4 inspiring historical movies that your teen must watch  

For many school-goers, learning about history through textbooks can be a bit of a chore with all those dates and long names to remember. Unfortunately, this can dull teens’ interest in learning about some fascinating tales of the past. However, with a plethora of movies and documentaries available on streaming services now, history is being told in a rather engaging way- so much so that your teen might even get hooked onto them! Not only do they provide educational content, they are also extremely fun to watch. Here is a list of 5 inspiring historical movies we are sure that your teen will definitely love. 

Frida (2002) 
Director: Julie Taymor 
This movie portrays the captivating life of the Mexican artist, Frida Kahlo. She is known around the world as one of the most prominent figureheads in the feminist discourse. Starring Salma Hayek, this visually enthralling film narrates Frida’s life story along with all her traumas, hardships and relationships. It also shines a light over the painter’s activism and her forward-thinking artistry.  

12 Years A Slave (2013) 
Director: Steve McQueen 
12 Years A Slave is regarded as one of the most hard-hitting historical movies of all time. Starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender and Lupita Nyong’o, it is based on a real-life slave memoir written by Solomon Northup in 1853. It showcases the United States’ history with the inhumane practice of slavery, and follows an African-American man who gets kidnapped and sold as a slave in 1841. This poignant film was eventually decorated with numerous accolades including the Academy Award for Best Picture. 

The Iron Lady (2011) 
Director: Phyllida Lloyd 
This movie narrates the life story and political journey of one of the most powerful women in history, Margaret Thatcher. Known for her ability to put her foot down and influence people through her politics, Thatcher was given the nickname of ‘Iron Lady.’ The film portrays her journey of emerging as the first woman to serve as United Kingdom’s Prime Minister. The iconic role was played by Meryl Streep and also stars Jim Broadbent and Iain Glen. 

1917 (2019) 
Director: Sam Mendes 
This fascinating war film is set during the Operation Alberich in 1917. It follows two British soldiers who have been assigned the task of passing on an incredibly critical message to another battalion, which could prevent a deadly attack. The director and producer of the film, Sam Mendes, was inspired to create this masterpiece after hearing his paternal grandfather’s recollection of his time serving as a soldier during the First World War. The film has a star cast including George MacKay, Dean-Charles Chapman, Mark Strong and Benedict Cumberbatch.