Film/Movie Resources

Film/ Movie Resources for Diversity Edcuation

4 Little Girls (1997) (DVD)

Director Spike Lee uses this feature-length documentary to tell the story of the 1963 bombing of an Alabama African-American church—an event that took the lives of four young girls and became a pivotal moment in the civil rights struggle. Lee's film examines the crime and its perpetrators as well as the four young victims (as described by friends and families). It also includes interviews with noted civil rights activists and journalists.

NR – Not rated – This movie has not been rated by the MPAA. Documentary.

102 minutes

A Day Without a Mexican (2004) (DVD)

One morning, California wakes up to find that one-third of its population—the Hispanic third—has disappeared. A strange pink fog envelops the state, and communication outside its boundaries is completely cut off. The economic, political, and social implications of this disaster threaten California's way of life, and for a group of disparate people (all white, except for one Latina), the cracks in their private lives are forced wide open.

Rated R – For language and brief sexuality.

100 minutes

A Soldier’s Story (1984) (DVD)

Director Norman Jewison (In the Heat of the Night) returned to racially charged subject matter in A Soldier's Story. The tale unfolds on a Louisiana Army base during World War II. When a master sergeant is found dead outside the base, Washington, D.C., sends a black officer (Howard E. Rollins Jr.) to investigate. Was the killing racially motivated, or was another objective at work?

Rated R – Restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

101 minutes

American History X (1998) (DVD)

A California neo-Nazi (Oscar-nominee Edward Norton) gets sent to prison for murder and comes out a changed man. But can Norton atone for his sins and prevent his younger brother (Edward Furlong) from following in his hate-filled footsteps? With searing performances and gut-wrenching realism, American History X offers a compelling and anguishing look at racism, family, and forgiveness.

Rated R – For graphic brutal violence including rape, pervasive language, strong sexuality, and nudity.

118 minutes

Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) (2001) (DVD)

Director Steven Spielberg's A.I. propels you into a futuristic world where humans share every aspect of their lives with sophisticated companion robots called Mechas. When an advanced prototype robot child named David (Haley Joel Osment) is programmed to show unconditional love, his human family isn't prepared for the consequences. David soon embarks on a spectacular quest to discover the startling secret of his own identity.

Rated – PG-13 – For some sexual content and violent images.

145 minutes

Be the Change (2004) (DVD)

In an ever-evolving world, our perception of diversity, fulfillment, and change must evolve. When you change the way you think, you change the way you live. This video helps individuals examine their thought patterns and beliefs that might be holding them back. Unleash your power by “changing your mind.”

Training Program

90 minutes

Boy! What a Girl! (1947) (DVD)

Two silky-smooth producers line up a potential backer (who'll put up half the cash) for a musical review. The catch is that they must find someone else to put up the other half. Enter cigar-smoking cross-dresser "Bumpsie" (Tim Moore), who poses as a wealthy society matron to fool the angel! Features vintage jam sessions with swing drummer Gene Krupa, Big Sid Catlett and his band, The Slam Stewart Trio, and The International Jitterbugs.

NR – Not rated. This movie has not been rated by the MPAA.

70 minutes

Bulworth (1998) (VHS)

If a politician spoke his mind, he'd either be a former wrestler or unelectable; Bulworth digs into this ripe premise. California Sen. Jay Bulworth (Warren Beatty), reduced by years of compromise and scheming, hires a hit man to put him out of his misery. Kicking off an election campaign with nothing to lose, Bulworth lets his mouth get his ass in hot water.

Rated R – For pervasive strong language and some drug content.

108 minutes

Crash (2005) (DVD)

A 36-hour period in the diverse metropolis of post-Sept. 11 Los Angeles is the theme of this unflinching drama that challenges viewers to confront their prejudices. Lives combust when a Brentwood housewife and her D.A. husband, a Persian shopkeeper, two cops, a pair of carjackers and a Korean couple all converge. Director Paul Haggis's Best Picture Oscar winner stars Sandra Bullock, Brendan Fraser, Don Cheadle, Matt Dillon, and Jennifer Esposito.

Rated R – For language, sexual content, and some violence.

