Thought-Provoking Movies to Watch

Thought-provoking movies are an extraordinary way to explore the human soul. They can make us laugh, cry, get angry, and move us. But they can also make us think, stimulate our imagination, and make us see the world from a new perspective.

A thought-provoking movie is a movie that leaves us with something to think about, provokes questions, and invites us to reflect on our lives and the world around us. It can be a movie that deals with deep themes, such as the meaning of life, death, love, and loss. Or it can be a movie that simply makes us see things from a different perspective, that opens our minds to new possibilities.

Thought-provoking movies can be of any genre, from dramas to animated movies, from action movies to romantic movies. The important thing is that they are well-made, that they have a compelling story, and that they are able to touch the strings of our souls.

Themes of Thought-Provoking Movies

The themes that thought-provoking movies deal with are many and varied. Here are some of the most common ones:

• The meaning of life: what does it mean to live? What is our purpose in this world?
• Death: what happens after death? How to cope with the loss of a loved one?
• Love: what is love? How to find and keep love?
• Loss: how to cope with the loss of something or someone important?
• War: what does war mean? What are the consequences of war?
• Justice: what is justice? How to get justice?
• Ethics: what is right and what is wrong? How to make ethical decisions?

Thought-provoking movies are important because they can help us understand ourselves and the world around us better. They can help us reflect on our values, our goals, and our choices. They can help us grow as people and become more aware.

Watching a thought-provoking movie can be an intense and engaging experience. It can make us feel strong emotions, it can make us think about things we had never considered before. It can make us change our perspective and see the world differently.

Independent-arthouse movies can be a source of great personal growth. Here is a small selection of thought-provoking movies that might inspire you, make you take stock of your life or push you to reflect on the world we live in.

Metropolis (1926)

Director: Fritz Lang

Genre: Silent film, science fiction, drama

Plot: In a dystopian metropolis of the future, society is divided into two classes: the workers, who live in the depths of the earth, and the aristocrats, who live in a futuristic city suspended in the sky. When Maria, a sensitive and idealistic woman, descends into the workers’ city to spread the word of God, her message is corrupted by Rotwang, a mad scientist who is plotting to incite a revolt among the workers.

Reception: Metropolis was an immediate success upon its release in 1927, and has since been considered one of the masterpieces of silent cinema. The film was praised for its innovative direction, its stunning special effects, and its complex exploration of social issues.

Reflections: Metropolis is a film that reflects on the nature of progress, social class, and human relationships. The film suggests that technological progress is not necessarily synonymous with human progress and that the division between social classes can lead to disharmony and violence.

The film is also a reflection on the human condition and the conflict between individual desires and the needs of society. The film shows how it is possible to seek a balance between these two aspects, and how human progress can be achieved only through collaboration and mutual understanding.

The Crowd (1928)

Director: King Vidor

Genre: Silent film, drama, social commentary

Plot: A young man from the working class struggles to find his place in society and find love in a vast, impersonal urban environment.

Reception: The Crowd was a commercial and critical success upon its release in 1928, and has since been considered one of the masterpieces of silent cinema. The film was praised for its innovative cinematography, its realistic portrayal of urban life, and its powerful exploration of themes of alienation, isolation, and the struggle for identity.

Reflections: The Crowd is a film that invites us to reflect on the nature of human existence in modern society. The film suggests that the individual can be easily lost in the vastness of the city and that the pursuit of happiness can be elusive and frustrating.

The film is also a critique of capitalism and the commodification of human relationships. The film shows how individuals are often reduced to mere numbers or cogs in the machine of society, and that their individuality is lost in the pursuit of material possessions and social status.

Citizen Kane (1949)

Director: Orson Welles

Genre: Drama

Plot: Charles Foster Kane is an American tycoon who has everything: wealth, power, fame. But at the end of his life, he finds himself alone and unfulfilled. The film explores the themes of success and failure, wealth, and loneliness.

Reception: The film was an immediate success, both critically and commercially. It is considered one of the greatest films of all time and has influenced generations of filmmakers.

Reflections: The film reflects on the meaning of life and happiness. It shows us that success and wealth do not guarantee happiness, and that man is a complex being who needs more than material things to find fulfillment.

The film is a classic of American cinema, and it continues to be relevant today. It is a powerful reminder that the things we value most in life are not always the things that bring us the most happiness.

La strada (1954)

Director: Federico Fellini

Genre: Drama

Plot: Gelsomina and Zampano are two vagabonds who travel together through Italy. Gelsomina is an innocent and dreamy girl, and Zampano is a gruff and violent man. The film tells their story of love and suffering, and their struggle to survive in an indifferent world.

Reception: The film was a critical success, winning the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival. It is considered one of the masterpieces of Italian neorealism.

Reflections: The film reflects on the human condition and the difficulty of finding happiness in a world that is often cruel and indifferent. It shows us that love is a powerful force, but that it is not always enough to overcome the challenges of life.

