It’s important to remember the past. Our history is what makes us who we are today, as people, as a society, and as a world. As the activist Marcus Garvey once said, “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.” Indeed, without the past, we are nothing. A painful past tells us that we can endure anything and come out stronger than before. Meanwhile, a happy past gives us hope that life can be good. It tells us to fight for the things we love.
Many historical dramas have emerged in television recently, but have always been prominent in the world of cinema. These include movies of hope, love, loss, and betrayal, with both painful and happy pasts. They show us what can happen when someone has a dream and fights for it, no matter the cost. Therefore, we can look at these historical masterpieces and be inspired.
10 Les Miserables (2012)
This historical musical tells the story of Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman), a criminal trying to redeem himself from his past mistakes while trying to survive the uprising in Paris in 1832. Unlike most musicals, Les Misérables is a tragedy, with many of the main characters meeting their demise. Yet, despite the sad tones of the movie, Les Misérables feels more inspirational, than devastating. It reveals the power of selfless love and redemption. Above all, it dares us to dream and follow our hearts, as embodied in the lyrics to its memorable song, "I dreamed a dream in times gone by. When hope was high and life worth living."
9 Little Women (1994)
Little Women is a semi-autobiographical novel loosely based on the lives of author Louisa May Alcott and her three older sisters during the 19th century. It is a coming-of-age story, but more than that, it’s a story about family, love, and the friendship between the March sisters as they brave the turmoils of life. It’s easy to see why there have been so many remakes made over the years and this story is timeless and heartwarming. This 1994 version stars Winona Ryder, Christian Bale, Kirsten Dunst, and Susan Sarandon, and, along with Greta Gerwig's 2019 iteration, is one of the best.
8 Braveheart
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Prepare for epic battles and tearjerker moments as you follow the Scottish warrior William Wallace as he leads his people in a rebellion to free Scotland from England in Braveheart. As the story is based on the life and death of William Wallace, many viewers will know the tale and the gut-wrenching (and gut-removing) ending. However, Braveheart feels anything but predictable. This includes its heartbreaking ending with the execution of Wallace, which was toned down for the film, as his actual means of death may have been too graphic to show on screen, even with the movie’s already R rating.
7 Becoming Jane
Learn the true(ish) story of British author Jane Austen and the hardships she faced that helped shape her novels. In Becoming Jane, Austen (Anne Hathaway) dreams of writing and freedom, but her financially unstable parents have another idea. They wish her to wed for wealth and security. However, Jane knows that such a marriage would be the end of her happiness. Shortly after her parents’ proposal, she falls for the dashing and penniless Tom Lefroy (James McAvoy) who encourages her to follow her dreams. While many romance stories are predictable, Becoming Jane does not feel quite as stereotypical to its genre, as it seems Jane herself does not know which path she’ll take. In addition, the film may end on a positive note, but there is no happily ever after marriage for Jane, who is now ironically known for her romance novels.
6 The Patriot
During the American Revolution, farmer Benjamin Martin (Mel Gibson) lives a peaceful life and doesn’t want to join the fight. However, after the senseless murdering of his son by a British officer, he joins the cause for America’s freedom. After his oldest son enlists in the army and is captured by the British, Benjamin abandons everything he previously knew about war and forms a new regiment of Carolina patriots. With their help, he will risk everything to save his son and his country. The Patriot beautifully captures the struggles of Benjamin Martin and depicts how war rips families apart.
5 Dunkirk
Grab your tissues for this World War II film, which follows the incredible true story of the events of May 1940. Under Hitler’s orders, Germany advances on France, trapping thousands of Allied soldiers on the beaches of Dunkirk. Nearby, villagers and townspeople rally together to help rescue over 330,000 French, British, Belgian, and Dutch Allied soldiers. Director Christopher Nolan tells the story through the use of action, utilizing minimal dialogue and background music in a bold and untraditional move. Yet, it works, and it’s impossible to imagine Dunkirk unfolding any other way.
4 12 Years a Slave
12 Years a Slave is based on the autobiography of Solomon Northup, a free Black man who was kidnaped and forced to work as a slave for a dozen years. In the film, violinist Solomon (Chiwetel Ejiofor), is happily married and living with his two children in New York. He travels to Washington, D.C., where two white men have promised him work as a musician. However, once he arrives, they drug him and sell him as a slave. For 12 years Solomon fights for his life and freedom until he is finally reunited with his family in New York in this emotionally visceral, haunting masterpiece.
3 Hidden Figures
Hidden Figures takes place during the early stages of the U.S. space program and follows three intelligent Black women, Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson who start employment at NASA. The women find themselves up against segregation and sexism as they try to perform their work. However, all that changes as the staff at NASA discover how truly brilliant the women are as they contribute to one of the greatest achievements in space history, the launching of astronaut John Glenn into orbit. Hidden Figures is an uplifting movie that inspires us to defy the odds to reach our true potentials.
2 Schindler’s List
Schindler’s List is one of many masterpieces by legendary director Steven Spielberg who filmed the movie in black and white to capture the documentary footage of the era. Additionally, viewing the movie in black and white makes it feel darker and more sinister. In Schindler’s List, Polish businessman Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson), purposefully employs and tries to help Jews escape the Nazis during World War II. Yet, helping the Jews means risking his life and career and treading carefully with the Nazis who are always watching.
1 Titanic
Titanic tells the story of two young lovers (Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet) ripped apart by the tragedy of the sinking of the Titanic on April 15th, 1912. While the characters in Titanic are fictional, the story does try to include some historical facts, such as how the ship broke into two pieces (although, that’s now questioned), the band playing on until the very end, and the lifeboats going out half empty. However, Titanic is rather long (3 hours and 14 minutes to be exact) and would have been a stronger movie if the plot happened in present day instead of memory flashbacks. Otherwise, the story is a masterpiece with brilliant chemistry between its two leads, and one that truly transports the audience back to a dramatic historical moment.