113 minutes

Creating New Paradigms (2006) (DVD)

A paradigm is an example that serves as pattern or model—the way you see the world. To create new paradigms, we need to look at diversity differently. This video examines old ways we have discussed diversity and why that has not worked. We need to look for new ways of creating and changing how we think of diversity.

Anoka County Training Seminar

60 minutes

Cultural Competence (2006) (DVD)

Cultural Competence is a way of measuring individual and organizational progress with diversity issues. What is culture and how does culture shape our behavior? This video helps us understand how we can work with people who differ from us.

Anoka County Training Seminar

90 minutes

Death of a Prophet (1981) (DVD)

Part documentary, part re-creation of actual events, this film examines the final 24 hours in the life of civil rights leader Malcolm X (Morgan Freeman). The film begs the question, "What exactly happened on February 21, 1965?" The first part of the film comprises interviews with those closest to Malcolm X, while the second portion provides a dramatic re-creation of the civil rights leader's final day. Ossie Davis and Yolanda King also appear.

Rated PG-13 – For violence.

60 minutes

Diversity 101 – Basics of Diversity (DVD)

Covers the basic concepts for a new paradigm of diversity. If you continue doing what you have always done, you will continue to get the results you have always gotten. Thinking differently will ultimately impact what you do. This video gives us new language and creates ways in which we can become more competent when working with other cultures.

Anoka County Training Seminar

70 minutes

Faces at the Bottom of the Well (1992) (Paperback book – 8 copies)

“Racism is an integral, permanent, and indestructible component of this society.” That is the message of this powerful and moving best-seller by controversial civil rights activist Derrick Bell, who argues that racism is so ingrained in American life that no matter what blacks do to better their lot, they are doomed to fail as long as the majority of whites do not see their own well-being threatened by the status quo. Bell calls on blacks to face up to this unhappy truth and abandon the misleading vision of “we shall overcome.” Only then will blacks, and those whites who join them, be in a position to create viable strategies to alleviate the burdens of racism.

Get on the Bus (1996) (DVD)

A father and son, chained together by court order. A black historian. A cop. A former gangbanger. These are some of the souls who rode the bus from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., to attend the Million Man March in 1995. Released on the one-year anniversary of the controversial gathering, director Spike Lee's stirring narrative examines the delicate threads of racism that permeate African-American culture.

Rated R – For language.

121 minutes

Killing Us Softly 3 (2000) (DVD)

Jean Kilbourne's pioneering work helped develop and popularize the study of gender representation in advertising. Her award-winning Killing us Softly films have influenced millions of college and high school students across two generations and on an international scale. In this important new film, Kilbourne reviews if and how the image of women in advertising has changed over the last 20 years. With wit and warmth, Kilbourne uses over 160 ads and TV commercials to critique advertising's image of women. By fostering creative and productive dialogue, she invites viewers to look at familiar images in a new way, that moves and empowers them to take action.

Educational film

34 minutes (+25 minutes extra interviews)

Know Your Worth (2004) (DVD)

Remember playing hide and seek? Remember the kids that had a knack for hiding all too well? The same is true about people today. Oftentimes we hide “all too well”; but in the process of hiding, we lose our sense of self. Know Your Worth teaches individuals how to actively engage in the process of “finding themselves.”

Speech by Andre Koen, Anoka County Cultural Coordinator

45-50 minutes

Murderball (2005) (DVD)

Rugby-playing quadriplegics compete for the Paralympic gold medal in this documentary about an amazing sport and the strong-willed athletes who play full-contact rugby using specially designed wheelchairs. The film follows the U.S. Quad Rugby Team as they compete in the 2002 World Championships and the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens. Murderball won the 2005 Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival.

Rated R – For language and sexual content.

85 minutes

Paper Clips (2004) (DVD)

Whitwell Middle School in rural Tennessee is the setting for this documentary about an extraordinary experiment in Holocaust education. Struggling to grasp the concept of 6 million Holocaust victims, the students decide to collect six million paper clips to better understand the enormity of the calamity. The film details how the students met Holocaust survivors from around the world and how the experience transformed them and their community.

Rated G – General audiences. All ages admitted.