The Seventh Seal (1957)

Director: Ingmar Bergman

Genre: Drama, Fantasy

Plot: The story is set in medieval Europe, ravaged by the plague. The knight Antonius Block returns from the Crusades, accompanied by his squire Jöns. On the beach, upon his arrival, the knight finds Death waiting for him, who has chosen that moment to take him away.

Reception: The Seventh Seal was a critical and commercial success. It won the Jury Prize at the 1957 Cannes Film Festival and received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay.

Reflections: The Seventh Seal is a film that invites reflection on several themes, including Life and Death: The film explores the theme of death deeply and provocatively. Death is represented as a real and tangible figure, with whom the knight Antonius Block is forced to confront. Faith: The film questions religious faith. Antonius Block, who is a Christian knight, finds himself having to face his own faith in a world of death and destruction.

Faust

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Horror, by F. W. Murnau, German, 1926.
Faust is an elderly scholar who has lost faith in life. He is defeated by his inability to help others and by his awareness of his own mortality. One day, he meets Mephistopheles, who offers him a pact: in exchange for his soul, Mephistopheles will give him eternal youth and power. Faust accepts the pact and Mephistopheles takes him to a world of luxury and pleasure. Faust falls in love with Gretchen, a young innocent woman, but their love is thwarted by Mephistopheles.

Faust is considered one of the greatest silent films ever made. It is a visually stunning film, with Murnau's use of expressionist imagery and symbolism to create a dark and atmospheric world. The film also features some of the most iconic scenes in cinema history, such as the sequence in which Faust and Mephistopheles fly on a magic carpet. In addition to its artistic merits, Faust was one of the last major German films produced before the rise of the Nazis. The film's dark and expressionist style later influenced directors such as Orson Welles and Fritz Lang. It is a visually stunning and thought-provoking film that explores the themes of temptation, redemption, and the human condition.

LANGUAGE: German
SUBTITLES: English, Spanish, French, Portuguese

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La notte (1961)

Director: Michelangelo Antonioni

Genre: Drama

Plot: The story begins with Giovanni and Lidia visiting a seriously ill friend in a hospital. Giovanni is a successful writer, while Lidia is a woman dissatisfied with her married life. After the hospital visit, the two attend a reception to present Giovanni’s new book. Lidia, however, feels uncomfortable and leaves early.

Reception: La notte was a critical and commercial success. It won the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival in 1961 and was nominated for two Academy Awards, for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay.

Reflections: La notte is a film that invites reflection on several themes, including the marriage crisis: The film explores the marriage crisis deeply and realistically. Giovanni and Lidia are two people who love each other, but who have lost their connection. Dissatisfaction: The film also explores the dissatisfaction that can lead to a marriage crisis. Loneliness: La Notte is a film about loneliness. Giovanni and Lidia feel lonely, even when they are together.

8½ (1963)

Director: Federico Fellini

Genre: Drama

Plot: Guido Anselmi is a director in a creative crisis. He is working on his new film, but he cannot find inspiration. The film is a portrait of the creative process and the difficulty of finding meaning in life.

Reception: The film was a critical success, winning the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. It is considered one of the masterpieces of Italian cinema.

Reflections: The film reflects on the meaning of life and art. It shows us that creativity is a precious gift, but that it can also be a source of great suffering.

Au Hasard Balthazar (1966)

Director: Robert Bresson

Genre: Drama

Plot: The story begins with Balthazar, a gentle and affectionate donkey, living with a young girl named Marie. Marie loves Balthazar very much, but her family is poor and must sell him.

Reception: Au hasard Balthazar was a critical and commercial success. It won the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival in 1966 and was nominated for two Academy Awards, for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay.

Reflections: Au hasard Balthazar is a film that invites reflection on several themes, including animal suffering: The film explores the suffering that animals can endure at the hands of humans. Balthazar is an innocent character who suffers injustice and cruelty. Human nature: The film suggests that human nature is often cruel and insensitive. Even people who seem good can be capable of violence and ingratitude. Faith: The film has been interpreted as a metaphor for Christian faith. Balthazar can be seen as a symbol of Christ, who was sacrificed for the good of humanity.

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

Director: Stanley Kubrick

Genre: Science fiction

Plot: A group of astronauts embark on a journey into space in search of a mysterious monolith. The film explores the themes of consciousness, evolution, and alienness.

Reception: The film was a critical success, but it was also criticized for its complexity and lack of dialogue. It is considered one of the most important films in cinema history.

Reflections: The film reflects on the nature of the universe and our place in it. It shows us that man is a small and insignificant being in a vast and mysterious universe.

Meshes of the Afternoon

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Experimental short film, by Maya Deren, United States, 1943.
Meshes of the Afternoon is one of the masterpieces of surrealistic cinema and American avant-garde and has become an iconic work in the world of experimental cinema. The film is characterized by a non-linear and dreamlike narrative that challenges traditional cinematic conventions. The plot revolves around a woman, played by Maya Deren herself, who experiences a series of strange and surreal events in a domestic setting. The objects and events in the film are laden with symbolism, and the film itself can be interpreted in various ways.

