High school social studies only brushes the surface of what there is to know about specific topics. I find many students are interested in subjects that our class calendar does not allow time for. If you are interested in learning more about specific topics, film is a great way to begin. Below I have listed movies having to do with our class content. Please be aware that many of these films take a specific argument and perspective that you may or may not agree with. Also, most, if not all, deal with mature content.
Middle East
|
Afghan Stories "The modest 61-minute video documentary ''Afghan Stories'' is a subjective response to world events by its maker, Taran Davies, an investment banker who resigned a week after Sept. 11 and left for Afghanistan a few weeks later. He took his video camera and a friend, Walied Osman, a Queens-born American of Afghan descent who would act as interpreter and adviser (and who also has a producer's credit)...The film's view of Afghanistan offers no simple solutions to a complex situation, one that does not seem to have significantly improved since the Taliban's defeat, if the reports coming from that now largely forgotten country are accurate. Nor should it. The answers are in the eyes of the battered Afghan people, and with their cloud of fear and uncertainty -- and brutality, too, in some cases -- they are not at all easy to read." -New York Times
|
 Persepolis "A fascinating and wholly unexpected take on Iran’s Islamic
revolution beginning in the 1970s, Persepolis is an enthralling,
animated feature about a spirited young woman who spends her life trying to
deal with the consequences of her nation’s history. Based on an
autobiographical comic book by Marjane Satrapi, the story concerns Marji
(voiced as a teenager and woman by Chiara Mastroianni), whose natural fire
and precociousness are slowly dampened by the rise of religious extremists.
Marji grieves over the imprisonment and execution of a beloved uncle, then
begrudgingly adapts to ever-tightening rules about dress, social mores,
education for women, and expectations about marriage and divorce. Along the
way, her grandmother (Danielle Darrieux) and mother (Catherine Deneuve) help
keep Marji grounded during her rebellious teens and encourage her to find
life beyond Iran’s borders, a decision that proves both a blessing and
curse. An unique window onto a crucial chapter of 20th century history,
Persepolis is graphically engaging with its black-and-white, bold lines
and feeling of repressed energy, fit to burst. The emotional content is so
strong that after awhile, one almost forgets the film is a cartoon. Satrapi
co-wrote the screenplay and co-directed the film along with animator Vincent
Paronnaud." --Tom Keogh (Editorial Review) |
 Kite Runner "In
the 70's in Afghanistan, the Pushtun boy Amir and the Hazara boy Hassan, who
is his loyal friend and son of their Hazara servant Ali, are raised together
in Amir's father house, playing and kitting on the streets of a peaceful
Kabul. Amir feels that his wise and good father Baba blames him for the
death of his mother in the delivery, and also that his father loves and
prefers Hassam to him. In return, Amir feels a great respect for his
father's best friend Rahim Khan, who supports his intention to become a
writer. After Amir winning a competition of kitting, Hassam runs to bring a
kite to Amir, but he is beaten and raped by the brutal Assef in an empty
street to protect Amir's kite; the coward Amir witness the assault but does
not help the loyal Hassam. On the day after his birthday party, Amir hides
his new watch in Hassam's bed to frame the boy as a thief and force his
father to fire Ali, releasing his conscience from recalling his cowardice
and betrayal. In 1979, the Russians invade Afghanistan and Baba and Amir
escape to Pakistan. In 1988, they have a simple life in Fremont, California,
when Amir graduates in a public college for the pride and joy of Baba. Later
Amir meets his countrywoman Soraya and they get married. In 2000, after the
death of Baba, Amir is a famous novelist and receives a phone call from the
terminal Rahim Khan, who discloses secrets about his family, forcing Amir to
return to Peshawar, in Pakistan, in a journey of redemption."
--Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
|
|
No end in Sight "Chronological look at the fiasco in Iraq, especially decisions made in the spring of 2003 - and the backgrounds of those making decisions - immediately following the overthrow of Saddam: no occupation plan, an inadequate team to run the country, insufficient troops to keep order, and three edicts from the White House announced by Bremmer when he took over: no provisional Iraqi government, de-Ba'athification, and disbanding the Iraqi armed services. The film has chapters (from History to Consequences), and the talking heads are reporters, academics, soldiers, military brass, and former Bush-administration officials, including several who were in Baghdad in 2003." --Written by jhailey@hotmail.com
|
 Kingdom
of Heaven "It is the time of the
Crusades during the Middle Ages - the world shaping
200-year collision between Europe and the East. A
blacksmith named Balian has lost his family and
nearly his faith. The religious wars raging in the
far-off Holy Land seem remote to him, yet he is
pulled into that immense drama. Amid the pageantry
and intrigues of medieval Jerusalem he falls in
love, grows into a leader, and ultimately uses all
his courage and skill to defend the city against
staggering odds. Destiny comes seeking Balian in the
form of a great knight, Godfrey of Ibelin, a
Crusader briefly home to France from fighting in the
East. Revealing himself as Balian's father, Godfrey
shows him the true meaning of knighthood and takes
him on a journey across continents to the fabled
Holy City. In Jerusalem at that moment--between the
Second and Third Crusades--a fragile peace prevails,
through the efforts of its enlightened Christian
king, Baldwin IV, aided by his advisor Tiberias, and
the military restraint of the legendary Muslim
leader Saladin. But Baldwin's days are numbered, and
strains of fanaticism, greed, and jealousy among the
Crusaders threaten to shatter the truce. King
Baldwin's vision of peace--a kingdom of heaven--is
shared by a handful of knights, including Godfrey of
Ibelin, who swear to uphold it with their lives and
honor. As Godfrey passes his sword to his son, he
also passes on that sacred oath: to protect the
helpless, safeguard the peace, and work toward
harmony between religions and cultures, so that a
kingdom of heaven can flourish on earth. Balian
takes the sword and steps into history." Written by
Sujit R. Varma
|
 Death
in Gaza
"Death in Gaza is the tale of a twisted world where
the greatest glory is to die a martyr, and of the
filmmaker who becomes part of the story he sets out
to tell. this poignant and powerful documentary
takes a shocking, firsthand look at the culture of
hate that permeates the West Bank and Gaza, which
helps perpetuate the perennial violence between
Palestinians and Israelis. Starting out in the city
of Nablus (where as many as 80 percent of suicide
bombings are planned), Emmy-winning filmmaker James
Miller follows reporter Saira Shah as she attempts
to unravel the cycle of violence. Travelling to Gaza
they meet three Palestinian children-- two
12-year-old boys and a 16-year-old girl-- who have
grown up trapped between the Israeli army and
Palestinian militants as their world crumbles around
them. The film ends in May of 2003, on a day like
many others in this region-- with death-- but on
this day the victim is renowned filmmaker James
Miller, who is shot dead by an Israeli soldier in
the Gaza strip." |
India
 Born
into Brothels "Born Into Brothels is a documentary about the inspiring
non-profit foundation Kids With Cameras, which teaches photography skills to
children in marginalized communities. In 1998, New York-based photographer
Zana Briski started
photographing prostitutes in the red-light district of Calcutta. She eventually
developed a relationship with their children, who were fascinated by her
equipment. After several years of learning in workshops with
Briski, the kids created
their own photographs with point-and-shoot 35 mm cameras. Their images capture
the intimacy and color of everyday life in the overpopulated sections of
Calcutta. Proceeds from the sale of the children's photographs go to fund their
future education. Directed by
Briski and filmmaker
Ross Kauffman,
Born Into Brothels was shown at the Sundance Festival in 2004 as part of the
documentary competition." Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide |
|
Slum
Dog Millionaire "The story of Jamal Malik, an 18 year-old orphan from the
slums of Mumbai, who is about to experience the biggest day of his life. With
the whole nation watching, he is just one question away from winning a
staggering 20 million rupees on India's "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" But
when the show breaks for the night, police arrest him on suspicion of cheating;
how could a street kid know so much? Desperate to prove his innocence, Jamal
tells the story of his life in the slum where he and his brother grew up, of
their adventures together on the road, of vicious encounters with local gangs,
and of Latika, the girl he loved and lost. Each chapter of his story reveals the
key to the answer to one of the game show's questions. Each chapter of Jamal's
increasingly layered story reveals where he learned the answers to the show's
seemingly impossible quizzes. But one question remains a mystery: what is this
young man with no apparent desire for riches really doing on the game show? When
the new day dawns and Jamal returns to answer the final question, the Inspector
and sixty million viewers are about to find out. At the heart of its
storytelling lies the question of how anyone comes to know the things they know
about life and love." Written by
Fox Searchlight Pictures
|
Asia
|
|
|
A State of Mind "For two young girls in North Korea, 13-year-old Pak Hyon Sun and 11-year-old Kim Song Yun, the upcoming Mass Games are a chance to show their love and devotion for North Korea's leader, Kim Jong Il, or as they call him "Dear General." This documentary by Daniel Gordon (The Game of Their Lives) follows the girls' months of rigorous training while shining a spotlight on this country's rather secluded society." Written by Edward Douglas
|
The Killing
Fields "Sydney Schanberg is a New York
Times journalist covering the civil war in Cambodia. Together with local
representative Dith Pran, they cover some of the tragedy and madness of the war.