82 minutes

Philadelphia (1993) (VHS)

When attorney Andrew Beckett (Tom Hanks) reveals his HIV-positive status—and his homosexuality—to his co-workers, he soon finds himself unemployed. Seeking to sue for wrongful termination, Hanks works with the only lawyer who'll take the case: ambulance-chasing, homophobic Joe Miller (Denzel Washington). Hanks received an Oscar for his work in this Jonathan Demme-directed film—the first major-studio picture to tackle the topic of AIDS.

Rated PG-13 – For some graphic language and thematic material.

125 minutes

Pleasantville (1998) (DVD)

What happens when a brother (Tobey Maguire) and sister (Reese Witherspoon) time-travel to the black-and-white world of a 1950s TV sitcom with a perfect mom (Joan Allen) and dad (William H. Macy)? They find the "perfect" world has imperfections. This delicate fable with heart examines in a rich, thoughtful way our collective nostalgia for days of apple pie and peace that perhaps never existed.

Rated PG-13 – For some thematic elements emphasizing sexuality, and for language.

124 minutes

Race: The Power of Illusion, Part 1 (2003) (VHS)

Everyone can tell a Nubian from a Norwegian, so why not divide people into different races? That's the question explored in "The Difference Between Us," the first hour of the series. This episode shows that despite what we've always believed, the world's peoples simply don't come bundled into distinct biological groups. We begin by following a dozen students, including Black athletes and Asian string players, who sequence and compare their own DNA to see who is more genetically similar. The results surprise the students and the viewer, when they discover their closest genetic matches are as likely to be with people from other "races" as their own. Much of the program is devoted to understanding why. We look at several scientific discoveries that illustrate why humans cannot be subdivided into races and how there isn't a single characteristic, trait – or even one gene – that can be used to distinguish all members of one race from all members of another.

Documentary series

60 minutes

Race: The Power of Illusion, Part 2 (2003) (VHS)

Ancient peoples stigmatized "others" on the grounds of language, custom, class, and especially religion, but they did not sort people according to physical differences. It turns out that the concept of race is a recent invention, only a few hundred years old, and the history and evolution of the idea are deeply tied to the development of the U.S. "The Story We Tell" is an eye-opening tale of how deep social inequalities came to be rationalized as natural—deflecting attention from the social practices and public policies that benefited whites at the expense of others.

Documentary series

60 minutes

Race: The Power of Illusion, Part 3 (2003) (VHS)

The final episode, "The House We Live In,” is the first film on race to focus not on individual attitudes and behavior but on how our institutions leave different groups differently advantaged. Its subject is the "unmarked” race, white people. The show makes visible the benefits that quietly and often invisibly accrue to white people, not always because of merit or hard work, but because our laws, courts, customs, and perhaps most pertinently, segregated neighborhoods, racialize opportunity.

Documentary series

60 minutes

Sexual Orientation Seminar (1994) (VHS)

Anoka County hosts a discussion on GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender) issues and how we can be more effective in working with our public.

Anoka County Training Seminar

60 minutes

Smoke Signals (1998) (DVD)

On a Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, reservation, not much changes—until the estranged father of Victor Joseph (Adam Beach) bites the dust in Arizona, and Victor must go collect the cremated remains. Trouble is, Victor can't afford the fare. But annoying nerd Thomas Builds-the-Fire (Evan Adams) will float Victor a loan … if Thomas can tag along. This tender tale of self-discovery is based on acclaimed author Sherman Alexie's short stories.

Rated PG-13 – For some intense images.

89 minutes

Soundz of Spirit (2003) (DVD)

Hunker down for a documentary the likes of which you've probably never seen—one that explores how the creative process and spirituality coalesce in hip-hop culture. By equal turns revealing and inspiring, Soundz of Spirit features performances and interviews from such hip-hop artists as Andre 3000 (Outkast), Common, Cee-Lo, KRS-1, Talib Kweli, Blackalicious, Nappy Roots, Jurassic 5, Zion I, Dilated Peoples, The Last Poets, and Aceyalone.

NR – Not rated. This movie has not been rated by the MPAA.

