Ten Films Every Bigot Should See
April 6th 2012 15:39
We live in the lucky country, and while that’s a grand place to be, it means that there is a certain amount of ignorance prevalent in our society, fed by cultural complacency and the dominant norms of patriarchy and Western superiority. Film has long been a medium for challenging social simplicity and prejudice – here are ten examples that have confronted their audiences.
To Kill a Mockingbird
In 1962, the adaptation of Harper Lee’s novel about one man who stood up to a town filled with hate and racial righteousness struck a cord with many, and is today considered one of the greatest films of all time. Atticus Finch’s quietly passionate and unwavering belief that everyone is equal and deserves to be treated fairly makes him a character not easily forgotten.
Boys Don’t Cry
Based on a true story, this film depicts the life of Brandon Teena, who was bashed, raped and murdered at the age of 21 after his male friends discovered that he was biologically female. Hillary Swank won Best Actress for her portrayal of Brandon, which gave a heartbreakingly anguished account of life as a young transgender man in proletarian America.
Schindler’s List
This hard slog through the horrors of the Jewish Holocaust highlights the indescribable atrocities perpetrated under the Nazi regime and the outcomes of unchecked racist ideologies.
American History X
The story of white supremacy a little bit closer to the present day, which deals with the impacts of being raised amid fundamental racism. Edward Norton stars as a neo-Nazi who, after a period in prison, becomes disillusioned with the racist dogma he grew into.
Personal Velocity: Three Portraits
A glimpse into the lives of three very different women as they each struggle with unsatisfying, unconventional or abusive relationships while seeking to regain or attain a meaningful sense of identity.
Rabbit-Proof Fence
A based-on-true-life film about the Stolen Generations, which chronicles the story of two Aboriginal girls who walk for nine weeks after escaping an internment camp in an attempt to return to their home.
Desert Flower
This biographical film depicts the early life of supermodel Waris Dirie. Dirie was subject to genital mutilation at the age of five then escaped an arranged marriage by crossing the Somalian desert alone in order to reach the nation’s capital and flee to London. She lived in a precarious state without home or legal status, before being discovered by a celebrity photographer and making a name in the fashion world.
North Country
Based on real life events that led to the first class-action sexual harassment lawsuit in the US, this film follows the life of a woman who takes a stand against gender-based bullying, prejudice and abuse, in her personal life at home, and in her professional life working in the male-dominated mining industry.
Philadelphia
Even today, there are not a lot of films based around the themes of homophobia and HIV/AIDS, so this one caused quite a stir when it was released, almost twenty years ago. The film follows the story of a young homosexual man who has been wrongfully dismissed by his employer due to the discovery that he has AIDS. After failing to find representation, a lawyer who is homophobic and largely ignorant about AIDS has a change of heart and agrees to help him.
Little Bee/The Other Hand
This one is still in the works, but if the book is anything to go by, it should be a powerful film. The novel is told from the view points of a Nigerian asylum seeker and a British magazine editor. The two very different women find themselves bound together by a series of tragedies that expose the huge contrasts in their lives as well as their fundamental kinship.
How many times have you heard someone:
- Wax lyrical about ‘queue jumpers’ without a solid understanding?
- Dismiss Indigenous people as a collective group of wasters who can’t get over the past?
- Spout the phrase, “I’m not a racist, but…”?
- Become indignant over an apology to the Stolen Generations, claiming it’s all about getting more money for something ‘we didn’t do’?
- Defend assimilation practices as generous and altruistic?
- Justify a case of sexual assault or label someone who has reported an instance of sexual harassment in the workplace as a trouble maker?
- Vilify another due to their religious beliefs?
- Display fear, revulsion, mockery or hatred for a person who identifies as Queer?
- Discriminate against another because of age, appearance, ability, etc?
Have you recognised the bigotry that exists in the media? Have you been guilty of bigotry yourself at some point in your life? Not many people can say that they never have.
