-Olivia Blair, Digital News Editor

... The White House, that is. Following the presidential election defeat of Hillary Clinton by Donald Trump in 2016, more women than ever ran for office in the 2018 midterm congressional elections.

Knock Down The House follows four of these women - including 29-year-old Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Queens-based, Latina bartender, on their mission to change the old, white, male, elite status quo.

Prepare to be seriously inspired by this Netflix special.

-Olivia Blair, Digital News Editor

Stranger than fiction, with an unfolding plot that goes from miracle to tragedy. The film, showing on Netflix, provides a real life look into the debate of nurture versus nature.

-Daisy Murray, Fashion Writer

This four-part documentary (showing on Netflix) tells the story behind one of music's most dynamic, successful and unlikely duos: Jimmy Iovine and Dr Dre.

Iovine, who started out in the music industry in the 1970s working with rock stars like John Lennon, Bruce Springsteen and Patti Smith joined forces with NWA's Dr Dre - who later helped launch the careers of Eminem, Snoop Dogg and Kendrick Lamar - to found Beats Electronics which was sold to Apple for a record $3 billion in 2014.

An all-star line up of contributors including Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Patti Smith, Stevie Knicks and Bruce Springsteen contribute to this fascinating series.

-Olivia Blair, Digital News Editor

A heartbreaking documentary -created by CNN but available to watch on Netflix - that looks into the practice of keeping orcas (killer whales) in captivity. Focusing on one whale in particular, Tilikum - who ultimately was involved in the drowning of three of his trainers.

Seaworld reported declining visitor numbers and revenue following the 2013 film's release and in 2016 committed to no longer breeding orcas in captivity and pledged to phase out their shows.

-Olivia Blair, Digital News Editor

McQueen makes you think a lot about the concept of a 'tortured artist'... and how his work was so of its time. Though his legacy is obviously far-reaching, much of the work itself was deeply controversial. Watch now on Netflix.

-Daisy Murray, Fashion Writer

Another Asif Kapadia wonder... this one pieces together archive footage and talking head interviews to tell the story of the incredible racing car driver Ayrton Senna whose life was taken in a fatal crash on the track. A pure tragedy.

-Lena de Casparis, Culture Director

Available to rent or buy via Amazon

Waad al-Kateab bravely reported from inside war-torn Aleppo for Channel 4 News in the early years of the Syrian Civil War. This year's BAFTA-winning For Sama follows al-Kateab's five-year life journey - including falling in love and welcoming her first daughter Sama - from inside the war-ravaged city she ultimately is forced to flee.

-Olivia Blair, Digital News Editor

Joshua Oppenheimer’s incredible, arthouse documentary about the awful mass executions in Indonesia is completely unique. Disturbing and gripping - you won’t forget it in a hurry.

-Lena de Casparis, Culture Director

Available to rent or buy via Amazon

Directed and created by Queen Bey herself, Netflix's Homecoming helps the audience understand just why Beyoncé's live performances look the way they do.

In the documentary, her spectacular Coachella headline performance of 2018 - filled with precise choreography, impeccably talented musicians and an unrivalled air of creativity - is put under the microscope.

With exclusive behind-the-scenes clips, the work ethic Beyoncé instills is on full display, showcasing the months of training and hard work, including the historical researching of black colleges in America which the performances paid tribute to. Plus, rare footage of Beyoncé and Jay-Z's family life with their children Blue, Sir and Rumi.

-Olivia Blair, Digital News Editor

The original punk recalls her early years as a provocateur, charting the development of her brand from a London boutique to environmentally-conscious powerhouse. This is a must-see for anyone with an interest in fashion history, as well as fashion’s relationship with subcultures, and can be streamed on Prime Video.

-Sara McAlpine, Fashion Features Editor

If you were gripped by Sara Koenig's award winning Serial podcast into the 1999 murder of Baltimore high school student Hae Min Lee, then this HBO documentary into the case against Adnan Syed - Hae's ex-boyfriend, who is currently serving prison time for her murder - is not one to be missed.

As well as putting faces to names from the podcast and seeing footage and pictures you have only heard described before, the documentary pose more questions into what tragically happened to Hae.

The four-part series is available to watch on NOW TV.

-Olivia Blair, Digital News Editor

André Leon Talley is one of fashion’s most famous personalities, operating at the centre of the industry for decades as an editor and contributor at American Vogue. The larger-than-life character is made for the big screen, providing endless laughs with his quips and storytelling. Beyond that, though, this film is a poignant look at what it was like to operate as black man in an industry that was, at the time, primarily white.

-Sara McAlpine, Fashion Features Editor

Watch via Mubi on Amazon Prime Video