Directed by Frederick Wiseman, one of the legends of documentary cinema, Belfast, Maine is a film about ordinary experience in a beautiful old New England port city. It is a portrait of daily life with particular emphasis on work and the cultural life of the community. Among the activities shown in the film are the work of lobstermen, tug-boat operators, factory workers, shop owners, telemarketers, dry cleaners, city counselors, doctors, judges, police, teachers, social workers, nurses and ministers. Cultural activities include choir rehearsal, dance class, music lessons and theater production. Wiseman′s camera lets us see into the personal lives of Belfast′s residents, as well, without sacrificing his attention to community interaction. From an alcoholic woman discussing her sleeping disorder to a group of hunters chatting about nature to a high school teacher fascinated by [Moby Dick], we are brought into this small town world, and, for a little while, we are given the opportunity to be a part of Belfast, Maine.