‘BE NATURAL’ is a Dizzying But Needed Look at the Woman Who Helped Invent Movies

By Gregory Crofton

Director Pamela B. Green was determined to tell the story of the world’s first female film director and studio owner. And rightly so. The life of Alice Guy-Blaché was largely unknown and it’s completely fascinating.

The challenge in making a film that’s historical and research intensive, like “Be Natural,” is to keep it interesting. Green succeeds with that here, but the editing pace is too fast, there is too much information presented, and it left me overwhelmed and detracted from the story.

Still the documentary is worth seeking out. It will surely be enlightening for many viewers, and become a touchstone for historians and film students.

Learn more about the film and support its distribution here.

Below Q&A with Director Green and Jodie Foster, who narrates the film.