Films about injustice delve into stories where individuals or communities face unfair treatment, discrimination, or the violation of their rights, stirring emotions and raising awareness about societal issues. These movies often provoke thought, inspire change, and challenge viewers to reflect on their perceptions of right and wrong, fairness, and equity. Here are some compelling films that tackle various facets of injustice:
“Philadelphia”, 1993
Director: Jonathan Demme
Starring Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington, this film tackles the discrimination faced by AIDS patients and homosexuals. Hanks plays a talented lawyer who is unjustly fired because of his condition, leading to a court battle for his rights and dignity.
Starring: Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington, Antonio Banderas, Jason Robards, Mary Steenburgen, Joanne Woodward, Charles Napier, Robert Ridgely, Bradley Whitford, Ron Vawter;
Production year: 1993;
Genre: drama;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 125 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,7;
More information about the film “Philadelphia” on the website imdb.com
“Erin Brockovich”, 2000
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Based on a true story, Julia Roberts stars as an unemployed single mother who becomes a legal assistant and brings down a California power company accused of polluting a city's water supply. It's a fight against corporate injustice and environmental harm.
Starring: Julia Roberts, Albert Finney, Aaron Eckhart, Peter Coyote, Cherry Jones, Tracey Walter, Conchata Ferrell, Marg Helgenberger, David Brisbin, Dawn Didawick;
Production year: 2000;
Genre: drama, biography;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 126 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,4;
More information about the film “Erin Brockovich” on the website imdb.com
“Hotel Rwanda”, 2004
Director: Terry George
This historical drama tells the harrowing true story of Paul Rusesabagina, a hotel manager who housed over a thousand Tutsi refugees during their struggle against the Hutu militia in Rwanda, showcasing the harsh reality of genocide and political injustice.
Starring: Don Cheadle, Sophie Okonedo, Nick Nolte, Cara Seymour, Joaquin Phoenix, Jean Reno, Fana Mokoena, David O'Hara, Tony Kgoroge, Desmond Dube;
Production year: 2004;
Genre: drama, war, biography, history;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 121 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,1;
More information about the film “Hotel Rwanda” on the website imdb.com
“12 Years a Slave”, 2013
Director: Steve McQueen
A biographical period drama based on the autobiography of Solomon Northup, a free African-American man who was kidnapped and sold into slavery in the pre-Civil War United States. It's a powerful portrayal of slavery and racial injustice.
Starring: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Lupita Nyong'o, Sarah Paulson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Brad Pitt, Paul Dano, Paul Giamatti, Alfre Woodard, Adepero Oduye;
Production year: 2013;
Genre: drama, biography, history;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 133 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,1;
“Selma”, 2014
Director: Ava DuVernay
Chronicling the Selma to Montgomery voting rights marches led by Martin Luther King Jr. in 1965, this film provides a poignant look at the struggle against racial discrimination and the fight for equal voting rights.
Starring: David Oyelowo, Carmen Ejogo, Tom Wilkinson, Tim Roth, Lorraine Toussaint, Common, Giovanni Ribisi, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Oprah Winfrey, Cuba Gooding Jr.;
Production year: 2014;
Genre: drama, biography, history;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 128 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,5;
More information about the film “Selma” on the website imdb.com
“Spotlight”, 2015
Director: Tom McCarthy
This film follows The Boston Globe's “Spotlight” team, the oldest continuously operating newspaper investigative journalist unit in the United States, and its investigation into the widespread child sex abuse cases in the Boston area by numerous Roman Catholic priests. It highlights the injustice of institutional cover-ups and the power of investigative journalism.
Starring: Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber, John Slattery, Stanley Tucci, Brian d'Arcy James, Elena Wohl, Gene Amoroso, Doug Murray;
Production year: 2015;
Genre: drama, crime, biography;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 129 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,1;
“Just Mercy”, 2019
Director: Destin Daniel Cretton
Based on a true story, this legal drama follows young lawyer Bryan Stevenson (Michael B. Jordan) and his history-making battle for justice. After graduating from Harvard, Bryan might have had his pick of lucrative jobs but instead heads to Alabama to defend those wrongly condemned or who were not afforded proper representation, with the support of local advocate Eva Ansley (Larson). One of his first, and most incendiary, cases is that of Walter McMillian (Jamie Foxx), who, in 1987, was sentenced to die for the notorious murder of an 18-year-old girl, despite a preponderance of evidence proving his innocence and the fact that the only testimony against him came from a criminal with a motive to lie. In the years that follow, Bryan becomes embroiled in a labyrinth of legal and political maneuverings and overt and unabashed racism as he fights for Walter, and others like him, with the odds—and the system—stacked against them.
Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Foxx, Brie Larson, Rob Morgan, Rafe Spall, Tim Blake Nelson, O'Shea Jackson Jr., Lindsay Ayliffe, C.J. LeBlanc, Ron Clinton Smith;
Production year: 2019;
Genre: biography, drama, crime;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 137 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,6;
More information about the film “Just Mercy” on the website imdb.com
Each of these films provides a unique perspective on injustice, whether it be through the lens of racial discrimination, legal inequality, corporate malfeasance, or institutional corruption, encouraging viewers to reflect upon and advocate for a more just and equitable society.
In wrapping up our exploration of films that grapple with the complex, often heart-wrenching theme of injustice, we discover a tapestry of stories that span cultures, timelines, and societal issues, yet all converge at the critical intersection of empathy, awareness, and action. These cinematic endeavors, from the dramatic courtrooms of “To Kill a Mockingbird” to the dystopian landscapes of “The Shawshank Redemption,” not only mirror societies' perennial struggles with inequity and malfeasance but also spotlight the indomitable spirit of those who stand in defiance of such injustices. They serve as poignant reminders of cinema's power not just to reflect reality but to challenge and even change it, urging audiences to confront uncomfortable truths while inspiring hope for a world where justice is not merely an ideal, but a reality for all. Through their narratives, these films underscore the urgency of addressing the roots of injustice across the globe, advocating for a collective movement towards greater empathy, understanding, and, ultimately, action.
