What are the characteristics of documentary?

Documentary is based on real life, with real people and things as the object of performance. Its basic characteristics are that it can't make up the plot, can't be played by actors, can't arbitrarily change the place and environment, and can't change the life process. The birth of film began with the creation of documentary. 1895 French Louis Lumiere's experimental films, such as the gate of the factory, the train entering the station and the baby's lunch, all belong to the nature of documentaries. The filming of China Documentary began at the end of 19 and the beginning of the 20th century. Some of the earliest scenes, including the social scene in the late Qing Dynasty, the scene of Eight-Nation Alliance's invasion of China, and the historical figure Li Hongzhang, were all taken by foreign photographers. Documentaries can be divided into film documentaries and TV documentaries.