Yes, these 5 Oscar-nominated documentaries take on tough topics — watch them anyway

There's no way to soften the truth about this year's five Oscar nominees for outstanding documentary feature: They are all hard to watch. You should watch them anyway — all of them.

This is not only because they are all excellent, but because they are all imaginatively and thoughtfully made from strong points of view.

It would be easy to think of films about war and violence, about oppressive governments and medical fragility, as themselves medicinal — pieces you should watch to become a better person. And it's true that you will likely learn a lot about some of the most urgent issues we're facing. But these are beautiful pieces of filmmaking, created with patience and care, and they're moving even when they're painful.

All five are international films, which has led to about the absence of a couple of high-profile American hopefuls, but it would be absurd to watch the