60 minutes

Spiritual Cinema Circle – Raising Consciousness (DVD)

Baker’s Men – In this funny and clever short film, two little girls happily play an innocent game of patty-cake until they burst out of their childish ways into a deconstruction of their game and what it teaches them about who they are to become as women on this plant. A profound and ingenious take on gender roles and the tender age at which they take root in our lives. 5 minutes in English. Written and directed by Harriette Yahr.

A Monk’s Awakening – A young monk is forced to face his fear of death as a Samurai threatens his life. His venerated master coaches him, encouraging him to face this last moment of life with strength and peace. What kind of miracle can come out of a moment of such intense presence? 21 minutes in Vietnamese with English subtitles. Written and directed by Marc-Olivier Louveau.

Right Here, Right Now – This poetic montage takes us into the cosmic stream of energy as it flows in a small Indian village from person to person, spreading either negativity or kindness. An enlightened glimpse into our inner nature and the impact we have on our environment. 30 minutes in Hindi with English subtitles. Written and directed by Anand Gandhi.

Yogis Of Tibet – This feature length documentary introduces us to the world of the Dalai Lama and the tradition of the Tibetan Yogis who have spent years in isolation practicing secret rituals. For the first time ever seen on film, the Yogis of Tibet share and perform some of their secret rituals that bring them into ascendant states of being. In this amazing film, these mysterious holy people tell us that they no longer feel the need to be isolated and separate and that they are ready to share their secrets. This film allows us into their isolated world, so that the lessons of their unique culture do not die out with them. 77 minutes in English. Produced by Phil and Jo Borak.

NR – Not rated. All audiences.

Spiritual Cinema Circle – Volume 5 2008 (DVD)

Three-Fifty – This hilarious short film takes us into the world of two video store clerks who are tired of people arguing over late fees and a little nervous about keeping their customers loyal in the age of digital downloads. When a customer walks in willing to swear on his life that he returned a film on time so as not to have to pay a measly 3.50 late fee, the manager brings out the heavy artillery. This tongue in cheek short shows us just how badly our privacy rights have been abused and how desperate the video rental business has become. 9 minutes in English. Written and directed by Maurice Chauvet.

Feathers to the Sky – Filmed in Uruguay, this beautiful short film depicts a young girl, living with her disabled grandfather, who is forced to sell ‘feathers’ (dyed marsh weeks) to support them both while she dreams of going to school with the other children in the village. A kindly school teacher reaches out and changes her life with an ingenious idea that even her grumpy granddad can’t argue with, showing how change happens through individuals reaching out and caring for one another. 20 minutes in Spanish with English subtitles. Written and directed by Leonardo Ricagni.

Body & Soul: Diana & Kathy: - Diana & Kathy: In the most touching documentary the SCC has ever had the privilege to program, we meet Diana and Kathy, activists, best friends, two parts who make a whole. They met almost 40 years ago in a home for the physically and mentally challenged and have been taking care of each other ever since while fighting for rights for those with disabilities. But now, we are introduced to them at a time in their lives when their age and infirmities are more than the two of them alone can handle. You will never forget these two incredible women and the difference they’ve made on the planet. 40 minutes in English. Directed by Alice Elliott.

Guarding Eddy – This touching feature is based on the true story of 18 year-old Eddy Patterson, an autistic sports fanatic who dreams of playing pro-basketball. After running away to Los Angeles, Eddy lands in a homeless shelter where he meets pro-player Mike Jeffreys, who is doing court ordered community service, having given up on his own dream of the NBA because of a knee injury. The two men teach each other important lessons while discovering real friendship and a rebirth of possibility in their lives. A beautiful story that reminds us that we all face our challenges no matter how talented we seem to be, and we can all use a little help to stay on track. 96 minutes in English. Written by Paul Davidson, directed by Scott McKinsey.

NR – Not rated. All audiences.

Spiritual Cinema Circle – Volume 6 2008 (DVD)

Mira – When an older woman is stranded in her car at night on a remote road, she’s nervous about accepting help but desperately needs it. Could there be more to this chance meeting than we know? A beautiful story about human commonality and kindness, Mira (meaning “look!” in Spanish) is just the kind of movie we all need to see more of! 13 minutes in English and Spanish. Written and directed by Michael Berry.