When the American forces leave, Dith Pran sends his family with them, but stays
behind himself to help Schanberg cover the event. As an American, Schanberg
won't have any trouble leaving the country, but the situation is different for
Pran; he's a local, and the Khmer Rouge are moving in."
Written by
Africa
 Cry
Freedom is a
1987 feature film
directed by
Richard Attenborough, set
in the late 1970s, during the
apartheid era of
South Africa. The film
was shot in neighboring
Zimbabwe, and, although
not banned in South Africa, cinemas showing the films were faced with bomb
threats. According to the
Internet Movie Database,
the film was seized by authorities on
July 29,
1988. In some cases,
there were reports that prints of the films were wrenched off the cinema
projectors and the film remained unseen in South Africa until 1991. |
 Hotel
Rwanda --The
film centers on three children - Rose, a 13-year-old
choir singer; Nancy, a
14-year-old
dancer; and Dominic, a
14-year-old
xylophone player. They
are members of the
Acholi ethnic group,
living in the remote northern
Uganda
refugee camp of Patongo,
which is under military protection from the
Lord's Resistance Army, a
terrorist group that has
been rebelling against the government for the past two decades. In 2005, the
camp's primary school won its regional music competition and headed to
Kampala to participate in
the annual National Music Competition. War/Dance focuses on three of the
eight categories: Western choral performance, instrumental music, and
traditional dance, where the students perform the Bwola, the dance of the Acholi.
Over the course of three months, the film's creative team observes the three
youngsters as they prepare for the event and gain their confidence enough to
have them discuss the horrors they have experienced and express their individual
fears, hopes, and dreams. |
|
Invisible
Children: The Rough Cut
is a film about the plight of child soldiers and night commuters
in northern
Uganda.
The documentary was filmed in 2003 when three young men from
Southern California—Jason Russell, Bobby Bailey and Laren Poole
(then 24, 21, and 20)—traveled to Sudan "to find a story".
Instead, their adventure took them into the depths of northern Uganda where they discovered thousands of people affected by the brutality and attacks of a rebel group known as the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). The documentary chronicles their experience as young Americans learning firsthand about a conflict largely unknown to the international community, while also informing audiences about the great humanitarian crisis of child soldiers. The film was screened for the first time on June 22, 2004 at the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice at the University of San Diego to friends and family of the filmmakers. Soon after, students across the United States were passing along DVDs of the documentary and wanted to know how to help the children in northern Uganda. Out of the overwhelming public response, the filmmakers co-founded the nonprofit Invisible Children Inc. – an awareness and development organization. Jason Russell, Bobby Bailey,
and Laren Poole remain instrumental in the success and
creativity of the nonprofit and are currently working on the
feature film, tentatively scheduled to release in theaters in
2009. |
 Lost
Boys of Sudan is a
documentary film
by Megan Mylan and Jon Shenk about two
Dinka
boys from
Sudan,
Santino Majok Chuor and Peter Nyarol Dut, who
reached the
United States
after fleeing the civil war in their country.
"Orphaned as young boys" in the
Second Sudanese Civil War
they "survived lion attacks and militia gunfire
to reach a refugee camp in
Kenya
along with thousands of other children."
