← Film Studies syllabus

WalesFilm Studies

Documentary Film

3 dot points across 3 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

What is a critical debate in film, and how do you use the documentary critical debate about truth to build an argued answer for the WJEC exam?

Critical debate in film: what a critical debate is, the documentary critical debate about how truthful documentary can be, and how to structure an argued, two-sided answer that reaches a judgement.
How to handle a critical debate in WJEC A-Level Film Studies, with the documentary critical debate (how truthful documentary can be) as the worked example. What a critical debate is, the main positions on documentary and truth, and how to structure a balanced, evidenced answer that reaches a judgement.
12 min answer →

What is documentary film, and how do you analyse a documentary through film form, meaning and context for the WJEC exam?

Documentary film: the documentary form, the main documentary modes, how documentaries use film form and structure to argue and represent, and how to analyse a documentary as a constructed text.
The WJEC Component 2 documentary film study. What documentary is, the main documentary modes (expository, observational, participatory, reflexive, performative), how documentaries use film form and structure to build an argument, and how to analyse a documentary as a crafted, constructed text rather than neutral record.
13 min answer →

What is a filmmaker's theory in documentary, and how do you apply it to the documentary you have studied for the WJEC exam?

Documentary filmmaker's theory: how a documentary maker's stated ideas and approach to truth, ethics and method inform their film, and how to apply that theory to the set documentary.
The WJEC specialist study area attached to the documentary film: a filmmaker's theory. What a documentary maker's theory is (their ideas about truth, ethics, method and the role of documentary), how it shapes their film, and how to apply that theory to the set documentary in the exam.
12 min answer →