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Documentary fans are in for a treat watching any of these hidden gems

There’s nothing more satisfying than discovering a documentary that packs in the twists, turns and mic-drop moments.

While streaming giant Netflix has become synonymous with shock factor documentary films and series, there are plenty that exist beyond its library.

One Redditor recently asked people for their suggestions on little-known documentaries that “blew your socks off” which brought in over 2,000 responses. The resulting recommendations spanned nature, crime and the weird and wonderful, exposing a multitude of stories that may have otherwise flown under the radar.

My Octopus Teacher

One of the most-suggested titles was My Octopus Teacher. Released back in 2020, the feature-length documentary film follows diver Craig Foster and the surprising bond he formed with an octopus over the course of a year.

Fans of the film described it as “not your typical nature doc”, while another said they “don’t eat octopus because of this movie.” As per its official synopsis: “A filmmaker forges an unusual friendship with an octopus living in a South African kelp forest, learning as the animal shares the mysteries of her world.”

The title actually won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature back in 2021, so you know it’s going to be good. You can currently stream it on Netflix.

The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia

Jackass star Johnny Knoxville is among the producers credited on this 2009 documentary about an infamous outlaw family living in West Virginia. The film’s director Julien Nitzberg spent an entire year with five generations of the White family in rural Appalachia.

The New York Times called it “compelling and complicated”, while one viewer dubbed it “one of the craziest docs to ever exist.” Another claimed: “Had a friend who grew up near that family. She said it is 100% accurate.”

While it isn’t readily available for streaming, the 10th Anniversary Edition can be rented or purchased via Prime Video. Alternatively, eager documentary fans can buy a physical copy.

Three Identical Strangers

A stranger-than-fiction tale, Three Identical Strangers, released in 2018, tells the incredible true story of how a set of triplets separated at birth somehow found each other again.

Bobby Shafran, Eddy Galland and David Kellman’s unique story sees them catapulted to celebrity status on a global scale, but a horrifying discovery about their beginnings casts a dark shadow over their lives.

The BAFTA-nominated film has a run time of just over an hour and a half and is currently available to purchase via YouTube, Apple TV and Prime Video. Sadly it is not included in any streaming service subscriptions at the moment.

Class Action Park

Another 2020 release is Class Action Park, which chronicles an amusement park in New Jersey and the high number of injuries that occurred there. In total there were six recorded deaths at the attraction before it closed down in 1996.

Available to watch on HBO Max, the documentary features newly-unearthed recordings and documents, as well as interviews with people who visited it for themselves and lived to tell the tale.

Its synopsis reads: “To some, New Jersey’s infamous Action Park was the most spectacularly fun amusement park on Earth: A place where unruly 1980s teenagers were given free rein to go gonzo on strange contraptions that seemed to violate the laws of common sense (and perhaps physics). To others, it was an ill-conceived death trap. One thing is sure: It’s the type of place that will never exist again.”

Jiro Dreams of Sushi

Currently available for free streaming via Plex, 2011 film Jiro Dreams of Sushi centres on 85-year-old Jiro Ono as he attempts to realise his life-long quest of making the most perfect piece of sushi.

He was the first sushi chef to earn three Michelin stars and considered the world’s best at what he does, but he is still not content that he has achieved perfection. Filmed at his world-famous Tokyo restaurant, Sukiyabashi Jiro, the documentary also follows his son, Yoshikazu, as he struggles with the pressure of trying to follow in his father’s footsteps.

The documentary has an impressive Rotten Tomatoes rating of 99 per cent from critics and an equally solid 91 per cent from audiences. One viewer shared: “It’s about a sushi restaurant, but is really about one man’s absolute, laser focus on absolute 100.0000% perfection. Odd title, odd theme, but an incredible documentary.”

Why go now

South of the city centre, Le Mourillon is Toulon’s characterful and unpretentious seaside quarter. Once a fishing village, Le Mourillon is home to little shops selling Provençal produce such as huge garlic bulbs and tomatoes in vibrant shades, alongside lively bars and restaurants. It’s not as glamorous or polished as the likes of Antibes or Saint-Tropez – you won’t find designer brands – but it’s all the more charming for that.

The hilly, narrow streets wind down to Le Mourillon’s star attraction: its beaches. Widely recognised as the second sunniest city in France, Toulon practically guarantees year-round blue skies and sunshine. The clear, azure sea sparkles and the beaches are lined with restaurants and date palms. While cruise ships come and go from the city’s main port, Le Mourillon is far enough from the centre that you only see them in the distance, alongside sailing boats and fishing vessels.

