Suggested Documentaries for Those Interested in Social Justice
The documentaries in this list do not necessarily represent the opinions and beliefs of CSJ or the University of Florida. These films have been selected for their content as they address issues and provide information that may be relevant to social justice. All of these documentaries can be found on Netflix. Please remember to take note of the rating of each film should you choose to obtain them.
Hell and Back Again: In this unvarnished documentary set on the Afghan front line, U.S. Marine Sgt. Nathan Harris is wounded by Taliban machine-gun fire, then returns to his North Carolina home to grapple with the stress of civilian life.
Waiting for Superman: Dynamic documentarian Davis Guggenheim weaves together stories about students, families, educators and reformers to shed light on the failing public school system and its consequences for the future of the United States.
I Am a Promise: The Children of Stanton Elementary School: In this revealing, Academy Award-winning documentary produced by HBO, directors Alan and Susan Raymond step into the Stanton Elementary School in North Philadelphia to shed light on the struggles that its students, teachers and administrators face each day: inadequate housing, drug addiction, unrelenting poverty and rampant crime. What's revealed is a testament to willpower and the human spirit, their prime vehicles on the road to success.
The One Percent: In this eye-opening documentary, filmmaker Jamie Johnson examines the gap that exists between America's poor and the 1 percent of the population that controls half the country's wealth. Johnson, himself an heir to the Johnson & Johnson fortune, interviews Milton Friedman, Bill Gates Sr., Steve Forbes and other wealthy men, revealing the enormous social and political effect financial disparity has on America's current state.
Dark Days: Documentarian Marc Singer trains his camera on a group of homeless people who live in an abandoned New York City railroad tunnel. At night, they retreat underground, where they have a sense of community that many surface dwellers would envy.
Emmanuel's Gift: Oprah Winfrey narrates this inspirational look at living with a disability in Ghana -- where the physically handicapped are outcast -- as seen through the eyes of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah, who was born with a deformed right leg. While most of the nation's 2 million citizens deemed "disabled" suffer discrimination, abandonment and ridicule, Emmanuel has dedicated his life to traveling the country via bicycle to open people's minds and to transform lives.
THIN: Filmmaker Lauren Greenfield chronicles six months in the lives of four women undergoing treatment for eating disorders in this revealing documentary that captures the stark realities of the disease with unprecedented access. Powerful and haunting, the film follows four anorexics ranging from age 15 to 30 as they undergo therapy sessions, endure daily weigh-ins and battle with staff at a Florida treatment center.
The Heart of the Game: Attending predominantly white Roosevelt High because her mother thinks she'll have better opportunities under the school's successful coach, gifted black hoopster Darnellia Russell puts herself -- and her coach -- through the wringer. Shot in a suburban Seattle high school over a seven-year period, director Ward Serrill's stirring documentary explores the complicated relationship between gender, race and organized sports.
This Emotional Life: Harvard psychologist and best-selling author Dr. Daniel Gilbert hosts this three-part PBS series that explores the range of human emotions and how we can strive to become more positive in our day-to-day lives.
Crude: Joe Berlinger's provocative documentary explores the ongoing battle waged by 30,000 indigenous Ecuadorans and their lawyers against Chevron for dumping billions of gallons of toxic waste into the Amazon, a catastrophe dubbed the "Amazon Chernobyl."
The First Year: This fascinating documentary chronicles the emotional turmoil of five Los Angeles schoolteachers charged with educating inner-city youth, making it clear that the teachers helping these disadvantaged children are real heroes. The First Year, originally aired on PBS stations throughout the country, is helmed by Davis Guggenheim (director of An Inconvenient Truth) and narrated by Elisabeth Shue. Also included is the Guggenheim-directed short "Teach.
Beyond Belief: Two strangers, Patti Quigley and Susan Retik, formed a common bond in their grief when both lost their husbands on Sept. 11, 2001. This documentary chronicles how the two coped with their unimaginable loss, traveling to Afghanistan to meet women there who were also widowed by violence. Director Beth Murphy follows Quigley and Retik as they discover that they share a kinship with their Middle Eastern counterparts, even though they're worlds apart.
Becoming Chaz: This gripping documentary from directors Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato follows the deeply emotional journey of Chastity Bono, daughter of entertainers Sonny and Cher, as she embarks on a program of gender reassignment to become a man. Focusing on the emotional ramifications of her decision as much as the hormone shots, surgery and other changes to her body, this film chronicles one person's odyssey to become the man he always knew he was.
