Timothy asks about geography-themes movies. What are your favorites? What do you recommend? Are there any? Please help us out by clicking "comments" below...
Well… of course all films are geographical because they represent a cultural condition of a place or they are a representation of some place. So with that said, a couple cultural-social geography films about sports include the documentaries Go Tigers! and Hoop Dreams. A couple other good films include Born Into Brothels and Children Underground.
November 11, 2008 at 7:17 pm
(2) Catholicgauze says:
Hmmm….
East Germany: Goodbye Lenin and The Tunnel
How India sees the world: Bride and Prejudice
American Indian cultural landscape: Smoke Signals
Up coming I want to see the much hyped “Australia”
November 11, 2008 at 11:03 pm
(3) geographylady says:
I like Born Free – its old, but filmed on location in the Rift Valley, and my students (freshmen in high school) love it.
And it leads to some really good discussions of what’s happened in the intervening 50 years.
November 15, 2008 at 3:23 am
(4) leedurhamstone says:
I began showing “Bend It Like Beckham” (2003) to my A.P. Human Geography classes last year. It effectively relates how Pakistani immigrants carry culture with them to London and must, at the same time, adapt to their new cultural milieu. I highly recommend it.
I used to show “City of Joy” (1992) about Kolkhata (formerly Calcutta), in which Patrick Swayze goes to India to find himself and bumbles into a Saint Teresa-like slum. I recommend this one, also, except for the fact that the Swayze character continually utters the g.d. malediction. Otherwise, it effectively shows Indian culture.
November 17, 2008 at 8:56 am
(5) SocialStudiesTeacher says:
For teaching about Mongolia – the physical as well as cultural geography, I highly recommend the movie Weeping Camel. Don’t be put off by the English subtitles. My 7th graders have no trouble at all with them. Weeping Camel is probably the best movie I show all year long.
November 17, 2008 at 1:11 pm
(6) George Gauthier says:
For stunning photography of the topography of Australia’s Northern Territory, I recommend the ‘western’ Quigley Down Under’. Great musical score too.
For a bad example of a geography movie, let me cite the old disaster flick ‘Krakatoa, East of Java’ about the volcanic explosion of the volcano which lies in the Sunda Strait, WEST of Java.
November 17, 2008 at 3:04 pm
(7) Jacinda Andrews says:
Blood Diamond – covers conflict diamonds, what people will do for resources and most importantly, refugees.
November 17, 2008 at 4:17 pm
(8) jyf says:
I have used many movies in my classrooms. A few of the best liked are:
Fern Gully- Rainforest issues
Medicine Man- Rainforest research/destruction
Amandla- African culture and liberation from apartheid, good mucic too!
Salud- Cuban health care system and aid policy
Rwanda- very vivid about genocide and political issues in Africa
These are just to get you started and some need to be for older/ students.
November 17, 2008 at 11:47 pm
(9) Randy says:
Around the World in Eighty Days, won Oscar for Best Picture, set many world records that still stand like number of sets, most modes of transportation, etc. Fine actors (David Niven and Shirley McLaine went on to win acting Oscars; Cantinflas should have) — producer Mike Todd (married to Elizabeth Taylor) invented the “cameo” and had something like 40 stars in bit roles (e.g., Frank Sinatra, Buster Keaton, Sir John Gielgud). Beautiful photography; wonderful soundtrack that won its own Oscar. Even took the plot from Jules Verne (but changed it a bit). My favorite movie of all time!
May 17, 2009 at 1:07 pm
(10) Patricia Ojea says:
I use a very interesting film, Hillbilly, The Real Story. Unfortunately, it has to be ordered–rather cheaply–through the History Channel. Moderated by Billy Ray Cyrus, the film covers a much forgotten and neglected region, Appalachia. The film features the areas contributions to our history and clarifies terms, such as–red neck- which has been incorrectly applied, over the years. In fact the term describes a honorable event in the strive for workers rights. In it’s original context “red neck” included whites, Hispanics, African Americans, Asians and immigrants, with dated photos. Many interesting historic and recreational activities are highlighted in this film–for all ages.
