8 IT documentaries worth watching

I was never into movies that fictionalize historical events. Recently quite a few of them had enjoyed commercial success, like Social Network or the latest Steve Jobs biopic. However, I always feel that these films are useless for anyone who wants to learn about historical events without seeing them trivialized. Even if the movie is true to the chronology of events, the rules of non-documentary filmmaking demand that it be enhanced by editing effects, dramatic acting and various plot side lines, for instance, romantic subplots.

I don’t think I’m right to snub historical feature films: some of them can be enlightening and on point, inspired by history, and not the writers’ and directors’ imaginations: a great example being Milk. However, I am yet to find successful non-documentary films on technology. Maybe that’s because the subject is still relatively new, and the guidelines of storytelling on tech issues are still being worked out? So, hopefully, things will improve.

The history of computers and technology is abundant with the familiar trope: a few dozen people, who had no idea what they’re doing, built empires that later conquered markets and the minds of many followers. Even though at the time of technological advent product development wasn’t as advance as it is right now, much less was needed to start something and to enjoy a break through. You didn’t have to be proficient in software, possess public speaking skills or the ability to persuade an investor to give every penny, to create business models and predict future…