HumanKind's picks: Films about changing the world

One of our favorite forms of media for possibilities is film. In "A different kind of movie star," we wrote about Stuart and FilmAid bringing films to refugees all over the world to educate, inform, and entertain. In a FilmAid press release last fall about a film festival featuring refugee films, they note that refugees have characterized the program of bringing films into their lives as "medicine for the mind, water in the desert, and food for the soul."

At the first Pangea Day, a day of film by the world for the world, founder Jahane Noujaim said, "Films can't change the world, but films can change people. People can change the world."

As a rapidly growing wired world, I think we have so many instances of media that can shift or inspire us. Today, we're lucky to have available at a click so many cool videos from so many sources, like the video in yesterday's post or the message from Millennium promise about ending poverty in our first post. Small films like Story of Stuff in featured in our current topic of sustainability and the Ted Talks are all sources of that 10% media shift we're talking about--10% more media about possibilities for healing the world. We are now able to create our own menu of media for our own inspiration, education and entertainment.

Hollywood is ramping up in this area, too. Jeff's Skoll's Participant Productions is an example of a whole film company dedicated to film about social change. (You can see Participant's TakePart.com for social action related to topics in their films here ). But, even before such an idea, there have been many powerful films that have inspired generations in making a shift toward a better world.

I was trying to think of my top 10 films that have changed my view of the world or changed the way I thought about things over the course of my life. But, I've only got a list of five and a few notes about why I remember them so far--and it's time to post and I'd love to have a list of new films to watch. What are your favorites? Leave yours in the comments, and we'll add to the list!

Editor's note: The first 5 were in the original post. Now, we're adding to the list--films, videos, video events. Here's what others have recommended (you can read what they have to say by reading the comments below.): Please comment to add your favorite film that changed you--we'll keep the list going.

1. Ghandi - The inspiration of many to be a peaceful change in the world

2. To Kill a Mockingbird - Dignity and justice in the face of prejudice

3. Philadelphia - Dignity and justice in the face of a new kind of prejudice

4. City of Joy - An American doctor working in the slums of India

5. Bobby - Several stories of many individuals woven around a period of immense social change

6. God Grew Tired of Us (2 recommendations)

7. Born Into Brothels

8. Pay It Forward

9. Regarding Henry

10. May 10, 2008: Pangea Day - a whole four-hour media "meeting" of citizens around the globe. I'm imagining this will come out in DVD soon (Check out Pangeaday. org and read our post Pangea review. Not to be missed - definitely the most amazing use of film to explore possibilities for healing the world that I've ever seen! --Chris

Comments

[Megan]

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, although not about world change, is about one man's ability to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles and find his true spirit, the spirit of creativity. It was deeply inspiring.

[Bobbe Besold]

Sound of the Soul, a documentary about the Fez International Music Festival.

[Britt Bravo]

I echo Liz's vote for God Grew Tired of us. It was a truly moving film.

[Marian]

The movie that always makes me feel inspired about being human is "Regarding Henry" with Harrison Ford. It's a beautiful film about a super-successful attorney who suffers a brain injury and forgets everything, including how to be the jerk he was before.

[Rich]

"Pay It Forward" is in my Top 10 and would be a fitting addition to your list.

[Dave]

We rented "Born into Brothels" the other day. We watched the feature film and were blown away. A story about a lady who gives photo workshops to the children of prostitutes in Calcutta. Then we watched the making-of and the follow-up film on the same DVD. It just kept getting better and better!

[Liz]

Just wanted to add one of my favorites, too -- "God Grew Tired of Us," an amazing and heart-opening memoir about Sudan's young refugees. I left the theater full of a feeling of connection -- and a little teary. Also, don't forget Pangea Day, coming up May 10! Check it out at pangeaday.org.