I am really grateful to have viewed The Thin Blue Line because I had read about the impact it had follow its initial release. As a documentary filmmaker, I dream about making films with the power to change lives. I also dream about making films that pioneer a new style which influences many other subsequent films.
Errol Morris uses recreation to examine the possibilities of how the murder of a Dallas police officer played out. By repeating the same scene with slight variations, I could see how so many witnesses and so many factors influenced the wrongful conviction of Randall Adams. Here, the dramatic recreations do not feel manipulative but merely an exploration--almost a trial and error until the truth is unfolded. This way the film makes no assumptions but only seeks to uncover what really happened.
Morris also demands the viewer pay close attention to details. He allows us to determine our level of involvement. He does not even include the name titles on the screen to tell who is talking. We have to be attentive and learn who they are from the information that precedes or follows each interview. This makes The Thin Blue Line a documentary for those willing to work for answers.
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