Pop culture revolves around the release of major movies. Film affects perceptions and beliefs concerning the world and its inhabitants. Occasionally, a film maker lifts the veil on a hidden plight. It might be about an injustice to a minority, or the courageous story of change by a single individual, but either way it raises awareness on the issue at hand.
There are simply too many issues, and consequently too many films, to make this a definitive list of socially aware movies. Instead, this article will look at a few key films and directors that share a message of change.
Deepa Mehta, a Director for Social Change
It is hard to find a director that epitomizes the idea that film can be both highly watchable and yet raise social consciousness on key issues better than Deepa Mehta. Not only does Mehta hit upon the poignant issues of human rights, poverty, nationalism, religious persecution, and sexual identity, her films are also well acted and filled with flawless cinematography. The ones she is most known for is her trilogy of Fire, Earth, and the critically acclaimed Water.
Fire – Fire looks at the politics of sexuality, with the forbidden topic of a lesbian relationship in a traditional Indian household.
Earth – Earth explores the friendship between culturally diverse young people on what is now the Pakistan India border. The film is set in 1947 when the partition between the Muslim and Hindu populations came into being, and how the politics of nationalism creates artificial boundaries between people.
Water – Beautifully filmed, Deepa Mehta’s film about the tradition of young widows having to live out their life in an ashram is a poignant look at the politics of religion. The film was actually shut down in production the first time around due to the uproar it created in India. Deepa’s brother, Dilip, made a documentary called The Forgotten Woman that follows the present day situation.
Heaven on Earth – In this film Deepa Mehta explored the nature of domestic abuse. It follows the story of Chand, a Punjabi woman coming from India to the isolation of an arranged and abusive marriage in Ontario Canada.
Mongrel Media - Cinema for Social Change
Mongrel Media stands out as a production company that supports film makers with a social message. Their new division called Cinema for Social Change does exactly that, and showcases films that raise awareness. Established in 1994, this Canadian distributor has a reputation of choosing films with a strong yet beautifully filmed message.
Champions of Mainstream Movies
Although Hollywood is known more for entertainment than creating social awareness, there have been a few stories that have captured hearts and minds. Usually this has been in the form of dramatizations of true stories. A few examples of this are:
- Milk – The story of Harvey Milk who took political office to champion the rights of the gay community in San Francisco.
- Erin Brockovitch – Follows the dramatized story of real life Erin Brokovitch. Erin stepped into the unlikely shoes of advocate to take on a California power company that was killing people with its pollution.
- Beyond Rangoon – Closed off to outside eyes, few were aware of the atrocities in Burma/Myanmar in the 1980’s. The film centers on an American doctor that is swept into fray of civil unrest and tyrannical government, as she tries to deal with her own issues of grief. The film touches upon the plight of the Burmese people and their chosen leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been under house rest for 13 of the past 19 years.
- Killing Fields – Cambodia in the 1970’s was the setting for one of the bloodiest massacres in modern times. Few films have touched upon this chilling time that has its roots in American covert involvement.
Documentaries Spotlighting Injustice
The list of documentaries that address social issues is extensive, and examples of such significant films would include:
- Born Into Brothels – Truly inspiring film about the children growing up in Calcutta brothels, and the woman that created an opportunity for them by providing cameras and photography lessons. Since that time projects such as Kids with Camera, and Hope House have given choices for children where none existed.
- Sicko – Although there are some that claim Michael Moore is not a true documentary film maker, there is no escaping the fact that the U.S.A. has one of the worst health care systems in the developed world. This film explores some of the inherent flaws in a profit driven health care system, and reveals how other countries have dealt with the issue.
- Cry of the Snow Lion – One of the better documentaries exposing the oppression, torture of the Tibetan people, and exile of the Dalai Lama. Check out other films about Tibet.
Film can make a difference in pubic opinion, and can shine a spotlight on social injustice. This article touched upon this positive trend in socially aware cinema.
References
Internet Movie Database
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