Where to eat and drink

Eating and drinking is one of the main pastimes in the south of France, especially on Sundays when many shops are closed. Le Mourillon is home to some of the best restaurants in Toulon, most of which celebrate Mediterranean cuisine and ingredients. Try AOC 41 for fresh, seasonal fare and some of the most flavoursome meals I’ve had, such as confit beef open ravioli with sand-grown carrots and bourguignon jus whipped with bone marrow (starters from €12, mains from €26). If you fancy a pre- or post-dinner drink, pop round the corner to Havana Cafe, which in the summer months spills out across the whole square.

Down by the beaches, restaurants offer everything from a p’tit dej formule (classic French set breakfast of bread, a pastry, coffee and juice) to freshly caught fish of the day. La Sorga serves an incontournable (unmissable) caesar salad with breaded chicken and oven-baked potatoes, best enjoyed with a glass of rosé overlooking the sea. This being the south of France, the wine is cheap and you certainly won’t be rushed.

Cultural experiences

Created in the 1970s, the four human-made beaches are the main attraction in Le Mourillon. Swim in the (usually calm) Mediterranean or rent a paddleboard or kayak from the yacht club. While strolling along the promenade, take in the local people playing pétanque and beach volleyball, while children play mini golf, bounce on trampolines and enjoy churros.

At one end of the beaches, next to a little fishing harbour, you’ll find Fort Saint Louis – built in the 17th century, it’s still used by the French navy (albeit for staff lunches rather than warfare).

Back in the heart of Le Mourillon, Saint-Flavien church, built in 1868, is a beautiful building worth admiring, and you might get lucky and hear some music or singers. Art lovers should visit the Museum of Asian Art, just back from the beaches, or head inland to one of the many galleries on Rue Lamalgue, Le Mourillon’s main street, such as Galerie d’art Toulon Inna Khimich.

In the height of summer, Toulon’s jazz festival (26 July-8 August) brings free concerts to Le Mourillon’s beaches. Every year on 15 August, the Feast of Assumption is marked with a spectacular fireworks display from the fort. In spring, La Fête de la Mer sees local producers and winemakers set up stalls in the port to sell fresh oysters, baked goods and local wine and beer. Tables are filled with les Toulonnais, who arrive en masse to settle in for a day of live music, drinks and seafood.

Where to shop

Rue Lamalgue is a narrow street lined with Provençal buildings in shades of pale pink and terracotta with faded blue shutters, decorated with strings of bunting and floral arrangements on the lamp-posts. It’s the heart of Le Mourillon and home to many independent boutiques and cafes. For tasteful gifts, from vases to children’s toys, visit Oblada, and try Acanthe for chic French clothing for the whole family. But be warned: most shops close for up to 3.5 hours over lunch, as well as all day Sunday and Monday.

Pick up artisan cheeses at Fromagerie Grosso, meat at one of Lamalgue’s multiple boucheries, fruit and veg at Primeurs Vitamine, wine at Cave Faubourg du Mourillon or La Dégust Nature, and bread, pastries, chocolates and cakes at one of the many bakeries. Of course, there’s a market too, selling fresh produce every morning except Mondays. Saturday mornings is when Le Mourillon is most alive, as local people amble around, picking up fresh bread and stopping for a coffee and croissant.

Don’t miss

Walking along the beaches of Le Mourillon is lovely, but the best trails are the coastal paths that continue from each end. If you go east, past the yacht club, the path winds around the coast with various sets of steps down to tiny beaches. Keep going past Fort Cap Brun, and you’ll eventually get to Anse de Méjean, one of the most beautiful coves in the area, which almost feels like a tiny Greek fishing village. Toulon may not be as bougie as Cannes or Nice, but you might still see a family sail in on a yacht for lunch at L’Escale, a hidden gem of a restaurant that is well worth a visit (bear in mind it closes in the winter).

Walk the other way from the beaches of Le Mourillon and the path winds round to Plage de La Mitre, another beautiful stretch of sand.

Stay

There aren’t many hotels in Le Mourillon, but Hôtel Les Voiles offers simple accommodation with sea views (doubles from €112). A little more upmarket is the four-star L’Eautel in central Toulon (doubles from €119).