"Meshes of the Afternoon" is known for its innovative use of cinematography, with evocative framing and bold editing. Maya Deren uses cinema as an art form to explore the psychology and inner experiences of her character, creating a mysterious and unsettling atmosphere. The film has been influential for many subsequent filmmakers and cinematic artists, contributing to the definition of the language of experimental and avant-garde cinema. "Meshes of the Afternoon" is often studied in film courses and continues to be a reference work in the world of avant-garde and experimental cinema.

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Taxi Driver (1976)

Director: Martin Scorsese

Genre: Drama

Plot: Travis Bickle is a lonely taxi driver who turns into a killer. The film explores the themes of violence, loneliness, and madness.

Reception: The film was a critical success, winning the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. It is considered one of the most important films in cinema history.

Reflections: The film reflects on the nature of violence and madness. It shows us that violence can be a consequence of loneliness and frustration.

The film is a powerful and disturbing look at the dark side of human nature. It is a film that will stay with you long after you have seen it.

Apocalypse Now (1979)

Director: Francis Ford Coppola

Genre: War

Plot: A group of American soldiers venture into the jungles of Vietnam in search of a colonel who has gone mad. The film explores the themes of war, madness, and human nature.

Reception: The film was a critical success, but it was also criticized for its violence and length. It is considered one of the most important films in cinema history.

Reflections: The film reflects on the nature of war and madness. It shows us that war can corrupt even the sanest of people.

Time of the Gypsies (1988)

Director: Emir Kusturica

Genre: Drama

Plot: The story of a group of Gypsies living on the margins of society. The film explores the themes of identity, freedom, and culture.

Reception: The film was a critical success, winning the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. It is considered one of the most important films in cinema history.

Reflections: The film reflects on the importance of identity and freedom. It shows us that people of all cultures have the right to be free.

The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Director: Alan Parker

Genre: Drama

Plot: Andy Dufresne, a man wrongly convicted of murder, finds redemption in prison. The film explores the themes of hope, redemption, and resilience.

Reception: The film was a critical and commercial success, winning two Academy Awards. It is considered one of the most important films about redemption.

Reflections: The film reflects on the nature of hope and redemption. It shows us that hope can survive even in the most difficult of situations.

Mystery of an Employee

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Drama, thriller, by Fabio Del Greco, Italy, 2019.
Someone wants to control the life of the employee Giuseppe Russo: the products he buys, his political and religious faith, his private life, even his dreams. But he will do anything to escape control and find his true self. Giuseppe is a man of around 45, married, with a stable job and a home of his own. His life flows seemingly peacefully when he meets a mysterious tramp who gives him some old VHS video cassettes. Giuseppe begins to see video tapes in which he is filmed in some moments of his life since he was a child, then as a teenager and as a young man. Who shot those videos that he remembers nothing about? Giuseppe has the strange sensation of being constantly observed and begins to investigate what is happening. Through his investigation of him, he begins to rediscover his true identity and become aware of who he truly is.

Employee's Mystery is a film that highlights the danger of social control and shows a society where everyone is constantly monitored and conditioned in their deepest selves. The film is also an analysis of human nature and identity. Fabio Del Greco, who plays Giuseppe, gives an engaging performance. Equally good is Chiara Pavoni, in the role of Giada Rubin and Roberto Pensa in the role of the tramp. Employee's Mystery is a film that addresses important themes in an original way, a psychological thriller that keeps the viewer glued to the screen until the end: a metaphor for contemporary society, in which people are increasingly monitored and conditioned by the media and technologies . It is a courageous and provocative work, which addresses important themes in an original way.

LANGUAGE: Italian
SUBTITLES: English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese

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The Thin Red Line (2001)

Director: Terrence Malick

Genre: War

Plot: The story of a group of American soldiers during World War II, who come to terms with violence and death. The film explores the themes of war, human nature, and spirituality.

Reception: The film was a critical success, but it was also criticized for its length and complexity. It is considered one of the most important films about World War II.

Reflections: The film reflects on the nature of war and human nature. It shows us that war can corrupt even the best people.

Day 122 (2016)

Director: Fulvio Ottaviano

Genre: Science fiction, drama

Plot: A group of survivors of a train accident find themselves isolated in the Apennines between Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna. After waiting in vain for help, the survivors set out into the snowy forest in search of food and shelter.

Reception: The film premiered at the Rome Film Festival in 2016 and received positive reviews from critics. It was praised for its direction, screenplay, and cinematography.

Reflections: Day 122 is a film that reflects on human nature, society, and the environment. The film suggests that human nature is capable of great generosity and altruism, but also of great cruelty and violence.

The film is also a reflection on contemporary society, which is increasingly individualistic and competitive. The film shows how environmental catastrophe can lead to the breakdown of society and the struggle for survival.