13 Films Showing the Best of Human Nature
Camp Kupugani is our overnight summer camp that offers two-week sessions for girls-only, boys-only, and blended (intentionally co-ed) children from ages 7-15 (16 for returning campers interested in being counselors-in-training). Although we are mostly electronics-free at camp, we appreciate how different media can have a profound role in shaping our minds and those of children. A recent blog from Greater Good Magazine culled 13 films that highlight the best of human nature. See our summary below or read the full blog at this link here.
- The Curiosity Award: Annihilation
- Awe promotes curiosity (this movie is filled with awe).
- “What we discover changes us.”
- The Renewing-Your-Purpose Award: Bao
- Our goal should be service to others.
- Change in the people we love can trigger a crisis of purpose.
- The Diversity Award: Blindspotting
- Diversity can drive cultural and economic innovation and vitality.
- The Compassion Award: Capernaum
- Misfortune leads the protagonist to turn toward (and not away from) other people, finding in them common humanity.
- Capernaum calls on us to look with our eyes and hearts wide open.
- The Collective Action Award: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
- Too much of popular culture centers on the special individual who by destiny or circumstance is responsible for restoring order.
- This film shows us a way forward and is a prime example of how popular culture can be used as a pedagogical tool to teach us all how to be our best possible selves.
- The Righteous Anger Award: Won’t You Be My Neighbor
- Mister Rogers is rightfully remembered for his love and kindness
- People who work in television, he believed, “are chosen to be servants to help meet deeper needs.”
- The other seven movies discussed in the article are as below…
- The Self-Acceptance Award: Bohemian Rhapsody
- The Happiness Award: Crazy Rich Asians
- The Reconciliation Award: Disobedience
- The Personal Growth Award: Eighth Grade
- The Friendship Award: Free Solo
- The Love Award: Leave No Trace
- The Resilience Award: Roma