Ross McElwee planned to make a Civil War documentary. He ended up making one of the greatest—and most awkward—road-trip breakup documentaries ever.
Shout-out to Christopher Campbell for covering this one in his post The Doc Option: Watch ‘Sherman’s March’ Instead of ‘A Million Ways to Die in the West’.
Trailer for “Sherman’s March”
You Can’t Make This Sh!t Up
- Ross McElwee begins the film planning to retrace General Sherman’s Civil War campaign. His recent breakup takes over the documentary within minutes, making the Civil War seem like an afterthought.
- The documentary was so influential that it shaped the first-person style. It showed audiences would enjoy watching a filmmaker explore his own messy life.
Watch “Sherman’s March”
You can stream “Sherman’s March” on Fandor according to JustWatch.
Ratings:
- My Rating: 90/100
- IMDb Rating: 7.2/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: 84/100 (Users); 100/100 (Critics)
Director’s Note: Ross McElwee directed, shot, narrated, and starred in this 157-minute documentary. It became a key film in autobiographical documentary making. It inspired many nonfiction filmmakers to focus on their own lives.
Release Date: October 10, 1986 (New York Film Festival)
Other Unique Stuff
- One memorable part of the doc shows McElwee’s awkward search for love. He meets various women across the South, like Wini, an eccentric naturalist on Georgia’s Ossabaw Island.
- Many film schools still view it as a top example of documentary storytelling. It embraces accidents rather than resisting them.
Wrap Up:
“Sherman’s March” won’t be for everyone, but I found it fascinating because it constantly surprises you.
Thanks for reading!
Heather Fenty, Guest Writer, Daily Doc