Has there been a film that has opened your eyes to unconscious prejudice? What films do you think have been important in confronting bigotry in our society?
Michaelie Clark
Image: Wikimedia Commons
In 1962, the adaptation of Harper Lee’s novel about one man who stood up to a town filled with hate and racial righteousness struck a cord with many, and is today considered one of the greatest films of all time. Atticus Finch’s quietly passionate and unwavering belief that everyone is equal and deserves to be treated fairly makes him a character not easily forgotten.
Boys Don’t Cry
Based on a true story, this film depicts the life of Brandon Teena, who was bashed, raped and murdered at the age of 21 after his male friends discovered that he was biologically female. Hillary Swank won Best Actress for her portrayal of Brandon, which gave a heartbreakingly anguished account of life as a young transgender man in proletarian America.
Schindler’s List
This hard slog through the horrors of the Jewish Holocaust highlights the indescribable atrocities perpetrated under the Nazi regime and the outcomes of unchecked racist ideologies.
American History X
The story of white supremacy a little bit closer to the present day, which deals with the impacts of being raised amid fundamental racism. Edward Norton stars as a neo-Nazi who, after a period in prison, becomes disillusioned with the racist dogma he grew into.
Personal Velocity: Three Portraits
A glimpse into the lives of three very different women as they each struggle with unsatisfying, unconventional or abusive relationships while seeking to regain or attain a meaningful sense of identity.
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Rabbit-Proof Fence
A based-on-true-life film about the Stolen Generations, which chronicles the story of two Aboriginal girls who walk for nine weeks after escaping an internment camp in an attempt to return to their home.
Desert Flower
This biographical film depicts the early life of supermodel Waris Dirie. Dirie was subject to genital mutilation at the age of five then escaped an arranged marriage by crossing the Somalian desert alone in order to reach the nation’s capital and flee to London. She lived in a precarious state without home or legal status, before being discovered by a celebrity photographer and making a name in the fashion world.
North Country
Based on real life events that led to the first class-action sexual harassment lawsuit in the US, this film follows the life of a woman who takes a stand against gender-based bullying, prejudice and abuse, in her personal life at home, and in her professional life working in the male-dominated mining industry.
Philadelphia
Even today, there are not a lot of films based around the themes of homophobia and HIV/AIDS, so this one caused quite a stir when it was released, almost twenty years ago. The film follows the story of a young homosexual man who has been wrongfully dismissed by his employer due to the discovery that he has AIDS. After failing to find representation, a lawyer who is homophobic and largely ignorant about AIDS has a change of heart and agrees to help him.
Little Bee/The Other Hand
This one is still in the works, but if the book is anything to go by, it should be a powerful film. The novel is told from the view points of a Nigerian asylum seeker and a British magazine editor. The two very different women find themselves bound together by a series of tragedies that expose the huge contrasts in their lives as well as their fundamental kinship.
Image: Wikimedia Commons
How many times have you heard someone:
- Wax lyrical about ‘queue jumpers’ without a solid understanding?
- Dismiss Indigenous people as a collective group of wasters who can’t get over the past?
- Spout the phrase, “I’m not a racist, but…”?
- Become indignant over an apology to the Stolen Generations, claiming it’s all about getting more money for something ‘we didn’t do’?
- Defend assimilation practices as generous and altruistic?
- Justify a case of sexual assault or label someone who has reported an instance of sexual harassment in the workplace as a trouble maker?
- Vilify another due to their religious beliefs?
- Display fear, revulsion, mockery or hatred for a person who identifies as Queer?
- Discriminate against another because of age, appearance, ability, etc?
Have you recognised the bigotry that exists in the media? Have you been guilty of bigotry yourself at some point in your life? Not many people can say that they never have.
Has there been a film that has opened your eyes to unconscious prejudice? What films do you think have been important in confronting bigotry in our society?
Michaelie Clark
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