cinéma vérité

American  

[sin-uh-muh ver-i-tey, see-ney-mah vey-ree-tey] / ˈsɪn ə mə ˌvɛr ɪˈteɪ, si neɪ mɑ veɪ riˈteɪ /

noun

1. a technique of documentary filmmaking in which the camera records actual persons and events without directorial control: introduced in France in the 1950s.

2. a film using this technique or a simulation of it.

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cinéma vérité British  

/ sinema verite /

noun

1. films characterized by subjects, actions, etc, that have the appearance of real life

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Etymology

Origin of cinéma vérité

1960–65; < French cinéma-vérité literally, cinema-truth, coined as a translation of Russian kinoprávda, a documentary technique developed by the Soviet filmmaker Dziga Vertov (1896–1954)

Example Sentences

Shot in the style of cinéma vérité, Mojica appears as both a narrator and protagonist.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 30, 2026

Part photojournalism, part nature doc, part cinéma vérité, part Western, the film defies categorization.

From New York Times • Jun. 8, 2023

Heineman has become famous for a cinéma vérité approach that avoids both interviews and voiceovers, but this film takes that signature style to an entirely new level of art.

From Salon • Nov. 11, 2022

On the same bill is another cinéma vérité gem, 1968’s “Hey, Mama,” a slice-of-life look at Venice’s Black neighborhood of Oakwood.

From Los Angeles Times • May 15, 2022

Ernaux’s book has been adapted for the screen by Diwan and Marcia Romano, with the participation of Anne Berest, in a spare and almost cinéma vérité style that shows us events from Anne’s perspective.

From Washington Post • May 11, 2022