Birthday – A little girl plays in the desert, fully occupied by her own games in the harsh landscape. Suddenly an old man joins her and her day becomes much more exciting. Who knows where we go when we die and if there might be way stations where we stop along the way? Perhaps we just need to find the one person who will say the thing that we most need to hear before we pass on. Birthday holds a vision of one possible path that we may follow. 10 minutes in English. Written and directed by Hannah Macpherson.

Letting Go – As a father realizes that his son is maturing and growing up beautifully on his own, he battles with the feeling that all parents have at one time or another: the sad joy of watching our kids grow up and out of childhood. In honor of Father’s day, we bring you this sweet vision of one dad who has a tough time accepting his son’s decision to put his “blankey” away. 3 minutes in English. Written and directed by Dan Masucci.

If I Never See You Again – Winner of 6 Ariel’s (the Mexican equivalent of the Academy Awards), this touching feature film has us rooting for a group of old codgers who would rather be playing music in night clubs than sitting, bored, in a retirement home. They get their wish and embark upon a great adventure, running into love, family, drug dealers and exotic dancers along the way. A film about rediscovering what living is truly about, no matter what your age. If I Never See You Again reminds us to live life to the fullest. This film contains adult themes and is not recommended for children. 97 minutes in Spanish with English subtitles. Written and directed by Juan Pablo Villaseñor.

NR – Not rated. All audiences.

(Michael Moore’s) The Awful Truth: Season 1 (1999) (DVD)

Academy Award-winning "guerrilla" filmmaker Michael Moore takes on bureaucrats and corporations accused of wrongdoing in his effort to bring injustices to light and win a few for the common people. His "in your face" method of obtaining results has gotten the show shut down by the mayor of New York City, Moore sued by a wealthy industrialist, and landed the Corporate Crime-Fighting Chicken in a Disney World jail. Let the cameras roll…

NR – Not rated. This movie has not been rated by the MPAA.

(2-disc series, Episodes 1-6)

(Michael Moore’s) The Awful Truth: Season 2 (2001) (DVD)

Michael Moore – Academy Award-winning "guerrilla" filmmaker, activist, and outspoken warrior for the underdog—takes to the road again and continues to take up the fight for people who have lost fighting corporations themselves. Hailed by critics as one of the most daring shows in recent years, Moore takes pride in his ability to turn on the cameras and make alleged wrongdoers try to avoid him, getting downright angry as they defend themselves.

NR – Not rated. This movie has not been rated by the MPAA.

(2-disc series, Episodes 7-12)

The Boys of Baraka (2005) (DVD)

In an experimental program to reduce the rate of juvenile delinquency, the city of Baltimore sent a group of 12-year-olds deemed "at risk" to a boarding school in Kenya, affording the boys the rare opportunity to turn their troubled lives around. Focusing on four of the youths, this compelling documentary follows the students as they struggle to overcome the obstacles of their past in their hopeful bid for a shot at a brighter future.

Rated R – Restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

84 minutes

The Color of Fear Part 1 (1995) (DVD)

Award winning documentary about eight North American men of Asian, European, Latino, and African descent, who spend a weekend together talking about racism. Out of their confrontations and struggles to understand each other, emerges a dialogue that most of us fear, but hope will happen sometime in our lives.

Documentary/training

90 minutes

The Color of Fear Part 2 (1995) (DVD)

A condensed version of The Color of Fear Part 1.

Documentary/training

60 minutes

The Color of Fear Part 3 (1995) (DVD)

A film about the struggle of the gay, lesbian, and transgender community to be seen and understood in a predominantly heterosexist society. For the first time on screen, the original cast from The Color of Fear discusses what it is like to grapple with their fears and stereotypes of gays in this country. A ten-year retrospective has been added from Roberto Alamanzan and David Lee. They describe the complexities of being male, the fears that men have of each other, and their thoughts on same sex marriages. This film is thought provoking, intimate, and painful. Through their personal stories and interactions, we get a glimpse into the fears, the stereotypes, and the moral issues that are dividing and confronting us today. Not unlike the stories from the civil rights movement – the stories here need to be heard and to be believed.

