With all of the current problems we’re facing, philosophy is a subject that has risen to prominence. The subject contemplates ideas such as who we are, the meaning of life, what we owe to each other, what the right or moral choice is, and what we can do to create a more inclusive and accepting society.
In this article, Video Librarian names some films that would make excellent selections for philosophy professors to include on their syllabus and teach their students. Academic librarians should consider adding these titles to their library shelves. If you are an educator, consider hosting public screenings of these titles for your students. You can learn more about the benefits of including film education in your classroom.
Waking Life
Waking Life is a rotoscope animation film written and directed by Richard Linklater, the same filmmaker who created Boyhood, the Before Sunrise/Sunset/Midnight trilogy, Slacker, Dazed and Confused, School of Rock, and an assortment of many other well-acclaimed films.
Linklater said the film was done in rotoscope style to give it a dream-like feeling and lack of cohesion, and it really benefits this film because it follows a character dreaming as he jumps from philosophical conversations different people are having. These discussions range from what the meaning of life is, what it means to be conscious, what counts as “real” and “imaginary,” free will, post-humanity, humanism, and existentialism.
It puts you in his perspective as you’re never sure what’s exactly going on in the film. The unique visuals also reinforce the film’s overall message: dreams offer us a chance to live and try things outside of life.
Waking Life could help teachers introduce their students to topics from humanism, existentialism, and metaphysics.
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Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Written by Charlie Kaufman (Adaptation, Synecdoche New York, and others) and directed by Michel Gondry (The Science of Sleep, Be Kind Rewind), the film is interested in exploring whether it is better to love than not at all, what counts as love, and how reliable or unreliable memory is.
The film would be useful for an academic or public library to have because it is beloved by many and teaches philosophy. It offers a good blend of psychological and philosophical themes that complement each other well. However, given the mature content, it’s most appropriate for discussion in a college setting and not for K-12 education.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is suitable for Philosophy, Psychology, Film Studies, or English majors when the teacher is interested in talking about human emotion, vulnerability, the relationship between memory, reality, and nostalgia, or the meaning of love.
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Everything Everywhere All at Once
Written, produced, and directed by the Daniels (Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert), who also wrote and directed Swiss Army Man, this film gives us an absurdist take on the multiverse concept, while debating nihilism and existentialism.
The film would be a great selection for academic or public libraries because it tackles so many important themes and topics, such as but not limited to Asian American identity, intergenerational trauma, romantic relationship issues, parent-child relationship issues, the meaning (or potential lack of meaning) of life, free will, the butterfly effect, and regret. It’s applicable to many genres as well, ranging from comedy, action, drama, and romance, so the film offers a lot to varying interests.
Teachers interested in introducing their students to a modern approach to aspects of existentialism, nihilism, and absurdism would probably be interested in hosting a public screening of this film. A big dilemma the characters grapple with is whether life is meaningless; if life is meaningless, what is the point of our decisions or choices? Much like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, the mature content in this film makes this significantly more suitable for a college audience.
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The Matrix
One of the most famous science fiction films of all time, written and directed by the Wachowskis Sisters (who also created Speed Racer, Cloud Atlas, V for Vendetta, and many more), The Matrix follows a programmer who learns that the Earth is trapped in a simulated reality, designed by AI to use human bodies as energy sources.
Academic and public libraries should include this title because it's commonly assigned in Film and Philosophy courses, which would help make it more accessible for many high school and college students.
For teachers interested in introducing metaphysics to their students, this is a fantastic film to share in a public screening it focuses on the free will vs. determinism vs. compatibilism debate alongside what is “real” vs. what is considered “imaginary.” Since the answers to these questions are left ambiguous, the film is a great educational resource to start conversations and seminars.
The Matrix is also a great choice for teachers who are interested in providing students with a modern interpretation of Plato’s Allegory of the Cave from The Republic, as Neo (Keanu Reeves), the protagonist, ends up choosing to escape the Matrix world he belongs to. This is similar to how the main character in the Allegory of the Cave decides to leave the cave he has been trapped in his whole life.
Read our review of The Matrix
Read our essay The Matrix: Masking Tradition with Leather
Read our essay The New Look of The Matrix Resurrections
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Interstellar
Interstellar was directed by Christopher Nolan (Memento, the Dark Knight trilogy, Inception, and many more) and written together with his brother. It’s also a technological achievement, being one of the only Hollywood films ever made to be partially shot using 15-perf 70mm film.
Philosophy teachers should consider this title for their classroom syllabus, especially for topics focused on the nature of science and time. Interstellar also has an environmental message about humanity's impact on Earth. Other points of discussion include ethical philosophy and sacrifice, in terms of what we owe to each other, what we define to be love, and love as a force for healing and good. A big component of Cooper’s struggle in the film is his obligation to go out to space and try to save the world vs. the obligation to his son and his daughter and the love he has for them.
Interstellar is also appropriate for physics classes that are interested in exploring modern fictional views on physics and astronomy and comparing them to the laws of physics. The film would also interest students studying modern cinema's take on the importance of environmentalism.
Read our review of Interstellar
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