The first line of your comment doesn't seem necessary to make your point. There is a guideline that says "don't be snarky"[0] and I think it applies here. Hav

The first line of your comment doesn't seem necessary to make your point. There is a guideline that says "don't be snarky"[0] and I think it applies here. Having produced a documentary (and being in the process of creating another one), I can't say that I agree with your view on purpose at all. The purpose of either documentary or fiction movie is whatever the movie maker aims at. There is no reason for anyone to abide by your standard of "trying to get at the truth" when writing the scenario for Once Upon A Time in America, Jurassic Park, The Simpsons (the movie), or Bowling for Columbine. I'd say most movies have an intent behind them. Further than that, we're art amateurs trying to interpret the meaning of abstract paintings in a gallery. Maybe the painter wanted to denunce the patriarchy. Or maybe they had food poisoning that day. Who knows. [0]: https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html