Interesting documentary that could easily be narrative. The fusion of documentary into narrative here is suggestive of what will later be Neorealism and later international filmmaking movements that are more handheld and realistic. This fusion between the documentary and the narrative film seems to stem from WW2 newsreels and the widespread use and development of handheld cameras that are light enough to go into the field and catch great footage but still look good. Audiences also become more accustomed to seeing shaky handheld footage from watching all this war newsreel footage so they are primed to see that style of shooting become integrated into narrative films and documentaries too.
This film really pushes authentic realism something that has been missing from films throughout the 1930's. WW2 really brings back a sense of reality and a desire to watch reality into the theater.