The Subjective Observer features spirited reviews and essays on new and classic documentaries. As a documentary filmmaker I try to be fair and do thorough research, but I have strong opinions about the documentaries I watch. My intention in creating this site is to write critically about documentaries, but also to bring attention to the independent, short, and non-traditional documentaries that I love.

We often hear about “the objective observer,” a person who is neutral, fair, and factual in all their work. Journalists and documentarians should always strive for the highest standards of fact checking and research, but they are not without their own principles, viewpoints, and life experiences that shape what they create. Instead of trying to reach an impossible standard of objectivity, I think embracing subjectivity can allow for a more open discussion of politics, emotion, and the personal views of filmmakers.

I’ll be posting essays, reviews, or curated lists of recommended documentaries. Throughout the year I’ll be attending a handful of film festivals and plan to post festival dispatches here. This website is primarily focused on documentary films, but I will occasionally make an exception and write about fiction.

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