<Man of Aran> is a fictional documentary film directed by Robert Flaherty about life on the barren Aran Islands off the western coast of Ireland. Just like his previous films, this classical film has brought about controversies over the definition of documentary film since its release. In this self-claimed documentary film, the three family members are not actually related, having been chosen from among the islanders to play the role of each family member. Additionally, the Aran Islanders have not hunted basking sharks using a harpoon for over four decades at the time the film was made. This way, the film mostly relies on re-enactment. Should a documentary film show life as it is? Or should it re-enact the moment of disappeared lives with the help of those who still remember that? In this film as well, Flaherty raises the very question he has constantly been asking in the boundary between documentary and fiction. [Cho Myoung-jin]