The Power of Film — 5 Films That Changed My Life
Oxygen Film Festival Manager at Unfold Stories
Film holds an immense power. Not only does it represent a form of escapism or entertainment, but it also has the capacity to make us feel and allows us to experience a story rich with emotion and sentiment.
Our love of film is reflected in popular discourse, with the latest story — be it news, entertainment, or politics — always triggering debate and discussion, everyone taking away their own subjective understanding. TV’s, theatres, and streaming platforms are widely accessible and enable the majority of society to share and enjoy.
Film’s accessibility facilitates the diverse and powerful culture of cinema, making it the perfect medium to use to increase awareness on a range of social issues.
With this in mind, when we harness the tools of film the impact can be huge. We can tell real stories from a range of perspectives leaving no voice unheard. This is crucial if we wish to visualise what is needed for real and impactful societal change.
My time at Unfold Stories has taught me exactly this: the power of storytelling and the importance of the audiences these stories reach and influence. I wish to pursue a career with this in mind — a specific focus on creating agenda setting documentaries that can act as a catalyst for social change.
Films represent such issues in a variety of ways and through a variety of genres, be it an insightful documentary, arthouse drama, or gripping blockbuster; all of which I love and enjoy equally. I was able to pursue my interest in utilising film to encourage social change and awareness while working on Oxygen Film Festival during my time with Unfold Stories.
The event inspired climate action based on a centerpiece film, paired with immersive experiences and engaging installations. I look forward to seeing the impact generated from this film festival in action.
For now, I want to share with you the films that really made a difference for me and shone a light on the immense power of storytelling in film.
Anthony — BBC
This programme is based on Anthony Walker, a black teenager who was brutally murdered in a racial attack in 2005.
Unlike most documentary films, this is a docudrama which follows Anthony’s life in reverse chronology, as he could have lived it. It documents his milestones of completing school, a successful career, marriage and children, which his mother helped to envision.
Throughout the feature-length programme the audience build a strong connection with Anthony and his successes. The programme concludes by reversing back time to when his horrific murder took place, taking away the life that he could have lived.
I was touched by this programme, as Anthony’s mother was able to convey the pain she experienced in the fictional element of the film, which enables viewers to build a connection with his character, only for it to be taken away.
Documentaries can often create distance between the viewer and the story as they are seeing the story but not feeling it. The truly devastating impacts of this crime, and racially motivated attacks more widely, can be understood but also felt by the audience with this docudrama-style film.
“The fulfilled potential played out on screen is a powerful message of what was lost. But it is also just a single iteration of the infinite possibilities which awaited Anthony. In 90 minutes, we experience just one of his innumerable lives; we are temporarily exposed to the never-ending thoughts which plague Anthony’s loved ones: their “life sentence” of never knowing what could have been.” — Annabel Nugent for the Independent
Ambulance — BBC
Ambulance is an documentary series that follows the work of the Ambulance service in the UK. It tells the story of both those working in the call centres, making difficult decisions on who will be receiving treatment and when, and the paramedics responding to these callers.
This series gives vital insight into the work of the NHS, which is often not visible to the wider public. I believe this insightful programme is important now more than ever following the effects of Covid-19.
The programme depicts very troubling scenes as well as uplifting ones. While this can be difficult to watch, it has opened my eyes to the intense but amazing work the NHS do and has increased my appreciation of it.
“It was a privilege to lead the project — it promoted London Ambulance as a great place to work, we encouraged debate and discussion about really pressing issues affecting healthcare services in London, including poor mental health and drug abuse, and we boosted morale among our 7,600 staff and volunteers.” — Pauline O’Brien for PR Week
It’s a Sin — Channel 4
It’s a Sin is a drama series following a group of friends, new to London in the 80s, whose lives are grievously impacted by the emerging HIV/AIDS epidemic. The series covers the extensive struggles the LGBTQ+ community faced and still face, including coming out, sexual freedom, religion and sexuality, unaccepting family, assault, and discrimination.
Furthermore, while heterosexual sex scenes dominate the film industry, it was refreshing for this drama to depict honest and intimate homosexual sex scenes that covered educational struggles within the community.
I began this series with what I thought was a good understanding of the epidemic, and left with a breadth of knowledge and feeling I could not have experienced through other forms of information. Each heart wrenching character story made me realise how many would have experienced and still experience the struggles depicted in It’s a Sin.
The impact of the series was felt UK wide, with conversations opening up about experiences of the crisis, getting tested, and the treatments and preventions that are now available, which will have positive ramifications for both the community and wider society.
“I was struck by how it evokes that period: it did feel like I was almost watching home movies, except with much higher production values.” — Richard Coles for the Guardian
Tales by Light: Misunderstood Predators — Netflix
Misunderstood Predators is a two-part episode from the second series of Tales by Light. The programme aims to shed light on the true nature of two notoriously dangerous species, sharks and anacondas.
The focus is on photographer, Eric Cheng, who is attempting to change this misconception. It follows his work as a photographer, capturing these animals in their natural environment, challenging how they have been defined through the media and popular culture.
The episode following bull sharks in the Bahamas, immensely developed my view of sharks. Although I have always been fascinated by them, I have simultaneously feared them. A particular scene, that went viral, shows the sharks interacting with humans in a similar manner to dogs, which contradicts the belief that they are vicious man-eating creatures.
It also shows the devastating impacts of shark poaching in an attempt to boost the protection of a species which may previously have been neglected due these misconceptions. I felt the very real impact of this programme when I found myself with the opportunity to swim with a wild tiger shark in Western Australia. I was initially afraid of the shark, but I reminded myself of the programme and had an unbelievable experience swimming next to such a beautiful but misunderstood creature.
“These episodes end with pleas to reach out and support their efforts to stop rampant fishing and encroachment upon the living spaces of the wild — an aim that their evocative photographs abundantly aid.” — Vikram Johri for Rediff
When They See Us — Netflix
When They See Us is a drama series based on the true story of the Central Park Five, where five young people of colour were charged for the assault and rape of a jogger in 1989. The series, which spans a quarter of a century, follows the incident, their questioning, the discriminatory investigation and trial, life in prison, and finally, their exoneration.
The drama gives us a realistic inside look at the experiences of innocent people of colour in the criminal justice system. This drama may be more impactful than the ‘Central Park Five’ documentary because visualising people’s experiences can be even more hard hitting than hearing about them. When the real Central Park Five are introduced at the end of the series, you are able to understand their story better as we have seen the horror they experienced.
My studies at university in Sociology and Criminology opened my eyes to the level of injustice within the system, however this series made me feel the level of discrimination the black community has had to endure.
I believe this series provides a voice to the victims and will be eye opening to those with less knowledge of the biases within the criminal justice system and the daily discrimination faced by people of colour. I hope heightened awareness of these injustices will enable people to challenge injustice they may see in society.
“It does as much as it can to recast the gaze on Black and brown people, eliciting empathy and the desire for justice. It demonizes the right people and demands your fury over the events presented.” — Odie Henderson for Roger Ebert
