'One death is a tragedy, a million deaths a statistic' said Joseph Stalin. The exact goes for history textbooks. The school curriculum needs to understand that no number of statistics of deaths in the World War or the Holocaust will ever encapsulate the dread of these events as well as a movie. So here are 10 movies we wish were made a part of school curriculum, to invoke curiosity towards rather 'dry-subjects' like mass murders, custodial exploitation, assassinations that shook the world, people who made a mark in history, etc
1. Schindler's List
Steven Spielberg's Oscar winning masterpiece chronicles the life of Oskar Schindler who saved 1200 Jews during the Holocaust. The movie raises various questions about the nature of the genocide and human morality and even in the ruins of the saddest story of the century, Spielberg finds an ending that affirms that resistance to evil is possible. This movie is without a doubt one of the most important movies ever made.
2. Hotel Rwanda
Hotel Rwanda is about the Rwanda genocide which materialised because of the violence perpetrated by the Hutu sect against Tutsis. This a deeply moving film with riveting performances by Don Cheadle and Nick Nolte, which will arouse a curiosity among students about a not-so-famous portion of history, and also about a hero who stood for humanity against all odds. [PS Airlift borrowed heavily from the plot and themes of this movie]
3. Gandhi
Any list about great historical movies is incomplete without the mention of this Oscar winning masterpiece with an unforgettable performance by Ben Kingsley. It is said Richard Attenborough chose to begin this movie with the assassination of Gandhi and end it with the same scene, to make the audience understand how much they are in awe of the Mahatma after learning about his struggles. And in that, he was correct. This movie will move you to tears without a doubt.
4. The Imitation Game
Starring the 'Sherlock' heart-throb Benedict Cumberbatch as the mathematician Alan Turing, The Imitation Game will surely arouse an interest about World War and spy agencies in any plebeian. But more than that, this tale of how Alan Turing struggled with his sexuality in an anti-homosexual atmosphere will sensitise teenagers about LGBTQ issues and make them an accepting crowd in the future.
5. Saving Private Ryan
One of the greatest war movie ever made, this Steven Spielberg film is the only one in cinematic history which encapsulates the horrors of the World War in all its completeness. Although very violent, this movie is an essential which teenagers need to watch to comprehend the brutality of wars (especially the opening scene of Normandy invasion) and more than that, the degradation of human morality during such acts of violence.
6. Grave Of The Fireflies
This animation masterpiece by the world renowned Ghibli Studio is regarded as one of the greatest movies ever made. Tracing the real life story of the orphaned siblings Seita and Setsuko, it is a moving tale of the petrifying effect World War II had on human life, while also dealing with themes of existentialism and human survival. Also, the movie has some of the most beautiful and iconic scenes that cinematic history showcases.
7. Selma
While on the surface, this acclaimed film is about the riveting fight Martin Luther King Jr took up to guarantee voting rights to the black population of Selma, internally it is about how Luther through a turmoil in his personal life because of his civil rights activities. It is a beautiful depiction of the sacrifices that Luther had to make as a husband and a father for the greater good of all humanity. This will help viewers to fully comprehend the extraordinary attitude of such great personalities.
8. 12 Years A Slave
Maybe the most harrowing film in this list, 12 Years A Slave is the true story of Solomon Northup who was bound by the shackles of slavery illegally and had to fight for 12 years to reunite with his family. Like Saving Private Ryan, this movie leaves no stone unturned in showcasing the very brutality of slavery and explores human despondency in a way no movie ever has. The climax of this movie is one of the most emotionally charged moments known to cinema.
9. Bridge Of Spies
Another Steven Spielberg-Tom Hanks collaboration, this is an extensive case study of the U-2 incident which resulted in the failure of the Paris Peace Summit. While it may focus much on James Donovan's personal life due to his decision to represent a Russian spy, it is a very informative and entertaining movie about the U-2 incident as well as the GDR crisis and also has an underlying theme about standing up for what is right, against all odds.
10. Spotlight
This Oscar-winning masterpiece is about the journalists at Boston Globe who uncovered the shocking scandal of child sexual abuse inflicted by priests. The greatness of this film lies in the fact that it doesn't for a second, adopt a stance against the Church. Instead, it adopts a neutral status and presents an unadulterated reality, which results in a deeply-moving film. The movie's success is its honest attempt to break the stigma surrounding child sex-abuse and it is a must watch, without a doubt.
List compiled by Anand Nair, St.Therese Convent High School, Dombivli
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