Films are a microcosmic representation of a region’s or a nation’s culture. Film appreciation is, therefore, a very effective tool for cultural understanding and analysis. Instead of getting into the technicality & commercial value in the movie business, cinephiles among us will be listing and discussing movies and documentaries on this forum which are rooted in tradition & lore or just had a deep impact on their understanding of their own culture while appreciating the differences with other cultures.
We believe if a positive cultural value is effectively disseminated in movies, then it will make a magnificent contribution to the development and appreciation of culture & heritage. This list will keep growing with regular, curated updates.
So let the magic of the movies begin…
01
The Gods Must Be Crazy (English)
Here is a movie that begins with a Coke bottle falling from the heavens, and ends with a Jeep up in a tree. “The Gods Must Be Crazy” is a South African movie that arrived in Europe with little fanfare in 1982, broke box-office records in Japan and South America and all over Europe, and became a cult hit in North America.
-Nisha Poyarekar
02
Alpha (English)
Alpha is your basic “boy and his dog” story, except this time the dog is a wolf and the story takes place 20,000 years ago.
-Nisha Poyarekar
03
Gho Mala Asla Hava (Marathi)
Situated in a small village of Konkan, Gho mala asala hava is a story of cultural structures and the brave struggle of a girl who is thrown into a marriage she never wished for.
04
Parasite (South Korean)
An Oscar winning black comedy presents the story of two families belonging to the extreme economic ends of society. Their economic status defines their cultural conditioning. Their individual needs & expectations from life, fight for survival and the audacity to trample each other in dire situations – all these factors are excellently bound together in an engaging storyline and screenplay. It also successfully showcases human compassion and love for their beloved.
-Shantinee Sutar
05
Jojo Rabbit (English)
The story is set in the Nazi world with a 10 year old protagonist and his perception of the world. This film presents a kaleidoscopic snapshot of Jojo’s thought process through his imaginary best friend Hitler, initial influence of Nazi ideology and the journey of his changing perceptions through the various instances taking place in his surrounding world. Although set in Nazi era, this movies doesn’t take a morbid form while portraying wars and post war scenes. This not-so-happy world doesn’t feel ugly around Jojo, but it also allows us to feel the grief of war.
-Shantinee Sutar
06
Dead Poets Society (English)
Set in the prestigious Welton Academy (Vermont, US), this film narrates the journey of a group of teenagers and the revival of a club called the dead poets society. Mr. John Keating their English teacher plays in a pivotal role…