In recent years, one of cinema’s best obsessions has beenmovies about class politics. Television has touched upon the issue in a myriad of ways, but movies have especially been making commentary about class divides and what they mean for the characters, in some of the most dramatic situations that, unfortunately, could happen to some of the best of us. From characters falling on hard times to organizing for their rights, film is a medium to depict progress.
Internationalmovies have been at the forefront of this. All over the world, from Latin America to Asia, filmmakers have been critical of class relations and their implications. These are 10 movies that do an excellent job when it comes to depicting class consciousness.
10The Good Girls (2018)
Released in 2018, the Mexican drama movieThe Good Girls, orLas Niñas Bien, is a must-watch for those looking for films that tackle the subject of class. The movie is set in Mexico during 1982, when the country is grappling with a major economic crisis that creates ripple effects across classes. But its focus isn’t directly on the middle or lower classes: instead, the protagonist is a wealthy, married socialite who seemingly has more to lose — only because she literally has more and a seemingly perfect life.
Dismantling the Dream World
The Good Girlsis a movie about the wealthy tearing themselves apart in the face of losing it all, making it a fascinating case study. It is also a searing glimpse into the Mexican elites it depicts, which often gets lost in translation in broader international discussions.Not Currently Available to Stream or Purchase
9Parasite (2019)
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Bong Joon-ho’s black comedyParasitewon the hearts of audiences all around the world when it came out in 2019, making it one of the most successful Korean movies to land in international cinemas. In it, a low income family, living inside a basement apartment room, hatches a plan to infiltrate a wealthy family and work for them, but without letting them know they’re already related. The deeper they go into the plan, the more twisted it becomes.
A Perfect Mix of Genres
Parasitedeserves the praise it has received due to how it wonderfully mixes genres, inverting audience expectations as soon as the plot starts getting a little more complicated. With incredible acting as well,Parasitefeatures some of the biggest names in Korean entertainment, telling a universally resonantstory about capitalismand its grip on lower classes.Stream on Max
8The Battle of Algiers (1966)
The Battle of Algiersis a movie that was once banned in France due to how real it seemed. Released in 1966, the film takes place during the Algerian War and is filmed in a realistic documentary style, making the events unfolding on the screen seem even more raw and urgent. It depicts the Algerian War for Independence during the campaign in Algiers, showing how both the Algerian resistance and the colonizing French army are utilizing violence in horrendous ways.
Critical Stories, Excellent Filmmaking
The Battle of Algiershas been named one of the best films of all time, and that’s because of how the movie implements its realistic style. It also preserves a critical lens on the Battle of Algiers, hence why it was temporarily banned in France.Stream on Max
Related:How ’80s Comedies Attacked the Wealthy Upper Class
7Shoplifters (2018)
Hirokazu Kore-eda is one of the most prolific Japanese filmmakers working on the film scene, andShoplifters, which came out in Japanese theaters back in 2018, took home the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival that year. Set in Tokyo, one family lives on the outskirts of the city in relative poverty, relying on shoplifting from stores in order to survive. When they take in a girl, she becomes a part of the family, too.
An Endearing Story
The family inShopliftersmight not have much and scramble to survive, but they have big hearts. It’s hard to walk away from a movie like this without shedding a few tears in the process. Indeed, what resonates with audiences is the plight ofits dysfunctional familythat, through all their flaws and conflicts, remain united in the face of adversity.Stream on Hulu
6Roma (2018)
WhenRomawas released on Netflix, it made waves and would ultimately go on to become the first Mexican film to win an Academy Award for Best International Feature Film. Alfonso Cuaron’sblack and white movieis semi-autobiographical, and takes place in Mexico during the early-70s. Told through the perspective of an Indigenous housekeeper working with an upper class family, this certainly is a must-watch for many.
Moving Portraits and Powerful Storytelling
Romais a cinematic tour de force, bursting with emotion and craftmanship throughout its runtime. What’s more, it’s an important movie in how it depicts an Indigenous lead character (played by Oscar-nominee Yalitz Aparicio), making it a step forward for representation, especially when it comes to wealth inequality between groups.Stream on Netflix
5The Organizer (1963)
An Italian movie from the early-60s,The Organizeris often overlooked when it comes to the golden era of Italian cinema. Taking place in Northern Italy during the 1800s, the focus of this movie is a textile factory. It is full of men who work hard in order to get their coins and feed themselves and their families. As a labor activist finds out about the situation in the factory, the workers prepare to go on strike.
Realistic Stories
The core ofThe Organizeris about labor unions and fighting for what one thinks they deserve in the workplace, which resonates even today. Full of humor and humanity, it shows realistically what drives people to fight against their employers.Stream on The Criterion Channel
4A Touch of Sin (2013)
Director Jia Zhangkeis one of the best known Chinese filmmakers of the 2000s and onwards, and his filmA Touch of Sincan be considered a modern masterpiece. Split into four different stories, each taking place in different regions of China, the movie sheds light on social and wealth inequalities in every single story. Whether it’s a factory for electronics or a mining village grappling with corruption, inequality is the catalyst and driving force behind many of the film’s actions.
Devastating Poetics of Anger and Loss
Not only isA Touch of Singorgeous to watch, making it truly a visual experience, but it sticks with audiences. The film contains a lot of anger within its story, making it shocking, but also familiar in how these scenarios unfold on-screen.Stream on AMC+
Related:The Best Movies Where Social Class and Wealth Serve as a Barrier to Love
3Girlhood (2015)
Celine Sciamma’sGirlhoodis often underrated when it comes to discussions about her filmography, despite the movie gaining acclaim at film festivals when it was first released. Marieme, a teenager living on the outskirts of Paris, doesn’t have the best living situation. She lives in a rough neighborhood, her brother has to be in charge of the house, and she doesn’t do well in school. But when she meets a gang of girls while heading home one day, it will change everything for her.
A Feminine Coming-of-Age Story
Girlhoodis an incredibly unique story because of Sciamma’s focus: young Black women in France who are slipping through the cracks. Because of how raw the movie feels at time, it can easily resonate with many in the same situation as these girls, who aren’t from high socioeconomic classes at all.Stream on Paramount+
2Children of Heaven (1997)
1997’sChildren of Heavenwas directed by Majid Majidi, who became interested in film after the Iranian Revolution. The film’s focus is on a brother and sister, Ali and Zahra, who are nine and seven. They come from a poor Tehran family, and the siblings learn to cope with the financial reality of their situation, especially after Ali loses Zahra’s only pair of shoes.
Childhood, With Some Difficulties
Children of Heavenpositions itself as a story about youths, but still maintains the youthfulness towards the kids’ situation. It doesn’t insert adult-like commentary about the family’s finances, but instead feels like a portrait, as it should be.Rent on Prime Video
1The Host (2006)
InThe Host, which was directed by Bong Joon-ho, the film begins with major commentary. American scientists, despite being advised not to do this, dump major chemicals into the Han River in Seoul. This is one layer of the commentary, but as this forms a monster in the river that kills and kidnaps people, one family, who runs a snack shop on the side of the river, has to get their youngest back.
Rooted in Socioeconomic Inequality
Like many of Bong’s films,The Hostis packed full of critiques. From the American origins of the monster to how the family wouldn’t be in this situation if they weren’t forced to rely on a riverside snack shop, it’s hard to ignore the implications of some of the minor details in the film.Stream on Hulu
