History movies

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Realistic Tense Steady Bleak Dusty

When soldier Robin happens upon the dying Robert of Loxley, he promises to return the man's sword to his family in Nottingham. There, he assumes Robert's identity; romances his widow, Marion; and draws the ire of the town's sheriff and King John's henchman, Godfrey.

Themes

Deception as strategy, Charter rights leverage, Taxation and legitimacy, Unity against invasion, Equality in the greenwood, Loyalty and obligation

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Realistic Tense Claustrophobic Bleak Deliberate

A faithful retelling of the 1942 "Vel' d'Hiv Roundup" and the events surrounding it.

Themes

Deportation and transit hardship, Oppression under occupation, Civilian resilience and care, Moral ambiguity under regime, Escape and survival, Aid networks and solidarity

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Tense Intimate Deliberate Clinical Minimalist

A biopic of Temple Grandin, an autistic American who has become one of the leading scientists in humane livestock handling.

Themes

Gender bias in science, Disability as catalyst, Ethics of animal handling, Institutional resistance to innovation, Mentorship and loss, Societal expectations vs expertise

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Realistic Tense Steady Intimate Restrained

Newly elected President Nelson Mandela knows his nation remains racially and economically divided in the wake of apartheid. Believing he can bring his people together through the universal language of sport, Mandela rallies South Africa's rugby union team as they make their historic run to the 1995 Rugby World Cup Championship match.

Themes

Apartheid legacy, Racism and divisions, Stadium politics, Sports unity, Rugby as national ritual, Poverty and inequality

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Tense Intimate Bleak Deliberate Minimalist

A 9th century woman of English extraction born in the German city of Ingelheim disguises herself as a man and rises through the Vatican ranks.

Themes

Gendered leadership, Institutional barriers, Identity concealment under pressure, Merit-based recognition, Political intrigue and power, Memory and retelling

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Realistic Tense Dry Clinical Measured

Michael Moore comes home to the issue he's been examining throughout his career: the disastrous impact of corporate dominance on the everyday lives of Americans (and by default, the rest of the world).

Themes

Economic inequality, Corporate dominance, Foreclosure and labor action, Plutocracy risk, Democracy over capitalism, Financial exploitation

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An examination of the creation of the state of Israel in 1948 through to the present day. A semi-biographic film, in four chapters, about a family spanning from 1948 until recent times. Combined with intimate memories of each member, the film attempts to portray the daily life of those Palestinians who remained in their land and were labelled "Israeli-Arabs," living as a minority in their own homeland.

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Realistic Tense Claustrophobic Bleak Relentless

Depression-era bank robber John Dillinger's charm and audacity endear him to much of America's downtrodden public, but he's also a thorn in the side of J. Edgar Hoover and the fledgling FBI. Desperate to capture the elusive outlaw, Hoover makes Dillinger his first Public Enemy Number One and assigns his top agent, Melvin Purvis, the task of bringing him in dead or alive.

Themes

Romance under danger, Loyalty under pressure, Surveillance and control, Economic desperation, Modern policing methods, Treachery and deception, Manhunt intensity

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Realistic Tense Restrained Measured Oppressive

A historical drama set in Roman Egypt, concerning philosopher Hypatia of Alexandria and her relationship with her slave Davus, who is torn between his love for her and the possibility of gaining his freedom by joining the rising tide of Christianity.

Themes

Clashing belief systems, Power dynamics within empire, Intellectual defiance under oppression, Master-servant tension, Misogyny under persecution, Intellectual inquiry restricted

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Realistic Brutal Bleak Restrained Deliberate

In 1937, during the height of the Second Sino-Japanese War, the Imperial Japanese Army has just captured Nanjing, then-capital of the Republic of China. What followed was known as the Nanking Massacre, or the Rape of Nanking, a six week period wherein tens of thousands of Chinese soldiers and civilians were killed.

Themes

Survival under occupation, Duty versus humanity, Safety zones under pressure, War crimes against civilians, Gendered vulnerability in war, Moral ambiguity in soldiers

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