A world of the strange awaits. (Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends)

Member Name: colinllama

Product:	Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends
Date:	06/08/09 (8 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Unique, noone else covers subjects like this

Disadvantages: I often wish the programs were a little longer.

Louis Theroux is a documentary maker with a difference. His work focuses on people and activities that most of us would consider at best, strange, and at worst disturbing. He has made documentaries on subjects ranging from Jimmy Saville, to white supremacists, and assorted topics in between.

The key to his success in getting great information and material on these subjects is his ability to try to understand the people he is documenting. He may have found the white supremacist's views abhorrent, but he managed to be challenging enough to get interesting material, without antagonising them so much that they would not cooperate with him.

A good example of Louis Theroux immersing himself in his subject in order to better understand it, was his documentary on American professional wrestling. He made the mistake of calling wrestling "fake" whilst interviewing a wrestler who now trains aspiring wrestlers. This upset the gentleman in question who felt his profession was being denigrated, and he challenged Louis to try training with the wrestlers and see how fake it felt! Although physically Louis is hardly imposing, he gave it a good try and the wresters worked him until he vomited! It is this willingness to get to grips with his topics, as well as the unique subjects he covers, that gives Theroux's documentaries their distinctive feel, and make them compelling viewing.

If you are new to Louis Theroux, his shows are often repeated on the Dave channel and are well worth a look.

Summary: Louis Theroux gives us a glimpse of lives most of us would never see otherwise.