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Mockumentary

Though the term was coined in reference to the groundbreaking 'This is Spinal Tap', Rob Reiner cannot claim ownership of the fake documentary genre. Woody Allen's debut as director 'Take the Money and Run' is an early example, but undoubtedly the number of these satirical slices of life has risen of late, reflecting the popularity (and banality) of reality television. Christopher Guest took the format and ran with it ('Best in Show', 'A MIghty Wind', 'Waiting for Guffman'), and classics include serial killer profile 'Man Bites Dog', Lars von Trier oddity 'The Idiots' and of course the cringingly accurate 'The Office'. Check out Alice's collection below.

People Like Us: Series 2 (2001)

8.3/10
Director: John Morton, Willy Smax
Starring: Chris Langham

'Documentary' filmmaker Roy Mallard (Chris Langham) is back on the job in the second series of this wicked fly-on-the-wall spoof, spending a day in th... Read more

Trailer Park Boys: Season 1 and 2 (2001)

8.4/10
Director: Mike Clattenburg
Starring: John Paul Tremblay, Robb Wells, John Dunsworth, Sarah Dunsworth, Patrick Roach,...

Ricky and Julian are a couple of ex-cons with a plan: 'Freedom 35' aka early retirement. From their Nova Scotia trailer park home, great plans are ha... Read more

Mike Bassett: England Manager (2001)

6.8/10
Director: Steve Barron
Starring: Ricky Tomlinson, Amanda Redman, Philip Jackson

The latest in the ubiquitous mockumentary genre, "Mike Bassett: England Manager" follows the eponymous hapless head-honcho of the England Squad throug... Read more

The Office: Series 1 (2001)

8.5/10
Director: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant
Starring: Ricky Gervais, Martin Freeman, Mackenzie Crook, Lucy Davis

BAFTA-winning comedy about the Slough paper-merchant where life is stationery... David Brent (Ricky Gervais) is a petty, pompous boss who thinks he's... Read more

Series 7: The Contenders (2000)

6.6/10
Director: Daniel Minahan
Starring: Brooke Smith, Glenn Fitzgerald, Marylouise Burke, Michael Kaycheck, Richard Vent...

Trenchant satire of America's obsession with Reality TV shows follows a game show called "The Contenders," in which five contestants are filmed huntin... Read more

Best in Show (2000)

7.5/10
Director: Christopher Guest
Starring: Catherine O'Hara, Christopher Guest, Eugene Levy, Fred Willard, Michael McKean,...

'Best in Show' follows five teams of pedigree-pup owners and their canine companions in competitions for the blue ribbon at the prestigious US nationa... Read more

Ali G, Innit (2000)

7.6/10
Director: James Bobin, Steve Smith
Starring: Sacha Baron Cohen, Ali G

'Da Old Skool Intraviewz' - Ali G's unique style of questioning on The 11 O'Clock Show brought him instant fame and notoriety. Now the 'official voice... Read more

People Like Us: Series 1 (1999)

8.3/10
Director: John Morton, Willy Smax
Starring: Chris Langham

An inspired, award-winning spoof documentary series, pre-dating 'The Office' that follows hapless (and virtually unseen) filmmaker Roy Mallard (the br... Read more

Sweet and Lowdown (1999)

7.3/10
Director: Woody Allen
Starring: Anthony LaPaglia, Gretchen Mol, Samantha Morton, Sean Penn, Uma Thurman, Woody A...

Woody Allen's affectionate, pseudo-documentary centres on Emmet Ray (Sean Penn), "the second best jazz guitarist in the world", a '30s music virtuoso... Read more

The Big Tease (1999)

6.3/10
Director: Kevin Allen
Starring: Craig Ferguson, Frances Fisher, Chris Langham

A bright, witty comedy/mockumentary about a Scottish hairdresser determined to compete in a huge L.A. Hairdressing Competition. This fish-out-of-water... Read more