Sisters in Law can be applied to documentary theorist Kim Longinotto, since she (alongside Florence Ayisi) directed the film. The documentary adopts Longinotto’s traditional observational filmmaking mode, since the events play out naturally without the director feeling the need to step in and make herself known to the audience at any point. Additionally, the subject of the documentary links to feminist solidarity, as spectators follow the story of two women working in the patriarchal Cameroonian legal system.

Michael Moore, on the other hand, directs films that follow a performative mode of documentary. This means that the director actively gets involved in the events he is documenting to pursue personal quests. Moore uses unconventional elements such as humour and highly creative techniques (such as animated sequences) in order to entertain the audiences.

Nick Broomfield also actively gets involved in front of the camera, as well as directly explaining the narrative to spectators in order to make his films accessible. The director uses a chaotic style of filmmaking, heavy in handheld camera movements and getting himself involved in highly dangerous situations for the purpose of documenting them to audiences.