Personal development through films: A Top Ten

We Need To Talk About Kevin

What would you do when your sociopathic child commits a horrific act? Was there something wrong with your parenting? As Kevin’s mother, Tilda Swinton puts to test the classic psychological debate of nature vs nurture.

The Truman Show

Amidst its myriad of philosophical themes, the Jim Carrey masterpiece at its heart is about two things - our subconscious understanding of authenticity (as Carrey finds in love) and our quest for truth. 

Amelie

The French film explores 3 subtle themes - joy, courage and the dangers of daydreaming. Amelie is about finally accepting that one can take the knocks of life. It’s about having the courage to not just give love but also receive love.

Fight Club

A critique of modern capitalism, the film echoes our fear of blending into the rat race. In a society that numbs you with Starbucks & Calvin Klein, the ‘fights' make these men feel ‘alive’! But it neither offers comfort nor freedom, only violence. What do we do then?

Groundhog Day

Imagine being stuck in a time loop with endless possibilities and no consequences, except it’s the same day that keeps repeating itself. Watch this film for its lessons in spiritual growth, love, and learning to fully appreciate the here and now.

Snowpiercer

Bong Joon Ho’s dystopian train series Snowpiercer is an ingenious commentary on class divide and the price one pays for fighting the system. In today’s time when the economic divide is wider than ever, the film couldn’t be more relevant.

Dogtooth

With barely 7 actors in total, this Greek film’s theme is a controlling father who has a twisted idea of raising children. Interpretations include a Lacanian analysis, a theory of the birth of consciousness, and a reference to Plato’s theory of cave.

Pan’s Labyrinth

Spanish genius Guillermo del Toro’s dark fantasy/drama symbolically talks about overcoming fear and one’s ego. Unlike a conventional fairytale, here the consequences are real and the choices one makes define what comes next.

Marriage Story

The film is about the soaring promises through bitter breakdowns and the parasitic arrangements we often make in love. It's about companionship, parenting, falling in and out of love, and how dreams can determine the demise of one’s union.

Lars and the Real Girl

Funny and quirky, this one discusses what healthy dependency looks like. It shows you the power of a community that cares and the importance of accepting the fact that we all rightly deserve love.