Movies, just like other pieces of art, are important works that can say a lot about society and send important messages to the masses. Movies can also be political. There have been a plethora of important films since the medium’s conception, and many of them have vital political and social themes. So, here are some classic movies that I highly recommend.
1. “All the President’s Men”
This movie is a very excellent take on the important role that journalists play within the United States. It focuses on Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, and the investigative journalism that they undertook in exposing the details of the Watergate scandal, which ultimately led to Richard Nixon’s resignation as president. This movie is significant, because it shows that within a democracy, journalism plays a crucial role in informing the masses and exposing them to information that they have a right to know.
2. “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner”
This classic film starring Katharine Hepburn and Sidney Poitier carries an extremely powerful message, as it deals with interracial marriage and racial tensions during the 1960s in the United States. It hones in on a couple that recently got engaged, and the events that ensue after the white daughter brings home her black fiancé to meet her parents. In the film, the white parents grapple with the idea that their daughter has chosen to marry a black man, which was something extremely controversial at the time and even illegal in some states.
3. “To Kill a Mockingbird”
This movie with Gregory Peck (who actually attended San Diego State back when it was a college for school teachers) is based off of the classic novel by Harper Lee. This film is an extremely important work, and even won Peck an Oscar for Best Actor for his role as Atticus Finch. It shows the unjust race relations that were rampant during the 1930s in the U.S. The movie focuses in on a black man who is unjustly accused of raping a white woman, and really showcases the racism that African-Americans had to endure during that time period (and still do now). This heartbreaking film is a classic that really sends a political message about the unjust nature of society.
