In honor of The N Word, a documentary premiering on the Trio Channel, I thought I’d recommend a trio of documentaries that all came out about the same time all dealing, in one way or another, with free speech.

The Aristocrats

A fascinating look at the dirtiest joke ever told that just keeps getting dirtier.  I saw this film at SXSW and the directors were in attendance and they told us that Bob Saget’s version of the joke took over and hour and a half to film.  He actually had to stop in the middle, do a show, then come back to finish it.  It was also one of the funniest versions they’d ever heard.

F*ck

Director Steve Anderson reaches across the aisle to get all sorts of reactions to and meditations on the F-bomb.  My favorite moment comes when Billy Connolly gleefully explains that “Fuck off!” doesn’t mean “Go away,” it means “Fuck. Off.”

This Film Is Not Yet Rated

As much an expose of the MPAA as an exploration of censorship, including an actual investigation of the members conducted by private investigators hired by filmmaker Kirby Dick.

These films also serve as examples of how a documentary can be fun, in case you have any friends that are afraid of The D Word.