Image by Alfred Derks from Pixabay
Now that you have had two weeks to read the top five books that I recommended for the duration of the lockdown, it’s time to change gear and take a look at my top five film recommendations. Anyone who knows me might be raising an eyebrow at this, with my infamously poor knowledge of film and TV trivia – but when I do sit down in front of the silver screen, it will always be a masterpiece.
My taste for history will no doubt come through in this collection but will nonetheless attempt to steer away from clichés or hot takes simply for the sake of hot takes. Instead they are five films that not only alleviate the lockdown boredom, but make you feel like you have productively learnt something; easing the guilt of that still incomplete university essay whose deadline is fast approaching
The Imitation Game
Sat in the Downing Street drawing room, Boris Johnson proclaimed Covid-19 to be the biggest national crisis since the war. Just like the current crisis, it is not only those on the front lines who are at the front of fighting, but those behind the scenes and the Imitation Game follows the story of Alan Turing and his Bletchley Park codebreakers.
Mistreated in his time, the film gives an all too real account of Turing’s life, filled with tragedy and brilliance. A misunderstood and mistreated genius who was undoubtedly one of the key figures in the effort to defeat the Nazi’s in World War Two.
The Death of Stalin
2020 has been so wild that you would be forgiven for forgetting that just weeks ago we all thought the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had died. Commentary of the potential power struggle often drew comparisons between the contest to replace Stalin. The film follows the pursuit of power amongst the council of ministers to replace him: Lavrentiy Beria, Georgy Malenkov, Nikita Khrushchev, Vyacheslav Molotov.
The hilarious comedy is the perfect light-hearted relief for any lockdown film binge. Having been banned in Russia for being an “unfriendly act by the British intellectual class”, the film provides a comic take on history and should be a part of any lockdown watch list.
1917
By now my reverence for historical films should be clear, but no film on this comes close to the 2019 release, 1917. The war drama accounts the perilous journey of Lance Corporal Schofield and Lance Corporal Blake across enemy territory to deliver a message to abort an attack that could lead to the death of thousands of comrades.
Few films come close to the cinematographic masterpiece of 1917 and its dramatic and heart wrenching story may not be a light watch, but it is one of the most moving and thought-provoking films of recent times.
Bridget Jones’ Diary
Off-brand here, but some light relief is needed after watching 1917 and nothing fills that bracket better than a rom com. Although there should be a special shout out for About Time, no rom com worth its salt can exist without featuring Hugh Grant. Grant plays himself again, but with the added competition for on screen heartthrob Colin Firth.
Far from the cinematic masterpiece of some of the other entries, it is a classic of the genre and is extremely watchable. Bridet Jones’ Diary comes with an even funnier sequel and a third film following a decade and a half later – although Bridget Jones’ Baby is not worthy of this list. Perhaps best consumed with a glass of rose wine in hand, it marks a step change from my other recommendations, but is no less enjoyable.
12 Years a Slave
After a brief foray into uncharted territory, it is now back to the moving historical dramas, and few are better than 12 years a Slave. Based on the Soloman Northup biographical novel, it follows Northup – born a free man in New York – who was tricked into slavery.
Tricked into travelling to Washington D.C., he was kidnapped and transported south, to Louisiana, where he spent 12 years before being released. The heart wrenching film portrays the brutal realities of slavery in the United States and is a must watch for anyone using lockdown to further their understanding of history and the world around them.
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Calum Paton is a History and Politics student at the University of Warwick. His writing predominantly focuses on American and British politics. Twitter: @Paton_Calum
