‘Subject’ Review: Tribeca 2022

-Allison McCulloch

Directors: Camilla Hall, Jennifer Tiexiera
Producers: Joe Caterini, Camilla Hall, Jennifer Tiexiera

Subject explores the link between documentarians and their protagonists. The emphasis is on the people behind the stories.

Traditionally, documentary subjects are not paid, so as to not influence the outcome of the story. However, this documentary calls into question everything we have previously recognized as the standard industry practice.

Using a ton of footage from existing documentaries as well as interviewing Margie Ratliff from The Staircase, Art Agee from Hoop Dreams, Mukunda Angulo from The Wolfpack, Ahmed Hassan from The Square, and Jesse Friedman from Capturing the Friedmans, the focus is on their stories and their perspectives — not those of the documentarians.

While viewing every other documentary mentioned, I have yet to check out The Staircase. After hearing how the documentary affected Margie Ratliff’s life and how upset she was that a related series was coming out, I am definitely hesitant to support something that is so against a family member’s wishes.

Rating: 9/10

Article was written by Allison McCulloch. Follow her Twitter.