At the intersection of social science and visuality: Documentary film as a method of research on homelessness in the urban environment

Abstract

This article presents a methodological reflection on the use of documentary film as a standalone method of visual sociological research. Using the example of the film On the Way Home, created by the authors in collaboration with the charitable organization Nochlezhka, the articl e explores the possibilities and limitations of employing a video camera as a research tool in the field. The camera is not merely a tool for recording empirical material, but also serves as a mediator that shapes fieldwork dynamics and influences the interpretation of data. In this context, documentary film is regarded not as a means of illustrating research results, but as a fully-fledged method of sociological inquiry that can offer a more nuanced understanding of social processes. The article further engages with questions of visual representation of marginality in the urban environment, the analysis of visual language, ethical dilemmas, and working with vulnerable research participants. The authors argue that the strengths of documentary film lie in its capacity to convey context, emotion, interactional dynamics, and multiple perspectives — dimensions often lost in conventional textbased sociological methods. Filming enables the documentation of complex social phenomena while also acting as a catalyst for reflection — on the part of researchers, participants, and viewers alike. At the same time, this method entails certain limitations, including the potential distortion of observed reality, the fragmentation of empirical material, and the risk of oversimplifying complex realities through narrative reduction.