Os Anarquistas

Off the bat, I'll admit that I don't understand many of the strong negative feelings about this docuseries. I'd never heard of this movement or Anarchapulco. That said, like any good documentary, the filmmaker uses the people themselves to tell the story. And in this case, by shooting over the span of six years, we're given a front-row seat to the sweeping ebb and flow of a movement and its main figures.

By reading the reviews, I definitely get a vibe from people still in this movement or its offshoots who take issue with the choices of the filmmaker in showcasing their goals and lifestyles. That's certainly their right. But for us ignorant "statists" it accomplished what any good documentary should do: 1. Inform us about a topic or subculture we're probably unfamiliar with. 2. Choose the right people to follow and let them tell us in their own words and show us how they live. And 3. Make narrative filming and editing decisions that allow for a coherent and accessible viewing experience. The Anarchists does all three.

Also, I give this series and HBO extra points for keeping this run to six episodes and not dragging it out Netflix style.