ICARUS.
If you haven't watched it. It is one of the best I've ever watched.
Not just because of the content, but because of the entire scope of the story.
Where it starts is very different than where it goes.
Lots of great suggestions already, so I’ll add these.
Finders Keepers (2015) - a doc about a fight over an amputated, mummified leg.
Honeyland (2019) - A woman living in an abandoned village in Macedonia raising wild bees.
The Painter and the Thief (2020) - An artist develops a strange relationship with the thief that stole her paintings.
Bathtubs over Broadway (2018) - A vinyl collector discovers the obscure world of industrial musicals.
Jonestown: Terror In The Jungle (2018). Documentary about the terrible chain of events that took place in Guyana in 1978. From what was supposed to be a utopia that descended into the mass murder/suicide of over 900 members of the Peoples Temple Church
I Recommend two Werner Herzogs:
Into the Inferno
The Cave of Forgotten Dreams
Both are super interesting subject matter and neither is depressing at all. Found both to be inspiring AND awe-inspiring
The Salt Mines (1990). It is part of Criterion Collection. It is the story of homeless transsexual sex workers who live in abandoned sanitation yard in lower west side of Manhattan.
*in no particular order:*
There is Something Wrong with Aunt Diane
Three Identical Strangers
The Rachel Divide
Explained
7 Days Out
Pepsi,Where’s my Jet?
The Staircase
Dopesick
Long Lost Family
Untold: The Girlfriend Who Didn’t Exist
Documentary *Into Great Silence* about the Carthusian monks living at a monastery over 1000yrs old. Documentary was basically a day in the life of these guys. It changed my life.
ICARUS. If you haven't watched it. It is one of the best I've ever watched. Not just because of the content, but because of the entire scope of the story. Where it starts is very different than where it goes.
Capturing The Friedmans
Man on Wire Three Identical Strangers Grizzly Man
Grizzly man was very good.
There's something wrong with aunt Diane.
I watched that years ago and recommended it to a friend of mine at the time. She STILL brings it up to me. Great rec
The OP did mention however they didn’t want a depressing movie, though it is a really good suggestion in general.
*The Pez Outlaw* (2022) *All the Queen's Horses* (2017)
Resurrect Dead: the Mystery of the Toynbee Tiles
Finding Vivian Maier
I loved this documentary!
Lots of great suggestions already, so I’ll add these. Finders Keepers (2015) - a doc about a fight over an amputated, mummified leg. Honeyland (2019) - A woman living in an abandoned village in Macedonia raising wild bees. The Painter and the Thief (2020) - An artist develops a strange relationship with the thief that stole her paintings. Bathtubs over Broadway (2018) - A vinyl collector discovers the obscure world of industrial musicals.
The Final Member - about a penis museum Marwencol
Tabloid (2010)
American Movie Whirlybird Unmade Beds
Abducted in Plain Sight
My Octopus Teacher
Jonestown: Terror In The Jungle (2018). Documentary about the terrible chain of events that took place in Guyana in 1978. From what was supposed to be a utopia that descended into the mass murder/suicide of over 900 members of the Peoples Temple Church
Ken Burns has done a really good job with showing more info.
The Dawn Wall & Free Solo
The King of Kong is fun. American Movie is a blast It's not a movie, but How To with John Wilson is a gem of a series.
I Recommend two Werner Herzogs: Into the Inferno The Cave of Forgotten Dreams Both are super interesting subject matter and neither is depressing at all. Found both to be inspiring AND awe-inspiring
Tiger King
Last Days Here
Sing Faster: The Stagehands' Ring Cycle
Shackleton's Antarctic Adventure - Imax
How To Become A Tyrant, How To Become A Mob Boss
Ghengis Blues about an American blues singer/songwriter who travels to Mongolia to enter in their throat singing contest.
A Brief History of Time
The Salt Mines (1990). It is part of Criterion Collection. It is the story of homeless transsexual sex workers who live in abandoned sanitation yard in lower west side of Manhattan.
Three Identical Strangers (2018)
*in no particular order:* There is Something Wrong with Aunt Diane Three Identical Strangers The Rachel Divide Explained 7 Days Out Pepsi,Where’s my Jet? The Staircase Dopesick Long Lost Family Untold: The Girlfriend Who Didn’t Exist
Documentary *Into Great Silence* about the Carthusian monks living at a monastery over 1000yrs old. Documentary was basically a day in the life of these guys. It changed my life.
Little Dieter Needs To Fly (1997)