Sheffield DocFest — A–Z of films

Unquestionably and understandably harrowing, in places unbearably so, this reflection upon acts of murder, genocide and torture, told by the perpetrators themselves, is a masterpiece.

Breathtakingly visual and epic in its ambitions.

Undoubtedly, a masterpiece, this three-and-a-half hour version puts body on the flesh of what was already a great movie.

Some of their patients' stories are so heartbreaking that they will test the mettle of even the most steadfast opponents.

There is steel here, both of the physical and more metaphorical kind.

Tilikum, whose last victim Dawn Brancheau died in 2010, is still performing at SeaWorld - after watching this documentary, you'll think long and hard about taking your family to see him.

Though Moe elegantly and tactfully remains focused upon her protagonists after the Breivik attacks, the specific trauma of the latter inevitably overwhelms proceedings.

An intriguing documentary which contains some powerful interview material.

At 12, Regan was a helpless child in 1973; in today's world we instinctively grant her more agency so the territory between self and demon becomes more obscure.

The broader perspective demonstrates the moral and legal disadvantage at which the volunteers are fundamentally placed.

This is diverting to a point but what you see is largely what you get - there's no real attempt from Marczak to dig deeper into the motivations of the people or the organisation.

And as Moreh probes the men, we, whether we agree with them or not, find ourselves drawn into their moral maze in all of its complexity.

The phrase "I don't want a theocracy but..." is used here.

This is amazing stuff.

Does an impressive job of connecting with the man behind the myth.

This is first and foremost a celebration of life and life cycles but Heathcote's film also touches on deeper political issues surrounding the livelihoods of farmers.

What does become difficult here is balance, in part because many of Pussy Riot's critics are so aggressive as to make their case for them.

This may be a jet-ski ride over Pryor's life rather than a deep-sea dive but it offers a firm celebration that's likely to encourage those who have watched it to seek out more material from the man himself - and that can never be a bad thing.

Kim Longinotto's documentary about the Tamil poet Salma burns with both indignation and a profound melancholy.

As a reflection of the mood and struggles of those seeking democratic change it is immersive and visceral even if its up close and personal approach means that the political sphere is rendered in broad brushstroke terms.

Loach lets those who lived through this speak for themselves.

At its best this film is a gripping look at what drives people to brave the heights, although it would have benefited from taking a more linear approach to its undoubtedly well-researched material.

If this is a character study, there is little character in it.

The picture painted is one of a man who was dedicated to not just to capturing people's images on camera but to talking to them and finding out what made them tick.