Why We Should Follow Louis Theroux's Work

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Wednesday, April 17, 2019 

David Hurst

Louis Theroux is a documentary filmmaker, author, and journalist whose work has won awards and the attention of many people. With themes revolving around subcultures, Theroux gives a unique look into the mysterious lives of groups that most people would never have access to. Groups such as addicts, pedophiles, Ku Klux Klan members, Scientologists, celebrities, black nationalists and others, Theroux gets involved in front of the camera as well as behind the camera, providing humorous and creative techniques to get to the real truths of his topics. 

In his film "My Scientology Movie", Theroux does a series of interviews with a former high ranking member of Scientology who explains the dark secrets of the religion's leaders as they try and gain access to one of their main head quarters. Unable to get the footage that Theroux wanted, he made the bold decision to hire actors to do a reenactment of how it was to live in one of these Scientology communities, according to his former high ranking Scientologist source. This approach is unusual and sounds odd and probably would be if it had not been done in a certain way. He was able to make it work by combining his in front of the camera investigations into the headquarters, interviews with the former member, and these reenactments all while being humorous and respectful. 

Theroux's creative approach to these mostly unexplored groups of people is something to pay attention to and could provide some useful tips for future journalists or documentary filmmakers. His new documentary "Mothers On Edge" takes a look at postpartum mental illness. Make sure to check it out in May 2019 on BBC Two.