Icarus Films has curated a selection of their recent acquisitions specifically with students in mind. These films, chosen for their relevance and potential to spark engaging classroom discussions, promise to be valuable resources for educators.
Lyd
The film Lyd chronicles the tumultuous history of a once-thriving Palestinian city, now known as Lod, Israel. For 5,000 years, Lyd was a bustling hub of life until its conquest during the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. Through its exploration of Lyd's rise and fall, the film offers a poignant reflection on its past glory and present-day struggles.
YOUTH (SPRING)
YOUTH (SPRING) is a deeply personal documentary that captures the lives of young garment workers with the raw intensity of the industrial sewing machines that drive their world. Over five years, the film offers an intimate look inside independent workshops, many nestled on a street ironically named Happiness Road.
Education and Nationalism
The documentary, Education and Nationalism, chronicles the escalating government influence over Japanese history and social science education within the past decade. This trend, championed by the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, serves as a stark warning about the perils of nationalist governments dictating educational content. Such interference is a global concern with implications far beyond Japan's borders.
Mambar Pierrette
Cameroonian filmmaker Rosine Mbakam's narrative debut, Mambar Pierrette, offers a poignant portrait of a seamstress struggling to support her family in Douala. As she navigates the challenges of daily life, including a flooded workshop, Mbakam's naturalistic approach captures Pierrette's resilience in the face of adversity, creating a quietly powerful story of strength and determination.
Nikah
Nikah is a compelling story about Dilber, a young Uyghur woman facing immense pressure to marry as her family grapples with the escalating crisis of internment. While her younger sister embraces married life, Dilber navigates personal uncertainty against the backdrop of a terrifying reality: her sister's husband has been detained.