Cinema Expanded: The Films of Frederick Wiseman.

This article reviews a newly released box set of five restored documentaries by American filmmaker Frederick Wiseman, whose work spans over 60 years and focuses on institutional settings and their emotional impact on individuals. The films—*Titicut Follies* (1967), *High School* (1968), *Hospital* (1970), *Juvenile Court* (1973), and *Welfare* (1975)—offer immersive, observational portraits of diverse public institutions, including a hospital for the criminally insane, a Pennsylvania high school, a New York hospital, a juvenile court in Memphis, and a Manhattan welfare office. Wiseman’s style emphasizes close attention to human behavior and systemic dynamics without overt commentary, revealing both the hardships faced by individuals and moments of compassion within bureaucratic or institutional frameworks. The collection highlights Wiseman’s legacy as a pioneering documentarian whose patient, nuanced approach to nonfiction filmmaking remains influential.