4 inspirational movies that your school goer must watch
Movies don’t only entertain us. They act as great teachers too. Starting from functional skills to values, they come with a lot of life lessons that students can imbibe. Motivate your kids to watch these four inspirational movies.
The Paper Chase
If you are feeling down and out to keep going ahead in life due to some reason, watching the 1973 comedy-drama, The Paper Chase might help you. Directed by American screenwriter, film director, producer, and actor James Bridge; the movie is based on American author, John Jay Osborn Jr.’s 1971 novel by the same name. The film talks about the story of James T. Hart , a first-year law student at Harvard Law School, his encounters with Professor Charles Kingsfield, a smart and demanding contract law lecturer, and Hart's connection with Kingsfield's daughter and how he overcomes all the challenges during the first year at his law school.
Life lessons: The storyline of this movie is a great motivator. It will inspire your kids to achieve their dreams and reach new heights despite the struggles.
The Pursuit of Happyness
An American biographical drama starring Will Smith as Chris Gardner, a homeless salesman, the film is said to be the real-life story of a person who started out as a salesman and used to sleep on the subway. Later, with his hard work and strong will power, he surpassed all the challenges to become a wealthy man. Directed by Italian filmmaker, Gabriele Muccino, the screenplay has been derived from Gardner's nearly one-year struggle as a homeless person. Gardner sees a mural on the wall outside the day care centre which his son attended, which inspired the unique spelling of the film's title.
Life lessons: The film give us the message that no matter what obstacles arise, one should not give up on their aspirations. After all, it was Gardner’s hard work and dedication, as well as his desire to seize any chance that came his way, paid off in the end.
Life of Pi
An adventure drama film directed by Taiwanese filmmaker, Ang Lee, Life of Pi focusses around two survivors of a shipwreck on an ocean liner. On a lifeboat adrift in the enormous Pacific Ocean, one is a sixteen-year-old Indian lad named Pi Patel (Suraj Sharma) and the other is a dangerous Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. Shot in India, Taiwan and Montreal, the movie describes how a young, 16 year-old survived the shipwreck after losing his family.
Life lessons: Learning how to let go, importance of having faith in yourself and the universal need of survival are some of the priceless life lessons that your kids can learn from watching Life of Pi. The brilliant execution is also visual treat for anyone who will watch this movie.
It’s a Wonderful Life
Based on the short story, The Greatest Gift written by American author, Philip Van Doren Stern, It’s a Wonderful Life is one of the most popular films ever made by director Frank Capra. A bittersweet post-war story of a saving and loan manager, who struggles against a greedy banker and his own self-doubt, James Stewart recognises his life as truly wonderful after going through a spate of many challenges and fateful trials such as the compromised dreams of youth to leave the town and seek fame and fortune, other sacrifices, dismay, losses and the threat of financial ruin, and suicide.
Life Lessons: The film teaches your kids to count and cherish our blessings as compared to others around us as well as acceptance for and being happy with what we have. It also gives them a lesson in discovering and understanding the true purpose of our life.