A weekend dedicated to documentaries can be an engaging blend of intrigue, knowledge, and even a hint of frustration. Incorporating some music can enhance the experience, too. Fortunately, HBO Max has cultivated a robust collection of documentaries over the years, offering a diverse array that satisfies these criteria and more.
This weekend and the week ahead, there are several recommendations—both new and established—that promise to deliver a well-rounded experience. Leading the pack is an eagerly awaited new series exploring the unique event that is Burning Man. Following that, two fantastic older documentaries delve into an internet meme associated with a real-life tragedy and the narrative behind a legendary breakup album. Here’s the lineup, prioritized for viewing.
1
The Man Will Burn
Inside the chaotic years of Burning Man
Now available for streaming after its debut at Tribeca Film Festival just last month, The Man Will Burn is a compelling four-part docuseries that coincides with the 40th anniversary of Burning Man this August. Developed by the Oscar-nominated Jehane Noujaim and Vikram Gandhi, the series chronicles the fascinating transformation of the event from its humble beginnings in 1986 when founder Larry Harvey set ablaze an eight-foot effigy on a San Francisco beach, to the vast temporary metropolis in Nevada, welcoming 80,000 attendees annually.
As the narrative unfolds, viewers will encounter various setbacks faced by the festival, including pandemic cancellations and mud-soaked challenges in 2023. Drawing on a wealth of archival footage and five years of on-the-ground filming, this series unveils genuine conversations with key figures behind the festival, including co-founder John Law and notable attendees like Sergey Brin. The first episode is currently available, with new installments set to debut every Thursday through July 30.
2
Beware the Slenderman
The chilling influence of a digital bogeyman
The haunting voice of a child recites chilling lines about “the Slenderman,” capturing the unsettling essence of this documentary. Released in 2016, Irene Taylor Brodsky’s Beware the Slenderman remains one of the most significant true-crime documentaries of the internet age. It recounts the shocking case of two Wisconsin girls, Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier, who lured their friend Payton Leutner into the woods and attacked her in an effort to appease the fictional creature they believed was real.
Thankfully, Leutner survived, and the film follows the aftermath over 18 months, interspersing chilling police interrogation footage with interviews from the families involved and experts like evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins, who offers insights into how harmful ideas can spread among youth.
3
Music Box: Jagged
Alanis Morissette’s iconic ’90s album revisited
Part of HBO’s acclaimed Music Box series, Alison Klayman’s 2021 film Jagged adds a special layer to the exploration of music history. Despite being quickly disavowed by its subject, Alanis Morissette, who found it too simplistic—there is immense value in the presentation. This film, marked by candid interviews with Morissette and rich footage from her rise to fame, chronicles her transformation from a teenage pop star into the global sensation behind the monumental breakup album Jagged Little Pill, which sold 33 million copies.
Morissette discusses various struggles, including industry sexism and personal challenges, while featuring interviews with influential figures, making it a deeply resonant and valuable documentary. The film has garnered a favorable response, boasting an 82% rating from critics.
A diverse weekend experience
Exceptional documentaries remind us that sometimes, reality is stranger than fiction, and often more compelling. As the credits roll, there’s a wealth of streaming choices for further exploration that promise to captivate various interests.
