Spellbound

The documentary follows eight children through the American national spelling bee, from regional heats to the final in Washington. They could hardly be less alike: the daughter of a family working a Texas ranch, the son of an Indian immigrant doctor, a girl from a public school in Washington, a boy made to study nine hours a day. Jeffrey Blitz aims his interest not at the contest but at the homes, showing what the bee means for each family; for some a game, for others a test of admission to America. The tension in the final section is more real than any fiction could manage, because the camera never leaves the children's faces. It was nominated for an Oscar. Who it is for: viewers who like observational documentary and stories of immigration. Who it is not for: anyone who does not want to watch children under pressure.