December 12, 2009 at 10:22 am
(11) Wilma says:
Wall.E is an absolute gold mine for Geographical processes from the ‘Buy n large’ reference to Globalisation and brand power. Not to mention the very powerful and moving images of a post apocalyptic earth – covered in litter and harbouring an environment that is amost devoid of all natural life.
And of course, its a film that all of the pupils will love.
March 19, 2010 at 11:37 am
(12) Jennifer says:
I use films for a college level class. Some of my favorites not mentioned here include:
1. Everything is Illuminated – Eastern Europe or CIS (wherever you put it). Great for diffusion/globalization, successive occupancy, economic landscape, migration. One of my all time favorite movies.
2. Kite Runner – Middle East – diversity of Islamic culture, physical landscape, acculturation, diffusion
3. Outsourced – Little known but fun comedy that beautifully illustrates the cultural and physical landscape of India, cultural practices, discusses globalization and even has a little location theory thrown in. Slumdog Millionaire is another obvious choice, but most of the films I use are pretty heavy and this one gives a breather.
4. Children of Men – population and migration. Shows that geographic principles hold even in a fictional world.
March 31, 2010 at 11:14 pm
(13) Eric Blackshaw says:
I use a lot of films, the majority of them documentary’s for my geography course. My top five favorite films:
1) Guns, Germs, and Steel: Episode 1 Out of Eden – covers agriculuture, environmental determinism, desterficaiton, climates, latitudes, and the advantages of MDC’s vs LDC’s
2) Making Sense of Place: Phoenix an Urban Desert – covers urbanization, effectively discussion urban sprawl, regional planning and inner city blight.
3) Hotel Rwanda – ethnic conflicts
4) Life and Debt: Jamaica – the shortcomings of the IMF and World Banks, as well as the comparative disadvantages of LDC’s in global competition
5) Food Inc. – Agriculture, Agricbusiness, Green Revolution, GMOs and sustainable development
September 2, 2011 at 10:41 pm
(14) Kim says:
I totally agree with your suggestions!
October 10, 2010 at 11:14 pm
(15) chris shepherd says:
i teach 6th grade social studies.
when i teach latitude & longitude, i show my kids the clip from ‘superman returns’, where lois lane overhears the captain announce the coordinates of the yacht on which lex luthor holds her captive, and then faxes those coordinates to the daily planet where superman finds them. then i make my students see if THEY could rescue lois.
i also use the fed ex commercial ‘bill, put a pushpin in china’ to drive home the need to learn their geography. you can find it on youtube.
we wrap up our geography unit by watching disney’s ‘earth’, narrated by james earl jones. PHENOMENAL.
January 20, 2011 at 12:05 pm
(16) me says:
me, i am a geographical film because im johnny depp!
February 27, 2011 at 7:37 am
(17) Laszlo says:
IMAX documentaries: Cosmic Voyage, The Greatest Places, Kilimanjaro,..
April 13, 2011 at 7:30 pm
(18) Gil says:
Europe/Russia – The Field, Prisoner of Mtns., & Latcho Drom
Middle East – In Footsteps of Alexander Great
Others: Any of Globe Trekker series, Longitude, etc…
May 9, 2011 at 5:45 pm
(19) Ben H says:
The interpreter perfect example of a supranational organization plus lots of argument on genocide
September 30, 2011 at 3:06 pm
(20) Halmon Wry says:
Did Ray ever really leave Iowa in Field of Dreams? The geography of the mind explored here. If he did leave, then the commentary is on how much simpler times were when the players represented, especially the house calling Doctor (wink), played baseball. How vast the country seemed when baseball is played in every small town on the weekends and maybe someone like Roy Hobbs, the Natural, would stride out of the cornfields and strike the national nerve. The interplay between social commentary on the changes in America as perceived by modern directors agains the backdrop of simpler times playing baseball.
April 20, 2012 at 12:08 pm
(21) shay says:
I teach 9th grade World Geography. I often show Lion King for the biomes, cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs for weather, Over the Hedge for urbanization, and Finding Nemo for the ITZ reference.
