Films that Give an Insight into the Culture of a Location

[AlexH]

I thought about this after seeing an article about SFF books from around the world. I think I've seen a film filmed in or made in every country I've visited, and even though those based on true stories are fictional to varying degrees, get insights from the films I wouldn't otherwise. And there's always truth in fiction. Whether I've been to the various countries or not, I think seeing such a range of films over the years has helped me become broader-minded.

Departures (2008) ⭐ 8.0 | Drama

2h 10m | 12A

www.imdb.com

Departures: A beautiful, moving and occasionally funny insight into 'moving on', about a cellist who takes a job preparing dead for funerals.

The Breadwinner (2017) ⭐ 7.7 | Animation, Drama, Family

1h 34m | 12A

www.imdb.com

The Breadwinner: Set in Afghanistan under the rule of the Taliban in 2001. All things I knew about, but when I see them put to characters and a story - even animated - the horrible reality seems to hit home even more. But even in such horrible situations, humanity often shines through.

The Golden Dream (2013) ⭐ 7.6 | Drama

1h 48m | 12

www.imdb.com

The Golden Dream: Three children from Guatemala try to reach the US via Mexico.

I, Daniel Blake (2016) ⭐ 7.8 | Drama

1h 40m | 15

www.imdb.com

I, Daniel Blake: I've experienced the British benefits system and found this film depressingly realistic. One scene in particular broke my heart. Raining Stones is another Ken Loach film that portrays how decent people - often because they love their family (particuarly their children) - can end up in desperate situations.

Leave No Trace (2018) ⭐ 7.1 | Adventure, Drama

1h 49m | PG

www.imdb.com

Leave No Trace: The realities of trying to live in America's wilderness. I don't quite know how it did it to me, but it turned out to be one of my very favourite films.

 

[Robert Zwilling]

I pay very close attention to the props and scenery in any black and white film made pre 60s, some of the older ones have a sense of clarity from the way the film was made such that sometimes I can get lost in the background of the movie. There is a lot of ordinary history of things that isn't easy to find without a lot of searching.

 

[AlexH]

I pay very close attention to the props and scenery in any black and white film made pre 60s, some of the older ones have a sense of clarity from the way the film was made such that sometimes I can get lost in the background of the movie. There is a lot of ordinary history of things that isn't easy to find without a lot of searching.

Often I find the setting and background is the most interesting thing, even in a good film!

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Cal is a great film to understand Northern Ireland from the nationalist perspective - it depicts the Belfast of my childhood very accurately. Graeme Reid’s Billy Plays televised by the BBC are a great understanding of the Unionist culture in particular.

The Crying Game is also good but some of it might mislead those who don’t already know NI well.

 

[Danny McG]

Japanese films. It must be truly terrible having to live in a city and knowing that, very soon, a giant monster is going to attack

 

[Foxbat]

Kandahar. Like The Breadwinner, set in Afghanistan and gives a good insight of the culture. It also has a memorable scene of dozens of prosthetic limbs being dropped by parachute to amputees, who are arguing who gets what on the ground.