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Classic documentaries

Man of Aran

Year1934
Running time77 min
Directed byRobert J. Flaherty
Made inUnited Kingdom
See it on en.wikipedia.org

At a glance

Man of Aran is a 1934 fictional documentary directed, written and shot by Robert J. Flaherty. Set on Ireland’s Aran Islands, it depicts islanders’ daily lives in premodern conditions. The film shows fishing from high cliffs, growing potatoes in thin soil and hunting basking sharks for liver oil used in lamps. It blends documentary footage with invented elements: a sequence in which shark fishermen are nearly caught in a sudden gale is fabricated. The family presented on screen is also not a real family; its members were selected from among islanders for their appearance. The film runs 77 minutes and is in English. Gainsborough Pictures is the production company, and Michael Balcon is the producer. It is listed as a documentary film and comes from the United Kingdom. Its focus on work, food and survival on the islands makes it a portrait of a particular way of life, while its staged episodes show that it is not a straightforward record of events.

Who it is for

It suits viewers interested in documentary form, island life and the boundary between observed and staged scenes. Teachers and students can use it to discuss how a film may shape its portrayal of a community.

What is good

  • Depicts daily routines on the Aran Islands
  • Shows fishing, potato farming and shark hunting
  • Makes its staged elements identifiable
  • Runs 77 minutes

What to know first

  • Some situations are fabricated
  • The depicted family members are not related

Verdict

Man of Aran combines scenes of island work with constructed moments and a selected on-screen family. It is a useful choice for viewers curious about ethnofiction and how documentary images can be arranged.

Details

Year
1934wikidata.org · 3 Oct 2026
Runtime
77 minwikidata.org · 3 Oct 2026
Director
Robert J. Flahertywikidata.org · 3 Oct 2026
Country
United Kingdomwikidata.org · 3 Oct 2026
IMDb
tt0025456wikidata.org · 3 Oct 2026

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