The theater grows dim as the screen lights up. The opening credits begin to play. You sit there in the midst of a gamble. Is this film really going to be worth your time? Was it really worth the nine dollars to get in? The only downside of this gamble is that it takes a while to play out - you won't find out if you won until the ending credits roll.
What brings us back to the theater time and time again? Or what compels us to rent a movie when we have no idea whether or not we'll like it?
For some, movies are one of the ways to learn life lessons. There is something about seeing other people make mistakes and learn from them. It is compelling and heartwarming to see people rise above their surrounding and their personal cards that life dealt them. They are films you can watch again and again, learning every time. If I learn something from a movie, I consider it worth my time and money.
The films below are great examples of inspiring stories. They aren't your normal happy-go-lucky films. They are stories of life - where people learn and grow and conquer. They'll have you laughing and crying right along with them. And perhaps, just like me, you'll walk away inspired to take a leap of faith, to do more or to ask for forgiveness.
Sometimes, the hardest battles are fought in the heart. We never see what goes on beneath the smiles and half-hearted reply "I'm good, thank you."
This film tells the story of P.L. Travers, who wrote Mary Poppins while she travels to L.A. to discuss selling the rights to her book to Walt Disney. She is quite the proper British lady, whose list of demands makes it seemingly impossible to produce the film.
But, underneath it all, it is really the story of a woman whose past hasn't passed but dictates her every move. Can she ever learn to find happiness again?
The fight against legalized slavery is one known well through-out the United States. It was a fight that culminated in Civil War and the deaths of hundreds of thousands of men.
But the fight against slavery in England is a story that is quite different from it's former colonies. It began with a group of devoted abolitionists who fought against long-standing traditions of shipping slaves in a country where the slave trade was the livelihood of many. But they knew that enslaving and shipping human beings like cattle was morally wrong.
It took many years, and there were times when all hope seemed lost. This is a story of perseverance, trust, and faith above all other things.
Running, whether for competitions, for pleasure, or for exercise, is a sport that divides those who discuss it. It is lauded for its health benefits by many, and rebuked by others.
Whatever your personal stance is regarding the sport, this is a film that shows the power of running. It tells the story of an underprivileged town in California; a town full of hardship. But when one teacher sees a group of incredibly fast students runners, he is determined to form a cross country team. He succeeds in forming the team but faces other obstacles. None of these students have run long distances before and many work long and hard in the fields after school, helping support their families.
It seems like a simple, straightforward film about people learning a new sport. But it isn't just about running, it's about changing lives, one determined step at a time.
The battle of racism and discrimination wasn't over with the end of the Civil War. It was a battle fought for many years, legally recognized through the use of laws that promoted the now disgraced theory of "separate but equal."
Segregation and discrimination weren't just in schools, stores, and sporting events, it also took place on the court. This is the story of a coach who defied tradition and unwritten rules by recruiting black basketball players and actually playing them.
The coach was belittled, his family was threatened and at one point, a player is assaulted. Does he give up? Watch the film to find out more.
(*For families with young children, this film does contain a little language.)
The Nazi regime was full of atrocities against men, women and children. It was a time of fear and terror for its people and the citizens of the world. But its crimes weren't limited to the living; they extended to those monuments of our beautiful and culturally diverse history.
Hitler, an avid fan of art, authorized the looting of art throughout his regime. When he realized the war wasn't turning in his favor, those under his command were authorized to destroy it. This is the story of the men who were in a race against time to preserve our heritage.
"If you destroy an entire generation of people's culture, it's as if they never existed. That's what Hitler wants and it's the one thing we can't allow." -Frank Stokes, The Monuments Men
Perhaps we will never realize our impact on the world. We think our contribution will be meaningless. But nothing we do is ever wasted. These men weren't able to save everything, but they did their best and helped save our culture.
So, if you're wanting to watch a movie that is inspiring and uplifting, take a chance and try these films. They are well worth your time.
