Films

This page contains information on films on human rights and the environment. The first category, "Databases", contains useful resources for finding human rights and environmental films. The second and third categories, "S. America" and "Africa", have films from or about Latin America and Africa. The fourth category, "Other", contains films for other places in the world, including the Middle East, Australia, and Asia.

Databases:

South America:

	Title: The Agronomist Director/Actors: Jonathan Demme (dir.) Setting: Haiti Language: English Film Type: Documentary Comments/Resources: "Profile of Haitian radio journalist and human rights activist Jean Dominique....The film ... incorporates rare footage shot just before Dominique's assassination on April 30, 2000." ~ Netflix
	Title: Aguirre: Wrath of God Director/Actors: Werner Herzog (dir); Klaus Kinski Setting: Amazon Language: German Film Type: Foreign Comments/Resources: Simon, Pedro. The Expedition of Pedro de Ursua and Lope de Aguirre in Search of El Dorado and Omagua in 1560-1. Translated by William Bollaert. Boston: Adamant Media Corporation, 2005. Recommended by Dr. Olsen.
	Title: Beyond the Gates of Splendor Director/Actors: Jim Hanon (dir.) Setting: Ecuador, 1950s Language: English Film Type: Documentary Comments/Resources: A group of missionaries "tame" the "savage" Waodani tribe.
	Title: Burn! (Queimada) Director/Actors: Gillo Pontecorvo (dir.); Marlon Brando Setting: Caribbean (Portuguese colony), nineteenth century Language: English Film Type: Drama Comments/Resources: Recommended by Dr. Andrew Hartman (History Education).
	Title: City of God (Cidade de Deus) Director/Actors: Fernando Meirelles (dir.); Alexandre Rodrigues Setting: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Language: Portuguese Film Type: Foreign Comments/Resources:
	Title: City of M (Ciudad de M) Director/Actors: Felipe Degregori (dir.) Setting: Lima, Peru Language: Spanish Film Type: Foreign Comments/Resources: Recommended by Dr . Carlos Parodi (Politics and Government).
	Title: Dias de Santiago Director/Actors: Josue Mendez (dir.) Setting: Peru Language: Spanish Film Type: Foreign Comments/Resources: Recommended by Dr . Carlos Parodi (Politics and Government).
	Title: El Silencio de Neto Director/Actors: Luis Argueta (dir.) Setting: Guatemala, 1954 Language: Spanish Film Type: Foreign Comments/Resources:
	Title: Favela Rising Director/Actors: Matt Mochary (dir.), Jeff Zimbalist (dir.) Setting: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Language: Portuguese Film Type: Documentary Comments/Resources: Rio de Janeiro's AfroReggae movement. See the film's website <http://www.favelarising.com/default.php>.
	Title: Fitzcarraldo Director/Actors: Werner Herzog (dir.); Klaus Kinski Setting: Amazon Language: German, English Film Type: Foreign Comments/Resources: See also Burden of Dreams. Recommended by Dr. Olsen.
	Title: Manda Bala (Send a Bullet) Director/Actors: Jason Kohn (dir.) Setting: Brazil Language: English Film Type: Documentary Comments/Resources: Examines corruption in Brazil.
	Title: The Mission Director/Actors: Roland Joffé (dir.); Robert De Niro, Jeremy Irons Setting: Brazil, c. 1750 Language: English Film Type: Drama Comments/Resources: Recommended by Mark Bunting.
	Title: The Motorcycle Diaries (Diarios de motocicleta) Director/Actors: Walter Salles (dir.); Gael García Bernal Setting: Road Trip, 1951-52 Language: Spanish Film Type: Documentary Comments/Resources: See Guevara, Ernesto Che, et al. The Motorcycle Diaries: Notes on a Latin American Journey. New York: Ocean Press, 2003.
	Title: Oedipus Mayor (Edipo alcalde) Director/Actors: Jorge Alí Triana (dir.) Setting: Columbia Language: Spanish Film Type: Foreign Comments/Resources: Retelling of Oedipus Rex.
	Title: Ojos Que No Ven (What the Eye Doesn't See) Director/Actors: Francisco J. Lombardi (dir.) Setting: Peru Language: Spanish Film Type: Foreign Comments/Resources: Recommended by Dr . Carlos Parodi (Politics and Government).
	Title: Paloma de Papel (Paper Dove) Director/Actors: Fabrizio Aguilar (dir.) Setting: Peru (Andes) Language: Spanish Film Type: Foreign Comments/Resources: Recommended by Dr . Carlos Parodi (Politics and Government).
	Title: Pinochet's Last Stand (Pinochet in Suburbia) Director/Actors: Richard Curson Smith (dir.); Derek Jacobi Setting: Britain Language: English, Spanish Film Type: Drama Comments/Resources:

Africa:

