Netflix, procrastination’s best friend, and the college student’s worst enemy. Here are 12 movies you should watch, that you may not have given a chance before, ( yes I have watched all these movies, and they have all received my stamp of approval).
1. The True Cost
A film documenting the effects that fast fashion and constantly changing trends have had not only on the environment, but on the lives of those people in the third world countries that are employed to create all these clothes. Focusing on sustainability, the importance of ethical fashion, and what will happen to the world if we don’t change, this documentary will open your eyes to the truth behind your closet.
2. Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things
The title says it all, this documentary is about the truly important things in life, love and happiness. Following two young men who call themselves “The Minimalists” on a tour of their new book, this documentary highlights what a change of focus from monetarily gained pleasures to the pleasures of companionship and necessity. By understanding the importance of living with less, one can change their lives from simply focusing on gaining more and never being happy with the result, to gaining simply what you need and seeing the value in it all.
3. Forks Over Knives
This documentary discusses the true reasons behind obesity, high cholesterol/blood pressure, cancers, and many other diseases people suffer from. By viewing the effects of animal based foods on the body, this film shows and explains how a plant based diet can completely reverse the diseases one has, and prevent future diseases from affecting your body. Anti-vegan’s don’t get angry, this documentary gives the facts, numbers, and real life examples of the effects of a plant based diet.
4. Half the Sky
This documentary tells the stories of women across ten countries who are fighting against oppression by shedding a light on the dangers of sex trafficking and violence based on gender. Empowering for all, this documentary is a must watch.
5. Awake: The Life of Yogananda
This film is based on the biography that follows the life of the Hindu Swami who brought yoga and meditation to the western world in the 1920’s. By examining the world of yoga, ancient and modern, from across 30 countries, this film shows why millions of people across the globe have turned their attention away from the material world and into the spiritual on their pursuit of self-realization.
6. Planet Earth: The Complete Collection
Learn about the beautiful Earth you live on in this short eleven-episode documentary series by BBC. Watching this series is a good way to become better in tune with the world that we may not be able to see for ourselves, and shows the lives of the most prominent animals in each biome.
7. Food Inc.
This documentary highlights the industrial turn that the food industry has taken in the past twenty-some years in a world that demands faster and cheaper goods. By examining such a growth in the power of factory farms and industries that sell genetically modified animals and produce, this documentary is able to express the effects that this is having on our health, mindset, and general wellbeing. This film is a good way to educate yourself about the effects that the decisions you make in the supermarket check out line have.
8. The 13th
The 13th amendment makes it unconstitutional for someone to be held as a slave…EXCEPT, if they are being punished for a crime. However, in an era where a mythology of black criminality has been created around the African American population, it doesn’t seem to matter whether or not you even committed a crime at all. This documentary shows the truth behind why certain people are locked up and how money is made by their staying in correctional facilities.
9. Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret
This documentary takes you into the world of factory farming, it’s effects of the environment, and why none of the organizations that are supposed to be reversing these effects and “saving the planet” really know what goes on in the factory farms or turn their efforts towards the real problem. By examining the effects that animals, specifically the massive amounts of cows in this food industry have on the environment, this documentary shows you what choosing meat actually means to the changing world.
10. Hungry for Change
Everywhere you turn, there is either an ad about some fast food chain or some kind of weight loss program, and although they may seem drastically different, they really all focus on the same thing; food. This documentary shows how our relationship with food has changed and where we’ve gone wrong. It expresses the dangerous amounts of sugar that people are consuming today, and through the experience of doctors and nutritionists, shows it’s watchers how to change for the better.
11. Super Size Me
Last one about food, I promise! This documentary follows Morgan Spurlock on his journey to see what fast food really does to your body. In this film, one realizes the true cost of low priced, unhealthy food, made for a massive market, on the health, emotions, and lives of those that eat it consistently.
12. Super High Me
A slightly different take on the movie mentioned above, this documentary follows Doug Benson on his journey of not smoking anything for 30 days, followed by 30 days of smoking excessive amounts of medical marijuana. During both these periods, his iq is tested and recorded, with absurd results.
