Movies that may be useful in teaching about culture
American Desi (2001)
Summary:
Shows identity issues of U.S. raised Southeast Asian kids in a college setting.
And the Earth Did Not Swallow Him (1995)
Summary:
Mexican-American migrant workers during the Korean War and their family lives.
Antwone Fisher (2002)
Summary:
A young man in the navy is required to see a psychiatrist after becoming violent with a fellow crewman.
Babies (2010)
Summary:
A filmmaker follows the lives of four infants from childbirth through the first year of life in Mongolia, Namibia, San Francisco and Tokyo.
Bananas (1971)
Summary:
A Woody Allen comedy about American Culture, centered on urban, middle-class, Jewish life.
Bend It Like Beckham (2002)
Summary:
Cultural identity development issues for an South Asian teenaged Sikh female soccer player raised in Great Britain.
The Beauty Academy of Kabul (2006)
Summary:
American women open a beauty school in post-Taliban Kabul as community service project.
Born Into Brothels (2004)
Summary:
This film is a portrait of a group of unforgettable children in Calcutta's red light district.
CAMP (2003)
Summary:
A summer musical theater camp for teenagers –explores identity development and isolation.
The Color of Paradise (2000)
Summary:
A congenitally blind boy in a small town in Iran and the impact of both his father’s shame about his son’s condition and his grandmother’s love.
The Debut (2000)
Summary:
A third generation Filipino teenager deals with cultural identity issues in the U.S.
El Norte (1984)
Summary:
One of the first films to portray faithfully the plight of Central American political refugees, El Norte is a remarkable fusion of documentary realism and visual poetry.
Elephant (2003)
Summary:
Several ordinary high school students go through their daily routine as two others prepare for something more malevolent.
God Grew Tired of Us (2007)
Summary:
Boys who fled Sudan and moved to Ethiopia and Kenya because of political unrest. Some have relocated to the US; this film shows their adjustment and continued connection to their families and the Sudan.
The Gods Must Be Crazy (1980)
Summary:
A comic allegory about a traveling Bushman who encounters modern civilization and its stranger aspects, including a clumsy scientist and a band of revolutionaries.
Good Fences (2002)
Summary:
A black family gets a first-hand look at the trials and tribulations of upward mobility and suburban segregation in this pointed comedy.
Hotel Rwanda (2004)
Summary:
Paul Rusesabagina was a hotel manager who housed over a thousand Tutsi refugees during their struggle against the Hutu militia in Rwanda.
The Infidel (2010)
Summary:
A Muslim man living in England has to face some tough criticism in his own community after a personal crisis.
Invisible Children (2006)
Summary:
A documentary about child soldiers in Uganda.
Khude Ke Liye (2007)
Summary:
A film about Pakistani Muslims and religious struggles in a post 9/11 world.
The Killing Fields (1984)
Summary:
Covering the U.S. pull-out from Vietnam in 1975, New York Times reporter Sidney Schanberg relies upon his Cambodian friend Dith Pran for inside information.
The Laramie Project (2002)
Summary:
A film about the aftermath of the killing of a 22 year old gay man in Laramie, Wisconsin. There are interviews of various members of the community and their reactions.
Mad Hot Ballroom (2005)
Summary:
Documentary about 11 year old school children in New York engaged in ballroom dance competition.
Malcolm X (1992)
Summary:
A biography of Malcolm X reviews his impact on American history and provides an overview of some important religious issues in the Black community.
Maria Full of Grace (2004)
Summary:
A 17 year old girl from Columbia works as a drug mule to support her family in the U.S.
Ma Vie en Rose (1997)
Summary:
A depiction of transgender and gender issues from a child’s perspective, and that of his parents. This French movie also shows some insights into suburban French culture.
Monsoon Wedding (2001)
Summary:
A Punjabi family in India struggles with maintaining cultural traditions in current times. Collectivism and familial ties are issues of focus.
Quinceanera (2006)
Summary:
A girl reaching her coming of age celebration also teaches about cross-generational issues.
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Real Women Have Curves (2002)
Summary:
A first generation Mexican-American girl struggles with balancing traditional values vs. acculturation, including self-concept and body image.
Santitos (2000)
Summary:
Santitos is a character-driven comedy about a young Mexican woman who has to come to terms with the loss of her teenage daughter.
School Daze (1988)
Summary:
Homecoming weekend at a fictional Historically Black College teaches about many issues related to African-American culture.
The Scent of Green Papaya (1993)
Summary:
Moving, engrossing tale of a Vietnamese country girl who goes to work for a merchant family in Saigon in the years prior to the war.
Something New (2006)
Summary:
This film explores aspects of middle/upper class African-American culture and interracial/interclass dating.
Soul Food (1997)
Summary:
An extended middle class African-American family struggles with the illness of their grandmother.
Super Size Me (2004)
Summary:
While examining the influence of the fast food industry, Morgan Spurlock personally explores the consequences on his health of a diet of solely McDonald's food for one month.
Thank You for Smoking (2006)
Summary:
Satirical comedy follows the machinations of Big Tobacco's chief spokesman, Nick Naylor, who spins on behalf of cigarettes while trying to remain a role model for his twelve-year-old son.
Tortilla Soup (2001)
Summary:
This film about a Mexican-American widower and his 3 very different adult daughters explores generational issues and maintaining their culture.
Under the Same Moon (2008)
Summary:
This film teaches about Latino immigration to the US and family separation.
The Visitor (2008)
Summary:
A European-American middle-aged man comes home to his apartment and finds a Palestinian-Syrian man and his Senegalese girlfriend living there. He learns about himself, culture and identity.
Why Did I Get Married? (2007)
Summary:
Four middle class African-American couples explore their relationships.
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