Racism on TV and in Film
Race comes up as an issue in many films and TV series, and there are some excellent documentaries on the subject - for example, the Secret Policeman. When it is tackled in mainstream films, it is difficult to avoid extreme violence and language. For example, read this site's review of Gran Torino. This is England is a superb, honest and disturbing Shae Meadows film that is far too violent for a secondary classroom. American History X does much the same on American soil, and whilst a little more contrived, it is no less challenging, courageous and enlightening.
So, of the films you can actually show to students:
| Film | Rating/5 | Cover |
| Crash (15)- There's bad language and an unpleasant sexual assault in a muddled collection of intertwining stories. Overall though, this film highlights racial tensions in LA from a number of angles. I show students the storyline with the invisible bullet-proof top - brings a lump to my throat every time. [Don't confuse this 2005 film with the awful 1990s film of the same name!] |  |
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Borat - A controversial choice, but an important film. Borat is an anti-Semite who travels round America and meets many like-minded people. The character is played by a Jewish actor who keeps kosher and attends synagogue - in fact his fiance studied for years to convert to Judaism before they married. Many students are surprised by this and that's the biggest concern I have - students have to be allowed to discover the truth behind the film, otherwise you're just laughing at racist jokes. To start conversation going on race and whether the Holocaust could happen today, show 'Throw the Jew down the well'. Shows how racism can be totally stupid and infectious at the same time. |
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