Reflexive Mode of Documentary

“The representation of the historical world becomes, itself, the topic of cinematic meditation in the reflexive mode.”

Possesses a form of meta commentary from the filmmaker within the piece focusing on the process behind variation of representation itself.

Of Great Events and Ordinary People (Raúl Ruiz, 1979)

Heavy focus on realism within the film. However, results in the actor’s belief systems to align with those posed in the meta commentary
Concerns of textual voices that overshadow the voices of the actors within, demonstrating the problematics of representation


The use of stylistic devices to achieve a reflexive effect runs the risk of manipulating social actors for textual effect
This can happen instead of provoking a reflexive consideration of how texts are constructed.

To sum it up. The reflexive mode emphasis on drawing attention to conventions that govern documentary film making. Shows the constructed nature of film’s representation of reality.