Which filmmaker is known for influencing the development of narrative documentary films?

Robert Flaherty is recognized as a pioneering figure in the development of narrative documentary films, primarily due to his innovative storytelling techniques and his ability to weave a compelling narrative within the documentary format. His most notable work, "Nanook of the North" (1922), is often cited as the first feature-length documentary and is known for its dramatization and portrayal of the life of an Inuit family in the Canadian Arctic.

Flaherty's approach involved not only capturing real-life events but also shaping those events into a narrative structure that drew viewers into the emotional and social realities of his subjects. This blend of factual recording with storytelling techniques had a profound impact on how documentaries could be constructed, influencing countless filmmakers in the documentary genre after him. His emphasis on character development and narrative arcs paved the way for future documentaries that sought to engage audiences on both intellectual and emotional levels.

Other filmmakers mentioned, while significant in their own right, contributed to different aspects of cinema and storytelling. For example, Alfred Hitchcock is primarily known for his masterful suspense and thriller films, Martin Scorsese for his contributions to narrative feature films, particularly in the crime genre, and Orson Welles for his innovative narrative techniques in fiction films, particularly with "Citizen Kane." Each