Documentary Now! (Season 4)

Loving parodies of some of the world's best-known documentaries. Each episode is shot in a different style of documentary filmmaking, and honors some of the most important stories that didn't actually happen.

Soldier of Illusion (1983) (1) (Episode 1) 8.0
Writer: John Mulaney
Air date: 2022-10-19
Runtime: 24 min
Overview: In the early 1980s, a visionary German filmmaker tries to will his magnum opus into existence while working in the remote, punishing conditions of the Russian Ular mountains. Inspired by the Werner Herzog-focused documentary Burden of Dreams.
Soldier of Illusion (1983) (2) (Episode 2) 9.0
Writer: John Mulaney
Air date: 2022-10-19
Runtime: 24 min
Overview: In the early 1980s, a visionary German filmmaker tries to will his magnum opus into existence while working in the remote, punishing conditions of the Russian Ular mountains. Inspired by the Werner Herzog-focused documentary Burden of Dreams.
Two Hairdressers in Bagglyport (1994) (Episode 3) 10.0
Writer: Seth Meyers
Air date: 2022-10-26
Runtime: 23 min
Overview: A fly-on-the-wall portrait of a hair salon in the small coastal town of Bagglyport as they prepare their annual stylebook in an homage to documentaries 3 Salons at the Seaside and The September Issue.
How They Threw Rocks (1996) (Episode 4)
Writer: Seth Meyers
Air date: 2022-11-02
Runtime: 24 min
Overview: A chronicle the Welsh sport of Craig Maes, also known as “Field Rock,” and the iconic 1974 bout dubbed “The Melon vs. The Felon” in the vein of When We Were Kingsand other great explorations of sport.
My Monkey Grifter (2020) (Episode 5)
Writer: Seth Meyers
Air date: 2022-11-09
Runtime: 23 min
Overview: Drawing inspiration from My Octopus Teacher, filmmaker Benjamin Clay forms a deep, emotional, and financially taxing relationship with a monkey who may have ulterior motives.
Trouver Frisson (2000) (Episode 6)
Writer: Matt Pacult
Air date: 2022-11-16
Runtime: 23 min
Overview: Celebrated French filmmaker Ida Leos searches for why she no longer experiences “frisson” – the goosebumps that have always been her guide. Inspired by Agnes Varda’s Gleaners and I and Beaches of Agnes.