We all love movies; going to the movies, that is. The whole charade that comes with it: planning which day to go with your friends, what clothes to wear, how to convince your parents to part with money to cover food, snacks, drinks and your movie ticket! Watching movies in the theatre gives a totally different feeling to that of watching it at home. I mean, the ‘distractions’ alone are enough to make you want to put up a tent rather at the movie theatre so you can watch your favourite movies, uninterrupted.
Sarafina
In between house chores and school projects, and if you can squeeze in eating and sleeping, watching movies at home comes nowhere near the experience of a theatre. The pulsating sound of that ominous music, the chorus of screams or laughter filling the air, popcorn strewn on the seats and along the aisles as people keep missing their mouth while trying to stuff it…yes, I love the movies!!! A bit too much, you say? Well, maybe because movie theatres in my time, were not all fancy like you have them now – another conversation for another column.
Movies are a good source of entertainment. Think of it; they are the only form of art that allows us to connect with the characters on some emotional level. We see them like real people, struggling with real problems and challenges.
We live vicariously through them and identify with their fears and desires, hopes and aspirations they portray in the movies. An effective way of getting us to reflect on the world around us – through action, horror, sci-fi, drama, romance and even comedy genres, movies allow us to identify with characters portrayed by actors.
Movies have been known to define periods in our lives. During the pandemic when we all had to stay indoors, movies became our main source of entertainment, and helped us forget we were basically ‘imprisoned’ in our own homes and countries (for our own good, might I quickly add?).
Bridgerton, a period drama series, released in December 2020, (rated Mature Audience), was the most watched with over 600million hours of viewing globally – I count as one of those millions. For years to come, my generation will remember how Bridgerton saw us through the pandemic – with costumes and language from the Regency era.
The era is named so because Prince George IV, who was ruling in place of his sick father, King George III, acted as ‘Regent’, with his mother – Queen Charlotte – serving as Queen Consort of the United Kingdom. Bridgerton is based on the popular book series about two families during an annual period, when elite families would host formal events to introduce their children to society and find them a suitable marriage.
Ok, so while Bridgerton may not be a suitable movie for you – I was just using that as an example of movies that define an era for people – there are other movies that I call ‘Classics’ which you should add to your ‘must-watch’ list.
- Sarafina – 15y/o Black South African Sarafina is struggling for freedom during the apartheid. While she has remained relatively silent in her opposition of the racist government in her country, the movement to make the language of Afrikaans the official language in her school leads her to protest in the streets with her fellow students. Her anti-government views become even more intense when her favourite teacher (Whoopi Goldberg) is arrested for protesting.
- Sound of Music – Maria, an aspiring nun, is sent as a governess to take care of seven motherless children. Soon her jovial and loving nature tames their hearts, and the children become fond of her.
- Wonder – August, a boy with a rare facial abnormality, enters the fifth grade in a private school where he befriends Jack. The two form a strong bond while facing the bullies in their class.
- Black Panther – T’Challa, the heir of Wakanda, must take up the mantle of the Black Panther left behind by his father. As T’Challa takes his place upon the throne, a ghost from his father’s past comes to haunt him; and this mysterious figure may be the death of the Black Panther or Wakanda itself.
- Titanic – Seventeen-year-old Rose hails from an aristocratic family and is set to be married. When she boards the Titanic, she meets Jack Dawson, an artist, and falls in love with him.
They’re timeless and good conversation starters, and will get you thinking about yourself and how you can improve our lives and our society as a whole.
