Lily Schricker:
(TW: violence - this movie contains scenes that include torture and violence, so please use your discretion when choosing whether or not to watch this movie)
My movie recommendation for August is “Argo”. Argo is a 2012 American historical drama thriller film directed by Ben Affleck. Based on true events, the movie chronicles the life-or-death covert operation to rescue six Americans, which unfolded following the Iran hostage crisis on November 4, 1979, where militants stormed the U.S. embassy in Tehran and took 52 Americans hostage. While the majority of the embassy staff are taken as hostages, six avoid capture and are sheltered in the home of Canadian ambassador Ken Taylor. Knowing it is only a matter of time before the six are found out, CIA exfiltration specialist Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck) comes up with a risky plan to rescue them. This plan entailed disguising the escapees as Canadian filmmakers who are in Iran scouting exotic locations for a science-fiction film.
Argo was nominated for seven Academy Awards and won three for Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Film Editing. The film also earned five Golden Globe Award nominations. I would recommend this movie to anyone who would like to learn about the Iranian hostage crisis, and understand Canada’s historical role in saving American lives.
You can find the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w918Eh3fij0
Rhiannon Day:
My movie recommendation for this month is “Dr Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb”. While neither a political documentary nor based on a true story, this 1964 dark comedy is important for the political culture in the United States because it makes light of the fears during the Cold War over nuclear conflict between the Soviet Union and the US. This movie follows the breakdown of an American air force general who instigates a nuclear strike on Soviet land, and the consequences of the military and political choices that eventually cause the looming threat of global annihilation. This satire touches on the paranoia of wartime, conflict between American forces, negotiation between the US President and Soviet Ambassadors, as well as the hypotheticals of surviving nuclear war. This film has received many accolades following its production, including ranking among the American Film Institute's best films of all time, and was chosen to be preserved in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress due to its cultural significance. One of the strangest, and funniest, political movies I’ve seen, I definitely recommend it!
You can find the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rF5XftjRGM
Katherine Hackett:
(TW: sexual assault - this movie does include scenes of sexual assault, so please use your discretion when choosing whether or not to watch this movie)
Hello everyone! My movie recommendation for August 2020 is “Incendies'' directed by Denis Villeneuve. This French-Canadian film is a fictional movie that takes place both in Quebec and in the Middle East. Nawal is an immigrant living in Canada, who dies and leaves to her two children Jeanne and Simon letters to give to their father, who they believed to be dead, and their brother, who Simon and Jeanne were unaware existed. This film follows two narratives – one in the future where Jeanne tries to find her father to deliver the letter and Simon trying to find his brother. It also follows a narrative in the past, where it focuses on Nawal’s story, and the atrocities she has gone through. Nawal’s story is both heartbreaking and portrays the strength someone must have to survive. Nawal must undergo many traumatic events to survive, whether it is a civil war, becoming a prisoner or being raped. This movie will keep the viewers on the edge of their seats throughout the film’s 131 minutes. Incendies is a fascinating movie that discusses politics, war, immigration, and humanity. This movie is an eye opener to show what true resilience looks like and portrays the harsh difficulties of refugees and immigrants seeking a better life in Western countries.
You can find the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nycksytL1A
Mauladad Bashar Doost:
(TW: violence - this movie contains scenes that include violence, so please use your discretion when choosing whether or not to watch this movie)
“The Platform” is a fictitious thriller film that gives an understanding of the social level struggles. This movie gives a critical insight on social levels, the definition of economic prosperity and our society’s indifference towards the poor. It challenges you to an in-depth reflection that might engage your minds for days. The events of the movie though strange they look, but with a reflection, you will figure out that they are the shocking realities of our everyday lives and society. I recommend everyone who will watch to pay careful attention to every detail of the events in the movie, so you discover their links to real life. Certainly, you will appreciate the creativity spent to make this movie a masterpiece.
You can find the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlfooqeZcdY
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