Because film is one of the best storytelling mediums, it’s only right to use it as a tool to start conversations about issues our world is currently facing. Here are six films with a socially conscious backbone that may get you thinking about your position on situations from Guantanamo Bay and racism, to freedom of speech and immigration.
“Rosewater”
Directed and written for the screen by late night talk show host and comedian Jon Stewart, this dramatic film is based on a true story about an Iranian journalist who was kidnapped and interrogated after appearing on “The Daily Show.” “Rosewater” stars Mexican actor Gael García Bernal and BBC called the film “one of the most incisive movies about the post-9/11 world ever made.” Stewart’s directorial debut premiered at the Toronto Film Festival. Check out the film in theaters come Nov. 7.
“Pride”
Based on a true story, this film chronicles a group of gay activists in 1984 who decide to help a group of miners during their extensive strike. Bonding over their mutual oppression, the film touches upon an array of political issues. “Pride” stars British actor Bill Nighy, Andrew Scott, and Imelda Staunton and hits theaters Sept. 26.
“Camp X-Ray”
Nominated for a Grand Jury prize at Sundance earlier this year, this film examines the grey area between a guard (Kristen Stewart) and a detainee (Peyman Moaadi) in Guantanamo Bay. The prison has remained controversial in its role of keeping order in a post-Sept. 11 world. Although President Obama pledged to have the detention camp, situated in Cuba, shut down when he took office, according to RT, 149 prisoners are still being detained indefinitely. Only six of the total number have been officially charged with a crime. “Camp X-Ray” is meant to raise questions about the legitimacy of the establishment, and will be released Oct. 17.
“Dear White People”
Directed and written by Justin Simien, “Dear White People” examines themes of racial identity in popular culture and among youth at a fictional private college. The comedic film won the audience award for best narrative feature at Sundance. It encourages people to think outside the box in terms of their own race and relations to other races. The film is on limited release beginning Oct. 17.
“The Good Lie”
Starring Reese Witherspoon and Corey Stoll, “The Good Lie” follows an American woman when she takes in three Sudanese refugees after they’re displaced by war. It sheds light on the war-torn African country in a heartfelt and truthful way and will hit theaters Oct. 3.
“Frontera”
Starring Ed Harris, Michael Peña, and Eva Longoria, this film follows a Mexican immigrant (Peña) and his wife (Longoria) after he’s wrongly accused of murder. Directed by Michael Berry, the film is meant to spark a conversation about immigration and racism in the era of reform.
Of the film and the script, Longoria told Backstage, “When my agent said, ‘You gotta read this,’ I just thought, Oh, another script about the border. But I read it and thought, Oh my God, this I have to do. I didn’t want to do any kind of story that villainized either side of the border. But this is a beautiful love story set against this border issue that we’re going through right now in our country. It doesn’t have a statement—it just humanizes the issue.”
“Frontera” is currently on limited release in theaters.
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