[1]
The
documentary's title “Lost Boys of Sudan” was
originally the name given to the group of
Southern Sudanese youth by
United Nations
aid workers who were monitoring their flight
from Sudan. |
|
God
Grew Tired Of Us
chronicles the arduous journey of three young Southern
Sudanese
men,
John Bul Dau,
Daniel Pach and Panther Bior, to the
United States
where they strive for a brighter future. As young boys in the
1980s, they had walked a thousand miles to escape their
war-ridden homeland, and then had to make another arduous
journey to escape
Ethiopia.
During the five years they walked in search of safety, thousands died from starvation, dehydration, bomb raids and genocidal murder. Finally, they found relative safety in Kenya’s Kakuma refugee camp. In 2001, 3,600 lost boys, including John, Daniel and Panther, were invited by the United States to live in America. Assisted by Catholic Charities International, the three boys uproot their lives and once again embark on a journey, leaving behind thousands of other refugees who, in the course of their traumatic odyssey, have become their adopted extended family. They must now learn to adapt to the shock of being thrust into the economically intense culture of the United States, learning new customs, adapting to new and strange foods, coping with the ordeal of getting, and keeping a job, or multiple jobs, while never forgetting the loved ones they left behind in Africa. They dedicate themselves to doing whatever they can to help those they left behind in Kakuma, and to discovering the fate of their parents and family. God Grew Tired Of Us
was produced, written and directed by
Christopher Quinn,
executive produced by
Brad Pitt
and narrated by
Nicole Kidman.
The title of the documentary is a quote from
John Dau
discussing the despair he and other Sudanese felt during the
civil war. |
 War
Dance The film centers on three children - Rose, a 13-year-old
choir singer; Nancy, a
14-year-old
dancer; and Dominic, a
14-year-old
xylophone player. They
are members of the
Acholi ethnic group,
living in the remote northern
Uganda
refugee camp of Patongo,
which is under military protection from the
Lord's Resistance Army, a
terrorist group that has
been rebelling against the government for the past two decades. In 2005, the
camp's primary school won its regional music competition and headed to
Kampala
to participate in the annual National Music Competition. War/Dance
focuses on three of the eight categories: Western choral performance,
instrumental music, and traditional dance, where the students perform the Bwola,
the dance of the Acholi. Over the course of three months, the film's creative
team observes the three youngsters as they prepare for the event and gain their
confidence enough to have them discuss the horrors they have experienced and
express their individual fears, hopes, and dreams. |
Latin America
 Evita is a musical with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice. It focuses on the life of Argentine political leader Eva Perón, the second wife of Argentinian president Juan Perón. The story follows Evita's early life, acting career, rise to power, charity work, feminist involvement and eventual death. Evita began as a concept album released in 1976. Its success led to productions in London's West End in 1978, and on Broadway a year later, both of which enjoyed considerable success. A major 1996 film of the musical was made, starring Madonna and Antonio Banderas. A 2006 London revival followed, and the musical has been given numerous professional tours and worldwide productions, and numerous cast albums have been recorded.
|
 The
Motorcycle Diaries (2004,
Spanish:
Diarios de motocicleta) is a
biopic about the journey
and written
memoir of the 23-year-old
Ernesto Guevara, who would years later become internationally known as the
iconic
Marxist revolutionary
Che Guevara. The film
recounts the 1952 journey, initially by motorcycle, across South America by
Guevara and his friend
Alberto Granado. As the
adventure centered around youthful hedonism unfolds, Guevara discovers himself
transformed by his observations of the life of the impoverished
indigenous peasantry. The
road presents Ernesto Guevara and Alberto Granado a genuine picture of the Latin
American identity. Through the characters they encounter on the road, Guevara
and Granado learn the injustices the impoverished face and are exposed to people
they would have never encountered in their hometown. The trip serves to expose a
Latin American identity as well as explore the identity of one of its most
memorable revolutionaries. |
 In
the Time of Butterflies In a time where people were afraid to
even say "Rafael Trujillo" four sisters were brave enough to join the
resistance and fight against him until the end. The story of the Mirabal
sisters is a story of great bravery and resistance. The Mirabal sisters
stood strong and fought for their freedom until the last breath. Thus,
they became known as "the Butterflies" or "Las Mariposas" which was
their code name during the resistance. |