Small Town Gay Bar: Despite the collective outings of Ellen DeGeneres, Elton John, Rosie O'Donnell and Olympic diver Greg Louganis, homophobia is alive and well -- especially in the small towns of the Deep South. Focusing on the day-to-day struggles of two Mississippi gay bars and the grateful patrons who often travel hundreds of miles to find them, filmmaker Malcolm Ingram reveals a surprisingly close community that treats its residents like family members.
Sons of Perdition: Following three teenage boys who've left a polygamist sect over a 2-year period, filmmakers Tyler Measom and Jennilyn Merten offer up a poignant portrayal of the overwhelming challenges these young men face as they try to live in mainstream society. Cut off completely from their families and everything they know, the boys struggle to support and educate themselves and try to help other family members break away.
God and Gays: Bridging the Gap: Luane Beck's revelatory documentary probes the deep-rooted challenges facing gay men and women whose sexual orientation is in direct opposition to the laws and traditions of their faith. Drawing on candid testimonials from individuals whose lives have been touched by this complex issue, Beck's film examines the culture of homophobia within the religious community and explores the possibility of a more inclusive future.
Depression: Out of the Shadows: This PBS documentary explores depression, a debilitating disease that affects millions of Americans. Touching the lives of people from diverse backgrounds, depression still carries a stigma that causes some sufferers to go without treatment. Real people with depression talk about their experiences, and scientists offer commentary to shed light on the disease, including its diagnosis, treatment and current research.
Frontline: The Medicated Child: This fascinating program from PBS's "Frontline" series explores the realities and controversies surrounding the increasingly frequent prescription of behavior-modifying medication for children as young as 2 years old. Numerous experts, including psychiatrists, government regulators and scientific researchers, discuss both the dangers and the benefits of the various drugs being used to treat children with behavioral problems and mental illnesses.
Well-Rounded Fear: This PBS POV documentary gives a shocking look at how the Immigration and Naturalization Service decides who will be granted asylum in the United States. The applicant must have a "well-founded fear" of persecution in his or her home country. Despite true and terrifying stories of torture and mistreatment, it's often up to how well the translator presents the case and how sensitive are the ears of the asylum officer to decide a person's fate.
10 Questions for the Dalai Lama: This fascinating documentary blends an interview with the Dalai Lama with a look back at the history of the spiritual leader and an exploration of the culture of the small city of Dharamsala, India, where His Holiness was exiled 50 years ago. After emailing the Dalai Lama to set up an interview, filmmaker Rick Ray spent the three months until the meeting getting a firsthand view of living conditions in Dharamsala and capturing it all on camera.
Hell and Back Again: In this unvarnished documentary set on the Afghan front line, U.S. Marine Sgt. Nathan Harris is wounded by Taliban machine-gun fire, then returns to his North Carolina home to grapple with the stress of civilian life.
Waiting for Superman: Dynamic documentarian Davis Guggenheim weaves together stories about students, families, educators and reformers to shed light on the failing public school system and its consequences for the future of the United States.
I Am a Promise: The Children of Stanton Elementary School: In this revealing, Academy Award-winning documentary produced by HBO, directors Alan and Susan Raymond step into the Stanton Elementary School in North Philadelphia to shed light on the struggles that its students, teachers and administrators face each day: inadequate housing, drug addiction, unrelenting poverty and rampant crime. What's revealed is a testament to willpower and the human spirit, their prime vehicles on the road to success.
The One Percent: In this eye-opening documentary, filmmaker Jamie Johnson examines the gap that exists between America's poor and the 1 percent of the population that controls half the country's wealth. Johnson, himself an heir to the Johnson & Johnson fortune, interviews Milton Friedman, Bill Gates Sr., Steve Forbes and other wealthy men, revealing the enormous social and political effect financial disparity has on America's current state.
Dark Days: Documentarian Marc Singer trains his camera on a group of homeless people who live in an abandoned New York City railroad tunnel. At night, they retreat underground, where they have a sense of community that many surface dwellers would envy.
Emmanuel's Gift: Oprah Winfrey narrates this inspirational look at living with a disability in Ghana -- where the physically handicapped are outcast -- as seen through the eyes of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah, who was born with a deformed right leg. While most of the nation's 2 million citizens deemed "disabled" suffer discrimination, abandonment and ridicule, Emmanuel has dedicated his life to traveling the country via bicycle to open people's minds and to transform lives.
THIN: Filmmaker Lauren Greenfield chronicles six months in the lives of four women undergoing treatment for eating disorders in this revealing documentary that captures the stark realities of the disease with unprecedented access. Powerful and haunting, the film follows four anorexics ranging from age 15 to 30 as they undergo therapy sessions, endure daily weigh-ins and battle with staff at a Florida treatment center.