	Title: Amandla! A Revolution in Four Part Harmony Director/Actors: Lee Hirsch (dir.) Setting: South Africa Language: English Film Type: Documentary Comments/Resources:
	Title:The Battle of Algiers (La Battaglia di Algeri) Director/Actors: Gillo Pontecorvo (dir.) Setting: Algeria, 1957 Language: French Film Type: Foreign Comments/Resources: Recommended by Dr. Olsen and Dr. Andrew Hartman.
	Title: Blood Diamond Director/Actors: Edward Zwick (dir.); Leonardo DiCaprio, Djimon Hounsou, Jennifer Connelly Setting: Sierra Leone, 1999 Language: English Film Type: Drama/Thriller Comments/Resources: Campbell, Greg. Blood Diamonds. New York: Basic Books, 2004.; Zoellner, Tom. The Heartless Stone: A Journey Through the World of Diamonds, Deceit, and Desire. New York: St. Martin's Press, 2007; see also Blood Diamonds, Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars, and Cry Freetown. Recommended by Dr. Olsen.
	Title: Blood Diamonds Director/Actors: No information available. Setting: Sierra Leone Language: English Film Type: Documentary (History Channel) Comments/Resources: Campbell, Greg. Blood Diamonds. New York: Basic Books, 2004.; Zoellner, Tom. The Heartless Stone: A Journey Through the World of Diamonds, Deceit, and Desire. New York: St. Martin's Press, 2007.; See also Blood Diamond., Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars, and Cry Freetown.
	Title: Catch a Fire Director/Actors: Phillip Noyce (dir.); Tim Robbins, Derek Luke Setting: South Africa (during apartheid) Language: English Film Type: Drama/Thriller Comments/Resources: About an oil refinery worker.
	Title: Constant Gardener Director/Actors: Fernando Meirelles (dir.); Ralph Fiennes, Rachel Weisz Setting: Kenya (contemporary) Language: English Film Type: Drama/Thriller Comments/Resources: le Carre, John. The Constant Gardener: A Novel. New York: Scribner, 2005 (2001). Recommended by Dr. Olsen.
	Title: Cry Freedom Director/Actors: Richard Attenborough (dir.); Kevin Kline, Denzel Washington Setting: South Africa (during apartheid) Language: English Film Type: Drama Comments/Resources:
No Image Available	Title: Cry Freetown Director/Actors: Sorious Samura Setting: Sierra Leone, 1999 Language: English (?) Film Type: Documentary Comments/Resources: Not available on video in the U.S. See "Cry Freetown," <http://www.cryfreetown.org/> 9 April, 2008. See also Blood Diamonds., Blood Diamond., and Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars.
	Title: Cry, the Beloved Country Director/Actors: Darrell Roodt (dir.); James Earl Jones, Richard Harris Setting: Johannesburg, South Africa Language: English Film Type: Drama Comments/Resources:
	Title: Darfur Diaries Director/Actors: Aisha Bain, Jen Marlowe (dir.) Setting: Darfur, Sudan Language: English Film Type: Documentary Comments/Resources: Recommended by Dr. Olsen and Trina Steinmaker.
	Title: Ghosts of Rwanda: Frontline Director/Actors: No information available. Setting: Rwanda, 1994-2004 Language: English Film Type: Documentary Comments/Resources: See also Hotel Rwanda, Sometimes in April,and Shake Hands with the Devil: The Journey of Romeo Dallaire.
	Title: God Grew Tired of Us: The Story of Lost Boys of Sudan Director/Actors: Christopher Dillon Quinn, Tommy Walker (dir.) Setting: Sudan, America Language: English Film Type: Documentary Comments/Resources: Dau, John Bul and Michael S. Sweeney. God Grew Tired of Us: A Memoir. Washington, DC.: National Geographic, 2008. Recommended by Dr. Olsen.
	Title: Heart of Darkness Director/Actors: Nicolas Roeg (dir.); Tim Roth, John Malkovich Setting: Belgian Congo, nineteenth century Language: English Film Type: Drama Comments/Resources: See also Conrad, Joseph. Heart of Darkness. New York: W. W. Norton, 2005; Hochschild, Adam. King Leopold's Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa. New York: Mariner, 1999. Recommended by Dr. Olsen.
	Title: Hotel Rwanda Director/Actors: Terry George (dir.); Don Cheadle, Nick Nolte, Sophie Okonedo Setting: Rwanda, 1994 Language: English Film Type: Drama Comments/Resources: If watching on DVD, the director's commentary includes a commentary with Paul Rusesabagina.; Rusesabagina, Paul and Tom Zoellner. An Ordinary Man : An Autobiography. New York: Penguin, 2006.; Gourevitch, Philip. We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will be Killed With Our Families: Stories from Rwanda. New York: Picador, 1999.; NPR. "Interviews: Paul Rusesabagina, No 'Ordinary Man." 6 April, 2006. <http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5324187>, 9 April, 2008.; See also Ghosts of Rwanda, Sometimes in April, and Shake Hands with the Devil: The Journey of Romeo Dallaire.
	Title: The Last King of Scotland Director/Actors: Kevin Macdonald (dir.); Forest Whitaker, James McAvoy Setting: Uganda, 1970s Language: English Film Type: Drama Comments/Resources: See also War Dance and Soldier Child.
	Title: Lost Boys of Sudan Director/Actors: Megan Mylan, Jon Shenk (dir.) Setting: Africa, America Language: English Film Type: Documentary Comments/Resources: Recommended by Dr. Olsen.
	Title: Sand and Sorrow Director/Actors: Paul Freedman (dir.); George Clooney (narrator) Setting: Darfur (present) Language: English Film Type: Documentary Comments/Resources:
	Title: Sarafina! Director/Actors: Darrell Roodt (dir.); Whoopi Goldberg, Leleti Khumalo Setting: South Africa (during apartheid) Language: English Film Type: Drama Comments/Resources:
	Title: Shake Hands with the Devil: The Journey of Romeo Dallaire Director/Actors: Peter Raymont (dir). Setting: Rwanda Language: English Film Type: Documentary Comments/Resources: The character of Colonel Oliver in Hotel Rwanda is based on General Romeo Dallaire.; Dallaire, Romeo. Shake Hands with the Devil : The Failure of Humanity in Rwanda. New York: Random House, 2004.; Fleischer, Jeff. "Shake Hands With the Devil: An Interview With Romeo Dallaire." Mother Jones. 25 January, 2005. <http://www.motherjones.com/news/qa/2005/01/dallaire.html> 9 April, 2008.; See also Ghosts of Rwanda, Sometimes in April, and Hotel Rwanda.
	Title: Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars Director/Actors: Zach Niles, Banker White (dir.) Setting: West African refugee camp; Sierra Leone Language: English Film Type: Documentary Comments/Resources: Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars. "Homepage." <http://www.sierraleonesrefugeeallstars.com/>. 9 April 2008. See also Blood Diamond, Blood Diamonds, and Cry Freetown. Recommended by Dr. Olsen.
	Title: Soldier Child Director/Actors: Neil Abramson (dir.) Setting: Uganda, GUSCO Rehabilitation Camp Language: English Film Type: Documentary Comments/Resources: See also The Last King of Scotland and War Dance. Recommended by Jenny Freed.
	Title: Sometimes in April Director/Actors: Raoul Peck (dir.) Setting: Rwanda Language: English Film Type: Drama Comments/Resources: See also Ghosts of Rwanda, Hotel Rwanda and Shake Hands with the Devil: The Journey of Romeo Dallaire.
	Title: Tsotsi Director/Actors: Gavin Hood (dir.); Presley Chweneyagae Setting: South Africa Language: Zulu Film Type: Foreign Comments/Resources:
	Title: U-Carmen e-Khayelitsha Director/Actors: Mark Dornford-May (dir.); Pauline Malefane Setting: Cape Town, South Africa Language: Xhosa Film Type: Foreign Comments/Resources: Based on Bizet's opera Carmen. Listen to Jessye Norman's recording of Bizet's opera.
	Title: War Dance Director/Actors: Sean Fine, Andrea Nix (dir.) Setting: Uganda Language: English Film Type: Documentary Comments/Resources: See also The Last King of Scotland and Soldier Child. Recommended by Dr. Olsen.
	Title: Without the King Director/Actors: Michael Skolnik (dir.) Setting: Swaziland Language: English Film Type: Documentary Comments/Resources: Releases on 22 July, 2008
	Title: Yesterday Director/Actors: Darrell Roodt (dir.); Leleti Khumalo Setting: South Africa (?) Language: Zulu Film Type: Foreign Comments/Resources:

