• The Unreliable Protagonist in the Window

    The Woman in Window is the latest film to feature an unreliable female protagonist. These characters are plagued by obsession, addiction, and self-destruction. Their dark twisty stories make us question our understanding of the plot and the integrity of the storyteller.   Now, this sounds like a pretty niche character type, but trust me, best-selling novels…

  • How Ken Loach Directs a Movie

    In a world where Hollywood’s high-budget superhero movies and epic fantasies attract huge audiences and eye-watering profits, Ken Loach stands apart. His relatively understated films authentically depict every-day life and its often-brutal social context. In doing so, he’s able to give a voice to the voiceless, start important conversations and achieve a powerful social impact.  …

  • How The Birth of a Nation Caused a Century of Racism

    The most innovative film in cinema history is often considered the most racist. But did this ambitious, high-budget blockbuster simply reflect the racial beliefs of a nation, or did it create them?   We often praise or condemn films based on how they portray certain parts of Society. They might challenge a damaging stereotype or do…

  • Roma Explained – How Alfonso Cuarón Humanises Domestic Workers

    Shortly after Alfonso Cuarón’s Roma was released, Yalitza Aparicio (Cleo) wrote an opinion piece in the New York Times. She argued that the film “lit a fire for workers rights” and provided a voice for disenfranchised groups, like Mexico’s indigenous population. By vividly showing the discrimination that women like Cleo are subject to, the film…

  • The White Saviour Trope in The Blind Side

    I really enjoyed watching The Blind Side and I’ve revisited and recommended it time and time again. It’s a feel-good film that has a remarkable story, quick pace, witty dialogue and likable characters. Unsurprisingly, it was a massive success on release, soon becoming one of the highest grossing films in Hollywood history before being nominated…

  • Avatar Explained – The Allegory of Social Salvation

    Amazing Grace is a Christian hymn about forgiveness, redemption and… Avatar. That’s right, the first verse does a great job of summing up the plot of James Cameron’s 2009 film. The grace is the god and guiding spirit of the planet Pandora and its wood spirits are the sweet sound. Jake was a wretch when…

  • District 9 Explained – The Allegory of Damnation

    Ah, 2009.  The world was obsessed with Twilight, Kesha released her hit single “Tik Tok”, and the global economy was tanking. Sound familiar?  From this dark, pessimistic reality came District 9, a film about oppressed aliens forced into squalid living conditions on earth. Its protagonist quite literally loses his humanity as he’s transformed into one…

  • American Beauty Explained – The Sociology of Identity

    It’s often said that American Beauty is a film about identity. Each character seems to go through a very personal identity crisis. But I would argue these crises are not personal at all. They are the products of wider social forces. By focusing on the identities of American Beauty’s characters we can learn a surprising…

  • How I, Daniel Blake Explains Poverty

    Ken Loach’s I, Daniel Blake is brutally realistic portrayal of poverty in Austerity Britain. Set in Newcastle, it follows Dan and Katie as they try to navigate a frustrating and unforgiving welfare state. In doing so, the film illustrates the ongoing ideological battle between two ways of explaining poverty. Are poor individuals responsible for their own situation? Or is poverty ultimately…