New Relevant Observational Documentary - "Louis Theroux A Different Brain" (DOCUMENTARY UNIT)

Louis Theroux: A Different Brain

Whats It About?

A Different Brain is a BBC production documentary, about Louis Theroux interviewing specific individuals who have  countered of head injuries and effecting their brains. For Louis, this is about him finding out about their mental health and the causes it has affected the individuals well beings, memories and how they cope through the changes gone through them and for their family members around them as well. It's a documentary about the psychological effects, of how human beings react, cope and showing how the consequences of causing damage to a human beings brain can continuously change their lives and people they know around them. Through the documentary, Louis revisits the chosen individuals and to see if any positive progress and breakthroughs has been made. Also through the documentary, Louis will be taken through the individuals households, bedrooms, family photos and different locations for specific and special days for the individuals. All for Louis, to understand and to get to know a lot more about his interviewees.   

Who Story Is It?

The story is focused on chosen individuals Louis Theroux starts to meet and interview. Going around certain counties in the UK their is Natalie, who has been at rehab for over fifteen years and has had a very difficult past. Second their is Dan, an individual who wants to try and have independence for himself and have a fresh start from the causes of his injuries. For the two other individuals their is Earl, who struggles to reconnect and have trust with his family from his horrific car crash. Then finally their is Amanda, having the same difficulties to have her trust and reconnection love to her husband and two sons. It's their stories of how they caused injuries to their brains, how it happened, how it has effected their mental wellbeing, their emotions, feelings, interactions in different life elements if it's with their family, social to the public and of course to Louis Theroux.   

What Shots Are Used and Why?

The majority of the shots are from a handheld perspective, specially when Louis Theroux is making conversation, asking questions and showing from Louis's and the individuals body language and feeling to show a more of a realistic and social approach. The documentary captures some static, establishing shots of new locations and relevant shots around the locations where Louis and his interviewees are present at. For a more of a personal tone, the documentary captures a lot of family photos, medium one shots of the individual Louis is making conversation to and to show the conversation being continues their is two shots of Louis and the individual. When Louis has arrived at a new household, the camera work is handheld and creates a one continuous shot of when he enters the households and then the start of the introductions and conversation from Louis Theroux to the interviewee. 

Does It Interest You and Why?

I do find this documentary very interesting, the reasons being about the psychological effects of understanding what damage can cause a human begins brain. It's interesting how each different personality from the chosen individuals who Louis Theroux interviews, shows about how they feel, react and showing their completely different emotions from the causes of their injuries to their brain. It's another experience for people to understand about each other and just how interesting and problem solving the brain controls our human emotions and finding the solutions of why these different emotions can change someone from having a head injury. If it's from being very negative, not trusting anyone or to being very positive and understands what had happened is now history. The documentary is very good at achieving family members to the individuals, from their opinions and feelings of how it has caused their related family member changed reactions and emotions. 

How Does It Impact, What Style of Documentary?

The style of this documentary, is Louis Theroux shows this independent and to approach his interviewees of "winning them over". Their is this observational technique of when Theroux is making this casual conversation to the individuals who has had the head injuries and the documentary shows their true and honest emotions all the time when the camera is recording. As i mentioned, the documentary shows the different types of the living activities from the individuals of showing this realistic tone from their productiveness and for Louis Theroux, gets to experience about their personality and how they are coping from their horrific accidents from their head injuries.  

How Does It Influence You?
The documentary influences me, to want to research into more individuals who has had an effect in head injuries and understanding more of the consequences and changes it can mentally cause to human beings brain. It's a topic, that i believe can be discussed about more and trying to find the safest and healthiest strategies that can support more individuals with head injures and to make their future a lot more brighter and positive. It's another psychological topic that i myself, would realistically want to meet and create a similar type of documentary in filmmaking and taking a different style and being inspired from Louis Theroux's own take and path he came across.

1.] Louis Theroux A Different Brain (2016) Directed By Pickup, J. [Netflix] At: https://www.netflix.com/watch/80182705 (Accessed on 14/04/20) 

2.] Needham, C. (1998) Louis Theroux: A Different Brain At: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5561598/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0 (Accessed on 15/04/20) 

3.] Documentary, N S. (2012) BBC'S Louis Theroux Masterclass - His Style, Technique and Vision At: https://documentary.net/magazine/bbcs-louis-theroux-masterclass-his-style-technique-and-vision/ (Accessed on 15/04/20)