With Nicolas Philibert’s latest look into French society (La Maison de la radio), to hit New York theaters in September, we have made a list of our favorite French documentaries. 

If Americans are unbeatable in banging out blockbusters and the British are kings of deadpan comedy, then the French are number one in non-fiction. Weaving heavily researched facts with stellar storytelling techniques, their documentaries are renowned not only for their educational value, but also for their highly entertaining, heart-warming, and inspirational appeal. These impassioned filmmakers have proven relentless dedication to their mission (whether it be humanitarian, anthropological, sociological or ecological), sometimes even putting their own lives on the line—while shooting March of the Penguins, for example, cameramen Laurent Chalet and Jérôme Maison got caught in a dangerous blizzard and almost froze to death.

French documentary directors can also be quite adventurous in terms of originality and diversity when choosing their subject matter. From cuddly newborns cooing, crawling, and crying in four distinct corners of the globe (Babies), to ambitious big time ballet dancers of Saint Petersburg (Ballerina) to courageous homosexual couples coming out during the inter-war period (Les Invisibles), these films intimately explore the ins and outs of all walks of life to help us better understand ourselves, our neighbors, and our captivating world in which we live.

It is, therefore, no surprise that documentaries from France sell so well abroad. According to a 2012 study by the CNC (France’s National Center of Cinematography), documentaries represented 25% of foreign sales of all French audiovisual programming in 2010. French docs have been especially well-received in America; two of the top highest-grossing documentaries of all time are indeed French-made (March of the Penguins at #2 and Oceans at #11, earning respectively $77.4 million and $19.4 million in the US).

Luckily for us, another delightful non-fictional gem is soon headed our way in the form of La Maison de la Radio (scheduled for limited release on September 4^th). Best known for his César-winning study of a small town elementary school teacher in rural France (To be and To Have), director Nicolas Philibert has surveyed a new sort of authoritative voice: the radio show host. After collecting six months worth of footage inside the titular broadcasting building (France’s equivalent to NPR), Philibert takes us behind the scenes to reveal the animated cast of characters who work so diligently at Radio France.

Of the many impressive documentaries to choose from (there are 2,649 hours worth of film produced in 2011 alone!), we’ve narrowed our list of favorites from this millennium down to the following top ten, all of which are available through Netflix’s instant watch or delivery services:

• Ballerina (2006) by Bertand Normand sheds light on the demanding course of training required of five extraordinary Russian ballet dancers, bringing credibility to Nathalie Portman’s mental breakdown in Black Swan. Watch Instantly on Netflix.
  
  
• Les Invisibles (2012) by Sébastien Lifshitz interviews several aging French men and women who speak candidly about their life experiences as homosexuals growing up in Southern France—all the more relevant after France passed same-sex marriage legislation in May.
  
  
• Food Beware: The French Organic Revolution (Nos enfants nous accuseront, 2008) by Jean-Paul Jaud serves as a political call to action, insisting upon a universal switch to healthy, high-quality, organic farming by taking one small town French mayor’s valiant efforts as an example. Get inspired to start an agricultural revolution in your community: Watch Instantly on Netflix.
  
  
• To Be and to Have (Être et Avoir, 2002) by Nicolas Philibert chronicles one year in the life of a mixed class in a tiny 200-person rural town. 
  
  
• Babies (Bébés, 2010) by Thomas Balmès takes us inside the world of four newborn babies growing up in the US, Japan, Namibia, and Mongolia. While their respective surroundings may differ, they are all connected through similar experiences of joy, disappointment, frustration, and love. Fill your cuteness quota and rent the DVD on Netflix.
  
  
• March of the Penguins (La Marche de l’empereur, 2005) by Luc Jacquet tells the remarkable story of the Emperor Penguins who traverse Antarctica determined to find a mate and successfully raise a chick as they fight against starvation and extreme weather conditions. Rent the DVD on Netflix.
  
  
• Her Name is Sabine (Elle s’appelle Sabine, 2007) by Sandrine Bonnaire tells the story of the director’s sister and her struggle with autism. As a girl, Sabine was bubbly and fun-loving but due to emotional traumas and five years of hospitalization, she grew violent. Due to the nation’s lack of behavioral rehab facilities, Ms. Bonnaire (a well-known actress/filmmaker) used her own fame and fortune to create a center where Sabine (now aged thirty-eight) could finally receive the attention she needed.  Watch Instantly on Netflix.
  
  
• Home (2009) by Yann Arthus-Bertrand shows us a visually stunning display of exclusively aerial-shot images of the Earth (the first ever film to do so), imploring us to protect this planet we call Home. Rent the DVD on Netflix or watch Instantly on Youtube.
  
  
• Oceans (2009) by Jacques Perrin & Jacques Cluzaud is a family-friendly nature doc that uses remarkably high-tech cameras to capture the world’s wonders beneath the sea, accompanied by Pierce Brosnan’s beautiful voice-narration. Rent the DVD on Netflix.
  
  
• The Beaches of Agnès (Les Plages d’Agnès, 2009) by Agnès Verda is the New Wave director’s playful self-reflective portrait of her past memories and experiences, rumored to be the eighty-five-year-old’s final film. Rent the DVD on Netflix.

Other noteworthy docs concerning French life but not made in France:

• Man on Wire (2008) – a British film by James Marsh that follows the story of French tight-rope walker Philippe Petit. Watch Instantly on Netflix.
  
  
• Kings of Pastry (2009) – an American film by Chris Hedgedus & D.A. Pennebaker about a group of French chefs competing for their nation’s prestigious Meilleur Ouvrier de France award. Watch Instantly on Netflix.

Watch the US trailer for La Maison de la Radio:

Sophie Weiner