Movie School: Teaching Through Cinema The Right Way

I’m a movie nerd. Blame it on cable television, or the ‘80s, or Boomer parents who let us Gen-Xers watch pretty much anything we could find. I saw it all, and for better or worse it shaped my worldview. Movies do that, because seeing John McClane jump off an exploding building with a fire hose roped around his waist is worth a thousand words. It’s also awesome.

But this is also the reason why we don’t watch much TV as a family – the imprint on a young mind is powerful. I can’t tell you how many times my neighborhood bros and I “Die Harded” off this wall in my back yard:

Or how many hours we spent preparing for Russians parachuting onto our high school football field. For those reasons (and plenty of others…darn you, Fast Times and Ridgemont High) my wife and I are careful about the video content our kids consume. That’s a problem for a movie nerd, so a few years back we initiated Movie School. Every year around the holidays we take a break from our normal homeschool routines (we homeschool year round) and spend a week watching movies that teach, entertain, and reinforce important lessons. We chose movies that are worth the time and honor our values.

Here’s how it works for us:

I pick out 10-13 movies for the week-long, living room film festival. Some are kids movies for the little guys we watching during the day. Others are deeper, sometimes darker-themed films for the older kids in the evenings. Later on, we talk about them and hope they grasped the larger lessons. That’s it. Easy, fun education. If this is something you’re interested in giving a go, here’s a list of movies that my kids attest have had the greatest impact on them that you might consider.

I highly suggest parents preview each of these films for content. Many of them have scenes that I’ll skip and language I’ll mute when necessary. Again, I’m a movie nerd, so I usually know when an s-bomb is about to land, but even I miss one from time to time. I also recommend viewing the Parents Guide on the linked IMDB listings for each of these movies.

Let’s get started by category.

Mature Films For Older Kids

The Patriot (2000)
Subjects: Colonial History/Civics/Making America Great Again

Synopsis: The Patriot tells the fictional story of a French and Indian War hero, Benjamin Martin, and the effects of the Revolutionary War on his family and his community.

Cautionary Notes: It has several scenes of bloody war violence so you’ll need to factor that in, but for teaching your kids the deadly nature of war on civilians, and the need to fight to protect your families, there are few films better.

Schindler’s List
Subjects: WWII History/Racism/Psychology

Synopsis: Everyone should watch Schindler’s List at least once, and almost nobody will enjoy it. It tells the true story of Nazi war profiteer-turned-philanthropist savior, Oskar Schindler.

Cautionary Notes: There is violence in one form or another on almost every frame. I mean, they’re Nazis, after all. There are also two sexual scenes I skipped with my kids. One is near the beginning where you see Oskar Schindler fornicating with one of his mistresses (female nudity), and another where a Nazi officer nearly rapes his Jewish servant. Additionally, there is male and female nudity depicting the dehumanization of Jews in the concentration camps. Again, watch it first and determine what your kids are ready for, or conversely, might need to see.

12 Angry Men (1957)
Subjects: Law/Legal Procedure/Psychology/Cultural Anthropology

Synopsis: A jury tries to decide the fate of a young man accused of murdering his father. As the movie progresses, the jurors deal with personal bias and distractions, and we see how the facts of jury trials can easily take a backseat to deliberations.

Cautionary Notes: Murder is discussed as well as weapons and their usage. DO NOT settle for the remake of this movie. Friends don’t let friends watch Tony Danza performances.

Gods and Generals (2003)
Subjects: American Civil War/Politics/Religion

Synopsis: Did you know that the Civil War had everything to do with slavery, and nothing to do with slavery…depending on which historical figures you’re discussing? History is messy, and if you want to understand the motivations of both sides in this pivotal conflict, this movie is a must see.

Cautionary Notes: Non-bloody war violence for the most part, but there are lots of dead bodies, and there is a shot of one severed limb at the battle of Fredericksburg.

Amistad
Subjects: Intercontinental Slave Trade/Linguistics/Politics/World History/Law

Synopsis: A revolt on a slave-trading ship leads to a collection of African captives fighting in a New England court for their freedom.Amistad

Cautionary Notes: The opening scene depicts a graphic battle at sea. Other than that the film is mostly tame, except for a flashback sequence depicting the African’s abductions and horrific treatment (including rape, nudity, and mass murder) while being transported to the Americas. I skipped this sequence entirely.

Hidden Figures
Subjects: Mathematics/Science/History/Civil Rights

Synopsis: A true story of NASA’s first computers (actual people who computed), and the various struggles faced by the early space program, including institutional racism.

Cautionary Notes: This is mostly family friendly, however there are adult themes that may not be suitable for all audiences.

Dead Poets Society
Subjects: Literature/Poetry/Americana/Art/Sociology

Synopsis: Prep school boys in the 1950’s encounter a teacher who challenges them to embrace the arts and their personal giftings.

Cautionary notes: There are several brief scenes sprinkled throughout that may need skipped including a pornographic image, some language, and disturbing events.

