Podcast Summary: Más de Uno – La veta cultureta: Los diez mandamientos del buen documental

Host: Carlos Alsina
Date: January 16, 2026

Episode Overview

In this engaging segment of Más de uno, Carlos Alsina explores the essential principles that define a great documentary. Drawing from his recent viewing of two documentaries—one about Seymour Hersh and another by Morgan Neville on 1975 American cinema—Alsina humorously presents his personal "Ten Commandments of the Good Documentary." Blending cinephile wisdom with sharp wit, he outlines what makes documentaries compelling, authentic, and memorable for viewers.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Context: Two Documentaries

• Carlos contrasts two films:
  • Seymour Hersh documentary: "notable"
  • Morgan Neville’s 1975 American cinema: "not so much," though both embody key documentary virtues.

2. The Ten Commandments of a Great Documentary

1. Thou Shalt Not Use Dramatizations (00:22)

• "Un documental sigue siendo cine, no el Canal Historia."
• Documentaries should avoid reenactments or dramatizations, maintaining authenticity and respecting the form.

2. Thou Shalt Not Abuse Interviews (00:40)

• "Los testimonios no son los ladrillos de un documental. Son larga masa."
• The power of a documentary isn’t in endless talking heads; interviews should not overwhelm the narrative.

3. Thou Shalt Have Characters with Stories (00:56)

• Using “Wild Wild Country” and “Searching for Sugar Man” as examples, Alsina emphasizes that compelling characters and gripping stories are inseparable.
• "No hay Wild Wild Country sin la inquietante Sheila…"

4. Thou Shalt Rely on Visual Images (01:17)

• "Harás tu documental con imágenes. Si ya las tienes, ya lo tienes."
• The strength of a documentary often lies in its visual archive—pointing out Apollo 11 (2019) as an example—and the Seymour Hersh film’s deep dive into archival footage.

5. Thou Shalt Let Editing Be Thy Shepherd (01:32)

• "El sentido y la narración vienen de la justaposición del montaje."
• Editing crafts meaning, as seen in how fragments from films interact in the 1975 cinema documentary.

6. Thou Shalt Erase Thy Footprints (01:46)

• "Da un paso atrás para que tu trabajo hable por ti."
• The documentarian should minimize their presence unless the investigation itself is the story. Voiceover should be minimal, as in “20 días en Mariúpol.”

7. Thou Shalt Not Be an Activist (02:01)

• "Un documental no es activismo. Un documental es cine."
• Filmmakers should avoid direct political or activist agendas—"no nos interesa Michael Moore." Any awareness raised is only a side effect.

8. Thou Shalt Not Glorify Thy Subject (02:33)

• "No engrandecerás a tu protagonista. Hacerlo es antipático y pelota. Ya sabemos que Messi es Jesucristo con balón. Cuéntame algo que no sepa."
• Avoid idolizing the subject. Instead, reveal unknown facets and challenge myths.

9. Thou Shalt Ask Questions, Not Give Answers (02:53)

• "Hemos venido a avivar los misterios y las contradicciones, no a solventarlas."
• Documentaries should provoke thought and debate, not merely resolve or explain.

10. Thou Shalt Renounce Conclusions (03:20)

• "Si hay epílogo… uno que resuene en todo lo que ya has contado."
• Any conclusion should add nuance, not tie everything up. He cites Volar en círculos by Errol Morris on John le Carré as an epitome—“un documental extraordinario, lleno de dramatizaciones. Ya te he dicho que aquí hemos venido a alimentar contradicciones.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On dramatization:

  “Un documental sigue siendo cine, no el Canal Historia.” (00:22)

• On interviews as ballast:

  “Los testimonios no son los ladrillos de un documental. Son larga masa.” (00:40)

• On character and story:

  “No hay Wild Wild Country sin la inquietante Sheila, como no hay Searching for Sugar Man sin la trama de olvido, investigación y descubrimiento.” (00:56)

• On glorification:

  “No engrandecerás a tu protagonista. Hacerlo es antipático y pelota. Y además, ya lo sabemos. Ya sabemos que Messi es Jesucristo con balón. Cuéntame algo que no sepa.” (02:33)

• On the purpose of a documentary:

  “Hemos venido a avivar los misterios y las contradicciones, no a solventarlas.” (02:53)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:01 – Introduction and choice of documentaries
• 00:22 – Mandamiento 1: Contra las dramatizaciones
• 00:40 – Mandamiento 2: Entrevistas
• 00:56 – Mandamiento 3: Historia y personajes
• 01:17 – Mandamiento 4: Imágenes y archivo
• 01:32 – Mandamiento 5: El montaje
• 01:46 – Mandamiento 6: Voz y presencia del autor
• 02:01 – Mandamiento 7: Activismo vs cine
• 02:33 – Mandamiento 8: Idolatría y mitos
• 02:53 – Mandamiento 9: Preguntas, no respuestas
• 03:20 – Mandamiento 10: Conclusiones y epílogo

Tone and Style

Carlos Alsina delivers his critique with humor, authority, and a cinephile’s exacting standards. In playful Spanish, he invokes icons, films, and strong opinions—balancing instructive content with wit, making the segment both insightful and entertaining for fans of both movies and radio.