Documentary Film Review:
Assignment Instructions and Expectations
ANTA02 (Summer): Introduction to Anthropology
Review a Documentary Film as an Anthropologist
Reviewing a documentary film will allow you to apply what you have learned in the course thus
far—thinking critically, identifying cultural phenomena in the world, and analyzing those
phenomena for patterns and meaning. As a “critical reviewer” of this film, you will demonstrate
how this film could be a valuable material to watch for your fellow peers. You will support this by
drawing out which course themes and concepts you identified in the film, using specific examples
from course materials and the film.
Instructions
How to Write the Film Review
You will select a documentary film from a list at the end of this document. Watch the film multiple
times. On the first viewing, try to summarize the film and identify a few interesting themes. On the
next viewing(s), identify cultural themes covered in this course. Return to course texts—which
specific key terms and concepts apply to this film? Which scenes from the film seem to illustrate
these best?
After viewing and notetaking, turn your initial ideas and reflections into a drafted review. Revise,
proofread, and submit your review.
Your review should include the following (not necessarily in this order):

1. A brief summary/synthesis of the film
2. A discussion of which cultural themes exist in the film (including those themes’/concepts’
definitions from course materials)
3. A thorough unpacking of examples in the film connected to those cultural themes
4. A discussion regarding the value of the film for other anthropology students

Your review should be structured rather than a free-flowing reflection. Your job is to be a
persuasive and critical writer: Introduce the review with a hook. Include a main takeaway/quasi-
argument for your reader near the beginning of the review. Create topic sentences and separate
paragraphs to unpack different themes and their examples. Write a compelling conclusion.

When identifying cultural themes or discussing examples, focus on quality and specificity over
quantity. Your job is not to identify every example of a cultural theme or concept, but rather, to
discuss the most relevant and evocative elements in the film. This might imply only discussing one
or two main course themes in connection to your chosen film.
Format
Your review should be 4–5 pages in length (not including the Works Cited page), double-spaced in
Times New Roman, 12 pt, 1-inch margins on all sides. To indicate a new paragraph, use tab spaces
rather than line breaks. Include page numbers on the top right corner of the page. On the top left of
the first page in single-spaced formatting, include: Your name, student number, course code, CI
name, and date of submission. You can upload the assignment as a Word Doc or PDF file. I have
uploaded a template format to the Assignment Instructions.

Don’t forget to include a compelling title for your review. A compelling title is not, “Review of [Film
Title].” Cite all materials that are not your own ideas, including examples and points from your film,
and include a Works Cited/Bibliography. Your chosen film must be included in your list of Works
Cited. Use the citation style Chicago Author-Date.

You can draw on course materials (textbook, research articles, case studies, the ethnography, etc.)
from the entire semester to review this film. Endeavour to source from a range of materials (i.e.
don’t simply rely on one single source). Do not draw on readings/texts from outside of this course.
Do not cite lectures.

You must cite page numbers of paraphrased material and direct quotes from course materials.
Additionally, when referring to examples from the film (such as lines of dialogue, scenes, shots,
etc), you must include timestamps in your citations, e.g. (Sakkab 2020, 3:49). If you are referring to
a longer scene, please include a timestamp range, e.g. (Sakkab 2020, 3:49–5:30).

Due Date
July 19, 11:59 pm EST on Quercus. Should you require more time to submit your review, please
request an extension at least 48 hours before the deadline.

Evaluation
You will primarily be evaluated according to the originality and quality of your ability to connect
course themes and concepts to specific examples in your chosen film. The review will be graded
out of 50 points, for a total of 20% of your final grade. Please see the evaluation below for more
detailed evaluation criteria. Bear in mind that there are general expectations for student
performance and excellence that necessarily go unstated.

35 pts/70% (Originality and Quality)
• *Originality and quality of synthesis and discussion of film themes
o Accuracy and demonstrated comprehension of course concepts
o Ability to apply concepts to examples from the film
o Relevance and specificity of evidence connected to course concepts

10 pts/20% (Structure)
• Clarity of writing (good use of topic sentences, structure, logical flow, argumentation)
• Style and persuasiveness of writing (including sourcing from multiple course materials)
5 pts/10% (Mechanics)
• **Citation mechanics (resources cited accurately according to requested citation style)
• Writing mechanics (grammar, spelling, paper formatting)
*Originality is a significant evaluation criterion. If elements or the entirety of your review is very
similar to other students in writing style, use of distinct phrases, and analysis, it will be assumed
that this similarity is due to the common use of generative AI and will thus receive an extremely low
passing or failing grade, or will be flagged for plagiarism.

**Please note that lack of citation information (such as page numbers for paraphrased or directly
quoted material), misattribution (attributing information or a source to an incorrect author), or
other more significant citation issues will bear not on the evaluation criteria in Mechanics, but
rather on Comprehension, as they reflect on your ability to apply concepts from course materials
to evidence from the films. It may also result in your assignment being flagged for plagiarism.
Documentary Films
Most of these documentary films are free to stream online in Canada. If you cannot access any of
these films, you may propose a different film. You must receive approval from your CI to review a
documentary film that is not listed in the examples below at least a week before the deadline (by
July 12, 2024). If you review a film not on this list without CI approval, your assignment will receive
an automatic 0/50.
Big Men, Small Dogs (2019), directed by Cat Mills
https://gem.cbc.ca/big-men-small-dogs

Conviction (2019), directed by Ariella Pahlke, Nance Ackerman, and Teresa MacInnes
https://tubitv.com/movies/716266/conviction

Hollie’s Dress (2020), directed by Annie Sakkab
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0fiXOzG2s0

Life in the City of Dirty Water (2019), directed by Clayton Thomas-Müller and Spencer Mann
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANw8XmNkbCM

Love, Leymo (2023), directed by Randall Okita
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ys4D2zkwPdc

Migrant Dreams (2016), directed by Min Sook Lee
https://www.tvo.org/video/documentaries/migrant-dreams

No Crying at the Dinner Table (2019), directed by Carole Nguyen
https://vimeo.com/482032869

One of Ours (2021), directed by Yasmine Mathurin
https://gem.cbc.ca/media/one-of-ours/s01e01

Sing Me a Song (2019), directed by Thomas Balmès
https://gem.cbc.ca/sing-me-a-song

Take Light (2018), directed by Shasha Nakhai
https://gem.cbc.ca/media/take-light/s01e01

Take Me to the Prom (2019), directed by Andrew Moir
https://gem.cbc.ca/media/take-me-to-prom/s01e01

Unarmed Verses (2016), directed by Charles Officer
https://www.nfb.ca/film/unarmed_verses/