Apollo 13
Subjects: Science/Engineering/History

The story of three astronauts coping with a damaged spacecraft who, along with Mission Control on Earth, will need to solve multiple technical problems in order to safely return home.

Cautionary Notes: There is a brief sexual encounter near the beginning of the film and some profanities spoken throughout.

Additional films for mature kids:

Valkyrie
A Few Good Men
Ben Hur
Gettysburg
The Longest Day
Gone With The Wind
Glory
The Help
The Right Stuff
The Last of the Mohicans
Judgment At Nuremberg

Films Appropriate For Most Audiences
Some suggestive or mute-able dialog, or other thematic issues exist

Mr. Smith Goes To Washington
Subjects: Politics/Civics/D.C. Swamp Drainage

Synopsis: A non-politician is appointed Senator by shady Washington insiders. When he refuses to play their game, they use the arms of government and media to crush his work and reputation.

Cautionary Notes: There is a brief exchange of gunfire at one point.

Miss Potter
Subjects: Literature/History/Art

Synopsis: The true story of famed author Beatrix Potter and her struggles to publish her works.

Cautionary Notes: Discussions of death and loss. Sexism.

Interstellar
Subjects: Science/Engineering/Math/Theoretical Physics

Synopsis: A space mission to various planets attempting to find a new home for a dying Earth’s inhabitants.

Cautionary Notes: A violent encounter between two astronauts. Eight uses of the S-word, so you’ll need to know when to use the mute button.

Pride & Prejudice (1995)
Subjects: English Literature/Cultural Studies/Sociology

Synopsis: A family of sisters in Victorian England are courted by men of varying motives. I know there are fans of the 2005 version but they’re wrong: This is the quintessential film version of this perfect story. Also, I’ve noticed I have an increasingly difficult time winning arguments with Shannon when she’s been reading Jane Austen.

Cautionary Notes: Period accurate cleavage-revealing attire. A brief shot of a woman in underclothes.

A Man For All Seasons
Subjects: Religious Persecution/History/English Monarchy

Synopsis: The true story of Sir Thomas More, who was persecuted for standing on religious principles against King Henry VIII.

Cautionary Notes: There is a beheading that is off-screen.

Amazing Grace
Subjects: History/Transcontinental Slavery/Politics

Synopsis: The true story story of English abolitionist William Wilberforce and his lifelong quest to end the British slave trade.

Cautionary Notes: Discussion of slave treatment including rape. Cleavage revealing costumes. A fiery dream sequence.

The Prince Of Egypt
Subjects: Religion/History

Synopsis: Moses is called by God to lead the Hebrews out of Egyptian captivity.

Cautionary Notes: Scenes of slavery, implied genocide. Discussion of murder. Some poetic license taken with the Biblical story.

Other films that fall under this category:

Sense and Sensibility (2008 TV Mini Series)
To Kill A Mockingbird
Mr. Holland’s Opus
Harriet (2019)
Emma (2009 TV Mini Series)
North and South (2004)
Wives and Daughters
The Hundred-Foot Journey

Films Appropriate For All Audiences

The Wind and the Willows (1995 TV movie)
Subjects: Classic Literature

Synopsis: The friendships of four very different characters and personalities – Mole, Ratty, Badger, and Toad – and their adventures, which are mostly instigated by Toad’s misbehavior and addiction to fast cars and test the loyalty and fortitude of the others.

Anne Of Green Gables (1985 Mini Series)
Subjects: Classic Literature

Synopsis: An eccentric orphan girl is sent to a elderly spinster and her brother by mistake and transforms their lives.
Cautionary notes: There is one scene referencing a ghost story, and another when someone accidentally gets drunk.

Little House on the Prairie (Pilot episode)

Subjects: Frontier History/Classic Literature/Politics

Synopsis: The true story of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s childhood growing up on the American frontier. This became a long-running television show during the ‘70s and ‘80s, but the pilot episode covers the entirety of the book by the same title. The series that followed encompasses stories from Wilder’s books as well as original tales not in sequence with the books’ timelines.

Temple Grandin
Subjects: Mathematics/Science/Animal Husbandry/Psychology

Synopsis: The true story of an autistic woman’s struggles to use her genius in unorthodox ways.

Other movies that fall under this category:

Sarah, Plain and Tall
Rikki Tikki Tavi (1975)
The Jungle Book (2016)

Movies Matter

I’ll end this here because if I don’t, I could spend all week adding to this list.

In times of distress, pain, or upheaval, people turn to arts and entertainment for a temporary escape. But more than that, movies touch our heartstrings in ways other forms of entertainment can’t. We’re moved by the images on the screen and the music that sticks with us long after the credits roll. We remember the individuals who sat with us enjoying them in darkened theaters or cozy sofas, and we long to share them with others.

Maybe in the grand scheme of things, movies shouldn’t matter. But they do, and how we react to them opens up windows to our soul, our desires, and our histories.

Movie School helps us with that journey.

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