Kaurismaki's films are possibly closer to Paddington than Ai Weiwei's documentary in terms of hard-hitting realism, but where other modes of cinema have failed, his eccentric, personal style is somehow robust enough to address the issues of the age, satisfy entertainment demands, and respect both its subjects and its audience.
At a time when documentary TV is being squeezed in regular TV schedules, the Global BBC iPlayer could throw a lifeline to documentary makers in terms of visibility, global reach and, crucially, the potential of a new income stream.
"There's never been a documentary as touching in terms of its scope and power," says NYU's Sanders.
Digital platforms are expanding the field of the traditional documentary, not only in terms of the distribution of linear stories, but especially in the production of content created specifically for the web.
Was the fact that you hadn't made a documentary before an advantage in terms of not having to be linear or objective?
"We have never had anything like this on television in terms of documentaries," Keith Beauchamp, the executive producer and director of the series, said in an interview.
"I'm interested in storytelling and, in terms of documentaries, in stories that don't otherwise get told, really," she said.
In terms of documentary form, the film is pretty straightforward.
Today, many are still not out, but it's hugely different in terms of documentary and photography.
Of that, in pure documentary terms, 1,718 documentaries were submitted for 38 spots.
