Top 5 Radical Films to Watch in Isolation
Posted by Adam on 16th Apr 2020
Today we continue our Radicals in isolation theme with a collection of some wonderful radical films to keep you entertained during quarantine.
Perhaps diving into the depths of radical history is not your first thought during these uncertain times. That is of course if you haven’t been keeping up to date with our Radicals in Isolation series.
Yet devoting some time to enriching your outlook and understanding of the events that have shaped our society can really be a way to level your head. As we have said before, quarantine can be a time of reflection and education, and what better way to do that, than the medium of film?
Today, Radical Tea Towel offers you its top 5 films about radical history to keep you entertained and inspired during quarantine.
1) An Inconvenient Truth (2006)
I suppose I’m sort of breaking the rules with this first one, as it is technically a documentary rather than a film… but trust me, it’s well worth it for the recommendation.
An Inconvenient Truth was a filmed lecture given by former vice-president of the United States Al Gore. It spells out, with dramatic effect, not just the causes of the ongoing climate crisis, but the extent of the effort that will be needed to halt it. It may be slightly aged now (you could always try the sequel which was out in 2017) but it remains a startling snapshot into the minds of those who have had the climate crisis at the top of their agenda for years longer than the rest of us.
I remember being sat in front of this film when it came out – begrudgingly being forced away from something more mindless. Its effect was profound, marking the turning point on my own outlook on this issue. For this reason, it is definitely one to show your family!
The climate crisis may not be at the top of our minds right now and for good reason. But it is something that will dominate our politics for the years to come, and something that should guide us in the rebuilding effort that takes place after Coronavirus has departed.
2) The Wind that Shakes the Barley (2006)
Now we couldn’t really do a piece on radical films without including one directed by Ken Loach. The legendary socialist film maker has been at the fore of radical cinema for years and any of his films could have made the list.
I have gone for The Wind That Shakes the Barley. A film that follows the 1798 Irish rebellion from the eyes of its ground fighters, two young brothers who join the fight for Irish independence.
Loach himself said it was attempting to create a microcosm for the social revolution that took place in Ireland, as opposed to just documenting the nationalist struggle as many others had already done. For this reason, it’s a wonderful insight not only into a piece of oft forgotten radical history, but also into the mind of a great radical historian.
For more radical Irish history, click to view our Easter Rising tea towel!
3) Made in Dagenham (2010)
Bringing to life the struggle for civil rights in a wonderfully uplifting and funny way is no easy feat. But Made in Dagenham is the film that does just that.
Following the struggle for equal pay and safe working conditions, it follows the women behind the 1968 Ford Sewing Machine Strike. At the time Ford was a major employer in Britain, with thousands of men working on assembly lines constructing vehicles. Many women were also employed, mainly tasked with stitching car seat upholstery, yet earning only a fraction of the wages that their male counterparts in the factory did.
Many of them would not stand for the blatant sexism, mobilising mass strike action which would soon spread throughout the country. Sally Hawkins’ wonderful performance as one of the leaders of this strike action is sure to teach you a thing or two about the (ongoing) fight for equal pay.
The eventual passing of the 1970 Equal Pay Act was a considerable step forward in reducing gender inequality, and the fight to get there is something we should never forget!
Another hero of the working class - click to view our Annie Kenney tea towel
4) Selma (2014)
If you haven’t noticed, we are big fans of Dr Martin Luther King Jr. here at Radical Tea Towel. He’s always popping up in our blog posts and perhaps the reason is that we have so much to learn from his messages of peaceful resistance and hope. Selma is a film full of these inspiring messages.
It follows King and the battle for civil rights he helped to lead. In particular it pays important homage to King as a figure of unity for the black communities who had been met with so much violent resistance from white police and state officials. Promoting a message of peace and equality was a key factor in speeding up the passing of the Voting Rights Act in 1965.
If you’re looking for spine tingling moments through history, perhaps few are more iconic than King’s powerful speeches. ‘How Long, Not Long’, delivered at the end of the Selma to Montgomery march, was one such instance in which King showed the world what the struggle was really about. As he said that day: ‘the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.’
5) Pride (2014)
A reminder of the power of solidarity is something we could all do with right now. And Pride is a film that does just that. Depicting the unlikely coming together of two groups who suffered so much under the rule of Margaret Thatcher – the LGBTQ+ and mining communities – Pride tells the story of the foundation of ‘Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners’.
Homophobia was about as common as stamping on union power in the 80s, so the two groups should have been natural allies. Of course, things are never quite as simple as that, but illustrating the growth in solidarity between two groups seeking recognition at a time when the British government was trying its best to marginalise them both, is a great reminder of the importance of unity in the face of suppression.
Again, hitting maximum points for uplifting and inspiring, Pride will remind you how minorities can come together to find common strength.
So, there you have it. Five radical films to help broaden your mind during quarantine. Why not let us know what we’ve missed on our Facebook group and perhaps we’ll recommend some more!
Stay home and stay safe.
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