As T.S. Eliot said, “The immature artist borrows. The mature artist steals.” Steal from the masters! This film surveys the history, development and ongoing practice of the style, the technique, the ideal known as verité, as told by the people who invented and nurtured it. Leacock, Pennebaker, Drew, Maysles, Wiseman, Kopple, et. al. tell the stories of the technical innovations, the big personalities, and the plain good luck that made the work possible. The clips from legendary documentaries are breathtaking! Even documentary know-it-alls will find something here, if not a fresh bit of lore, then certainly inspiration and awe at the bravado, idealism, and dedication of the verité filmmakers to their craft. A favorite moment: Albert Maysles demonstrates “The Gaze.”