Whether media influences society or it's the other way around is widely debated. In any event, whether intended as a social commentary, for comedic entertainment, or as an inflammatory statement that gets people talking, movies do a great job of making statements about race relations and intercultural relations.
Following is my top 5 list of movies for examining race and intercultural relations...
1. My Big Fat Greek Wedding
A hilarious look at what happens when two cultures collide. A fascinating look into the vibrant Greek culture as depicted by Nia Vardalos - creator of the movie and leading lady. An interesting scenario - a Greek woman falls in love with a WASPy White guy.What I like most about this movie:
Removes the focus from race
Looks at the invisible influence of culture
Makes us laugh about culture difference
A great resource for trainers and educators
2. Monster's Ball
At the opposite end of the spectrum from My Big Fat Greek Wedding is Monster's Ball - a story set in the south, about race, racism, and what happens when two people from two different backgrounds find one another.What I like most about this movie:
Communicates an important message about our ability to transcend racist programming and to connect as humans.
Berry and Thornton do a wonderful job at ensuring that we recognize both the good and bad in these faulty characters.
3. House of Sand and Fog
Subtle in its commentary about intercultural relations, this movie is about a White female alcoholic whose house is foreclosed. An exiled Iranian family purchases it, and the fight begins over the house.A tragic movie about desperation, dreams and culture. My husband and I debated for days about the influence of culture on this movie.
What I like most about this movie:
Subtle in its take on culture difference.
Wonderfully acted by Connelly and Kingsley.
4. American Chai
Sureel (Aalok Mehta) defies his parents’ wishes and majors in Music. His White girlfriend, also a secret from his parents, likes to party and comes from a very different background.An interesting look at not only the difference between American and Indian culture, but at culture difference based on generation.
What I like most about this movie:
There are some very funny moments.
A great look at culture difference based on generation.
5. Mississippi Masala
Denzel Washington and Sarita Choudhury. A story about an Indian family - expelled from Uganda in 1972 under Idi Amin and living in a small town in Mississippi - and a Black man who their daughter falls in love with. Issues of race and color.One of my favorite lines: "You can be a darkie and have money, but you cannot be a darkie and not have any money."
Also important are issues of class, which reveal Indian cultural attitudes and the culture clash between their worlds.