Documentary/training

43 minutes

The Laramie Project (2002) (DVD)

An all-star cast delivers a compelling performance based on the theatrical version of the Matthew Shepard murder story, a real incident that took place in 1998 in Laramie, Wyo. (Shepard's plight became a lightning rod for rallies against homophobia and hate crimes.) Portraying the residents of Laramie are Christina Ricci, Dylan Baker, Peter Fonda, Jeremy Davies, Janeane Garofalo, Laura Linney, Steve Buscemi, and Amy Madigan.

NR – Not rated. This movie has not been rated by the MPAA.

96 minutes

The Manchurian Candidate (1962) (DVD)

When a platoon of Korean War G.I.s is captured, they somehow end up at a ladies’ garden club party. Or do they? Major Bennett Marco (Frank Sinatra) can’t remember. As he searches for the answer, he discovers threads of a diabolical plot orchestrated by the utterly ruthless Mrs. Iselin (Angela Lansbury) and involving her war hero son (Laurence Harvey), her senator husband (James Gregory), and a secret cabal of enemy leaders.

Rated PG-13

127 minutes

The Manchurian Candidate (2004) (DVD)

In this remake of the 1962 political thriller, Capt. Bennett Marco (Denzel Washington) and Sgt. Raymond Shaw (Liev Schreiber) are taken captive during the first Persian Gulf War and brainwashed so that they're programmed to rebel once they return home. Ten years later, as Shaw's mother (Meryl Streep) is busy helping her son in his bid for the presidency, Marco recalls the brainwashing. Can he get to Shaw before it's too late?

Rated R – For violence and some language.

130 minutes

Tough Guise (1999) (DVD)

While the social construction of femininity has been widely examined, the dominant role of masculinity has until recently remained largely invisible. Tough Guise is the first educational video geared toward college and high school students to systematically examine the relationship between pop-cultural imagery and the social construction of masculine identities in the U.S. at the dawn of the 21st century. In this innovative and wide-ranging analysis, Jackson Katz argues that widespread violence in American society, including the tragic school shootings in Littleton, Colorado, Jonesboro, Arkansas, and elsewhere, needs to be understood as part of an ongoing crisis in masculinity. This exciting new media literacy tool—utilizing racially diverse subject matter and examples—will enlighten and provoke students (both males and females) to evaluate their own participation in the culture of contemporary masculinity.

Educational film

87 minutes (+ approximately 18 minutes interviews)

Traffic (2000) (DVD)

In three interwoven vignettes, Traffic offers disturbing snapshots of America's drug war. Drug czar Michael Douglas sees his life turned upside down when the drug problem hits home, while Tijuana cop Benicio Del Toro tries to keep his hands clean—and stay alive. Meanwhile, Drug Enforcement Agency operatives arrest a major dealer, forcing his wife (Catherine Zeta-Jones) to take over the family business.

Rated R – For pervasive drug content, strong language, violence, and some sexuality.

147 minutes

What is Diversity? (2006) (DVD)

We hear people talk about diversity. If you ask seven people what diversity is, you will get 10 answers to that question. We will discuss what is and is not diversity,

Anoka County Training Seminar

25 minutes

White Man’s Burden (1995) (DVD)

Factory worker Louis Pinnock (John Travolta) is an honest man with a chip on his shoulder. But his life is destroyed when he's unexpectedly fired from his job, beaten by police, and evicted from his home. He calls on the company's CEO (Harry Belafonte) to help fight the injustice. But when the boss won't listen, Pinnock takes matters into his own hands. Desmond Nakano directs this unique film that shakes up traditional definitions of racism.

Rated R – For strong language and some violence.

97 minutes

Who Has Shaped Your Paradigms? (2006) (DVD)

Who has told you about the world around you? Did they give you information that empowered you or themselves? In this video we will examine how and why we see the world as we do. Then we will learn how to set our goals to create a life we want and deserve.

Anoka County Training Seminar

90 minutes

Why Are We Here? (2000) (DVD)

ECO’s (Earth Communications Office), along with the IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare), has developed a communications campaign on biodiversity. ECO launched their 10th Annual PSA Campaign, “Why Are We Here?,” exploring biodiversity and the rule of the human species in the global web of life.

A series of 30 second Public Service Announcements (PSA)

Film/ Movie Resources for Diversity Edcuation

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