Other

	Title: The 11th Hour Director/Actors: Nadia Conners, Leila Conners Petersen (dir.); Leonardo DiCaprio (narrator) Setting: N/A Language: English Film Type: Documentary Comments/Resources: See also Life After People and An Inconvenient Truth.
	Title: Born into Brothels Director/Actors: Zana Briski, Ross Kauffman Setting: Calcutta Language: English, Bengali Film Type: Documentary Comments/Resources: Recommended by Trina Steinmaker and Dr. Olsen.
	Title: An Inconvenient Truth Director/Actors: Davis Guggenheim (dir.); Al Gore Setting: N/A Language: English Film Type: Documentary Comments/Resources: See also Life After People and The 11th Hour.Recommended by Dr. Olsen.
	Title: Life After People Director/Actors: Setting: N/A Language: English Film Type: Documentary Comments/Resources: Release date currently unknown.; See also An Inconvenient Truth and The 11th Hour.; Weisman, Alan. The World Without Us. New York: Thomas Dunne, 2007. Recommended by Dr. Olsen.
	Title: Rabbit-Proof Fence Director/Actors: Phillip Noyce (dir.); Kenneth Branagh Setting: Australia, 1930s Language: English Film Type: Drama Comments/Resources: Recommended by Jenny Freed.

Created April 7, 2008 by Jenny C. Freed.