Documentaries used to be so chill

We’ve been borrowing DVDs from the local library again recently. I know right, going somewhere and borrowing a movie! It’s the Blockbuster experience all over again, only quieter and with fewer snacks. That turns out to be a bit of theme for this post, because it’s something I only noticed borrowing some documentaries from the late 1980s. The pacing is so chill. There aren’t huge graphic flashes, intense music, or rapidfire cuts to keep us engaged. They present what they need to, in the time they need. There are entire segments where you’re watching the topic of the documentary, with no background music or commentary at all, for minutes at a time. It doesn’t matter if it’s about locomotives, or computers, or birds, or by some fluke a combination of all three. I’m tempted to chalk this up to modern audiences having short attention spans, but I suspect there’s more to it. I’m sure I also have some selection bias. Either way, it’s a vibe, and I’m here for it. By Ruben Schade in Sydney,…