I think that Jay is probably correct in his assumption that
mixed-genre films, combining narrative fiction and documentary
conventions, have been around for a long time.  What strikes
me as relatively new and interesting, however, is the notion
of reenacting scenes that the filmmaker presumes are mis-
perceptions of actual events, such as occurs in THIN BLUE
LINE, although the filmmaker in this case indicated that he
felt the audience could nonetheless deduce what he presumed
actually happened from the contradictions inherent in the
misperceptions of various characters/people, even though he
never reenacts what he believed actually occurred (Morris'
interview with Bill Moyers).  In most previous "documentary
reenactments" the filmmaker attempts to present what he or
she believed actually happened.  Even in Morris case, there is
a strong element of realist empiricism inherent in his believe
that the "truth" can be deduced from the "untruths" he presents.
Truly postmodern documentaries allow multiple ontologies, that is
different modes and worlds, such as animation, live action scripted,
and live action unscripted recordings, to overwhelm epistemological
questions or approaches, such as empiricism and conventionalism.
The pursuit of truth is replaced by multiple experiences of different
worlds.
Gorham "Hap" Kindem
UNC Chapel Hill  [log in to unmask]