April 20, 2012 at 2:25 pm
(22) Mark says:
Bye Bye: French film about Moroccan migrants in southern France.
City of God: Informal economy (drug dealers) in one of Brazil’s poorest barrios.
The Constant Gardner: Thriller about corporate conspiracy to dump outdated / expired drugs into African charities.
Hotel Rwanda: the Hutu on Tutsi genocide in Rwanda in 1994.
Roger & Me: Great for economic geography depicting the human toll of ‘creative destruction’ as auto companies abandon Flint, Michigan for cheaper labor overseas.
A Friend of the Deceased: Neat Ukrainian film that was filmed in Kiev during the early economically transformative days following Ukrainian independence in the early 1990s.
Comments
Well… of course all films are geographical because they represent a cultural condition of a place or they are a representation of some place. So with that said, a couple cultural-social geography films about sports include the documentaries Go Tigers! and Hoop Dreams. A couple other good films include Born Into Brothels and Children Underground.
Hmmm….
East Germany: Goodbye Lenin and The Tunnel
How India sees the world: Bride and Prejudice
American Indian cultural landscape: Smoke Signals
Up coming I want to see the much hyped “Australia”
I like Born Free – its old, but filmed on location in the Rift Valley, and my students (freshmen in high school) love it.
And it leads to some really good discussions of what’s happened in the intervening 50 years.
I began showing “Bend It Like Beckham” (2003) to my A.P. Human Geography classes last year. It effectively relates how Pakistani immigrants carry culture with them to London and must, at the same time, adapt to their new cultural milieu. I highly recommend it.
I used to show “City of Joy” (1992) about Kolkhata (formerly Calcutta), in which Patrick Swayze goes to India to find himself and bumbles into a Saint Teresa-like slum. I recommend this one, also, except for the fact that the Swayze character continually utters the g.d. malediction. Otherwise, it effectively shows Indian culture.
For teaching about Mongolia – the physical as well as cultural geography, I highly recommend the movie Weeping Camel. Don’t be put off by the English subtitles. My 7th graders have no trouble at all with them. Weeping Camel is probably the best movie I show all year long.
For stunning photography of the topography of Australia’s Northern Territory, I recommend the ‘western’ Quigley Down Under’. Great musical score too.
For a bad example of a geography movie, let me cite the old disaster flick ‘Krakatoa, East of Java’ about the volcanic explosion of the volcano which lies in the Sunda Strait, WEST of Java.
Blood Diamond – covers conflict diamonds, what people will do for resources and most importantly, refugees.
I have used many movies in my classrooms. A few of the best liked are:
Fern Gully- Rainforest issues
Medicine Man- Rainforest research/destruction
Amandla- African culture and liberation from apartheid, good mucic too!
Salud- Cuban health care system and aid policy
Rwanda- very vivid about genocide and political issues in Africa
These are just to get you started and some need to be for older/ students.
Around the World in Eighty Days, won Oscar for Best Picture, set many world records that still stand like number of sets, most modes of transportation, etc. Fine actors (David Niven and Shirley McLaine went on to win acting Oscars; Cantinflas should have) — producer Mike Todd (married to Elizabeth Taylor) invented the “cameo” and had something like 40 stars in bit roles (e.g., Frank Sinatra, Buster Keaton, Sir John Gielgud). Beautiful photography; wonderful soundtrack that won its own Oscar. Even took the plot from Jules Verne (but changed it a bit). My favorite movie of all time!
I use a very interesting film, Hillbilly, The Real Story. Unfortunately, it has to be ordered–rather cheaply–through the History Channel. Moderated by Billy Ray Cyrus, the film covers a much forgotten and neglected region, Appalachia. The film features the areas contributions to our history and clarifies terms, such as–red neck- which has been incorrectly applied, over the years. In fact the term describes a honorable event in the strive for workers rights. In it’s original context “red neck” included whites, Hispanics, African Americans, Asians and immigrants, with dated photos. Many interesting historic and recreational activities are highlighted in this film–for all ages.