The Heart of the Game: Attending predominantly white Roosevelt High because her mother thinks she'll have better opportunities under the school's successful coach, gifted black hoopster Darnellia Russell puts herself -- and her coach -- through the wringer. Shot in a suburban Seattle high school over a seven-year period, director Ward Serrill's stirring documentary explores the complicated relationship between gender, race and organized sports.
This Emotional Life: Harvard psychologist and best-selling author Dr. Daniel Gilbert hosts this three-part PBS series that explores the range of human emotions and how we can strive to become more positive in our day-to-day lives.
Crude: Joe Berlinger's provocative documentary explores the ongoing battle waged by 30,000 indigenous Ecuadorans and their lawyers against Chevron for dumping billions of gallons of toxic waste into the Amazon, a catastrophe dubbed the "Amazon Chernobyl."
The First Year: This fascinating documentary chronicles the emotional turmoil of five Los Angeles schoolteachers charged with educating inner-city youth, making it clear that the teachers helping these disadvantaged children are real heroes. The First Year, originally aired on PBS stations throughout the country, is helmed by Davis Guggenheim (director of An Inconvenient Truth) and narrated by Elisabeth Shue. Also included is the Guggenheim-directed short "Teach.
Beyond Belief: Two strangers, Patti Quigley and Susan Retik, formed a common bond in their grief when both lost their husbands on Sept. 11, 2001. This documentary chronicles how the two coped with their unimaginable loss, traveling to Afghanistan to meet women there who were also widowed by violence. Director Beth Murphy follows Quigley and Retik as they discover that they share a kinship with their Middle Eastern counterparts, even though they're worlds apart.
Becoming Chaz: This gripping documentary from directors Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato follows the deeply emotional journey of Chastity Bono, daughter of entertainers Sonny and Cher, as she embarks on a program of gender reassignment to become a man. Focusing on the emotional ramifications of her decision as much as the hormone shots, surgery and other changes to her body, this film chronicles one person's odyssey to become the man he always knew he was.
Small Town Gay Bar: Despite the collective outings of Ellen DeGeneres, Elton John, Rosie O'Donnell and Olympic diver Greg Louganis, homophobia is alive and well -- especially in the small towns of the Deep South. Focusing on the day-to-day struggles of two Mississippi gay bars and the grateful patrons who often travel hundreds of miles to find them, filmmaker Malcolm Ingram reveals a surprisingly close community that treats its residents like family members.
Sons of Perdition: Following three teenage boys who've left a polygamist sect over a 2-year period, filmmakers Tyler Measom and Jennilyn Merten offer up a poignant portrayal of the overwhelming challenges these young men face as they try to live in mainstream society. Cut off completely from their families and everything they know, the boys struggle to support and educate themselves and try to help other family members break away.
God and Gays: Bridging the Gap: Luane Beck's revelatory documentary probes the deep-rooted challenges facing gay men and women whose sexual orientation is in direct opposition to the laws and traditions of their faith. Drawing on candid testimonials from individuals whose lives have been touched by this complex issue, Beck's film examines the culture of homophobia within the religious community and explores the possibility of a more inclusive future.
Depression: Out of the Shadows: This PBS documentary explores depression, a debilitating disease that affects millions of Americans. Touching the lives of people from diverse backgrounds, depression still carries a stigma that causes some sufferers to go without treatment. Real people with depression talk about their experiences, and scientists offer commentary to shed light on the disease, including its diagnosis, treatment and current research.
Frontline: The Medicated Child: This fascinating program from PBS's "Frontline" series explores the realities and controversies surrounding the increasingly frequent prescription of behavior-modifying medication for children as young as 2 years old. Numerous experts, including psychiatrists, government regulators and scientific researchers, discuss both the dangers and the benefits of the various drugs being used to treat children with behavioral problems and mental illnesses.
Well-Rounded Fear: This PBS POV documentary gives a shocking look at how the Immigration and Naturalization Service decides who will be granted asylum in the United States. The applicant must have a "well-founded fear" of persecution in his or her home country. Despite true and terrifying stories of torture and mistreatment, it's often up to how well the translator presents the case and how sensitive are the ears of the asylum officer to decide a person's fate.
10 Questions for the Dalai Lama: This fascinating documentary blends an interview with the Dalai Lama with a look back at the history of the spiritual leader and an exploration of the culture of the small city of Dharamsala, India, where His Holiness was exiled 50 years ago. After emailing the Dalai Lama to set up an interview, filmmaker Rick Ray spent the three months until the meeting getting a firsthand view of living conditions in Dharamsala and capturing it all on camera.