Wall.E is an absolute gold mine for Geographical processes from the ‘Buy n large’ reference to Globalisation and brand power. Not to mention the very powerful and moving images of a post apocalyptic earth – covered in litter and harbouring an environment that is amost devoid of all natural life.
And of course, its a film that all of the pupils will love.
I use films for a college level class. Some of my favorites not mentioned here include:
1. Everything is Illuminated – Eastern Europe or CIS (wherever you put it). Great for diffusion/globalization, successive occupancy, economic landscape, migration. One of my all time favorite movies.
2. Kite Runner – Middle East – diversity of Islamic culture, physical landscape, acculturation, diffusion
3. Outsourced – Little known but fun comedy that beautifully illustrates the cultural and physical landscape of India, cultural practices, discusses globalization and even has a little location theory thrown in. Slumdog Millionaire is another obvious choice, but most of the films I use are pretty heavy and this one gives a breather.
4. Children of Men – population and migration. Shows that geographic principles hold even in a fictional world.
I use a lot of films, the majority of them documentary’s for my geography course. My top five favorite films:
1) Guns, Germs, and Steel: Episode 1 Out of Eden – covers agriculuture, environmental determinism, desterficaiton, climates, latitudes, and the advantages of MDC’s vs LDC’s
2) Making Sense of Place: Phoenix an Urban Desert – covers urbanization, effectively discussion urban sprawl, regional planning and inner city blight.
3) Hotel Rwanda – ethnic conflicts
4) Life and Debt: Jamaica – the shortcomings of the IMF and World Banks, as well as the comparative disadvantages of LDC’s in global competition
5) Food Inc. – Agriculture, Agricbusiness, Green Revolution, GMOs and sustainable development
I totally agree with your suggestions!
i teach 6th grade social studies.
when i teach latitude & longitude, i show my kids the clip from ‘superman returns’, where lois lane overhears the captain announce the coordinates of the yacht on which lex luthor holds her captive, and then faxes those coordinates to the daily planet where superman finds them. then i make my students see if THEY could rescue lois.
i also use the fed ex commercial ‘bill, put a pushpin in china’ to drive home the need to learn their geography. you can find it on youtube.
we wrap up our geography unit by watching disney’s ‘earth’, narrated by james earl jones. PHENOMENAL.
me, i am a geographical film because im johnny depp!
IMAX documentaries: Cosmic Voyage, The Greatest Places, Kilimanjaro,..
Europe/Russia – The Field, Prisoner of Mtns., & Latcho Drom
Middle East – In Footsteps of Alexander Great
Others: Any of Globe Trekker series, Longitude, etc…
The interpreter perfect example of a supranational organization plus lots of argument on genocide
Did Ray ever really leave Iowa in Field of Dreams? The geography of the mind explored here. If he did leave, then the commentary is on how much simpler times were when the players represented, especially the house calling Doctor (wink), played baseball. How vast the country seemed when baseball is played in every small town on the weekends and maybe someone like Roy Hobbs, the Natural, would stride out of the cornfields and strike the national nerve. The interplay between social commentary on the changes in America as perceived by modern directors agains the backdrop of simpler times playing baseball.
I teach 9th grade World Geography. I often show Lion King for the biomes, cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs for weather, Over the Hedge for urbanization, and Finding Nemo for the ITZ reference.
Bye Bye: French film about Moroccan migrants in southern France.
City of God: Informal economy (drug dealers) in one of Brazil’s poorest barrios.
The Constant Gardner: Thriller about corporate conspiracy to dump outdated / expired drugs into African charities.
Hotel Rwanda: the Hutu on Tutsi genocide in Rwanda in 1994.
Roger & Me: Great for economic geography depicting the human toll of ‘creative destruction’ as auto companies abandon Flint, Michigan for cheaper labor overseas.
A Friend of the Deceased: Neat Ukrainian film that was filmed in Kiev during the early economically transformative days following Ukrainian independence in the early 1990s.