20 essential films for philosophy students

Since ancient times, human beings have asked themselves questions about who we are, why we exist, what meaning life has, how and why we feel, perceive, think and act and. in general, how the universe works and why it does it that way.

The visualization and reflection of these and other phenomena have generated different types of explanations., which over time have been elaborated and contrasted through different scientific disciplines. Not in vain, The philosophy It is considered the mother of all sciences.

For this reason, philosophy today continues to be an exciting field of study that allows us to reflect about the origin of what we know today and ask ourselves about the still unknown from different opticians.

About twenty films with philosophical interpretations

In this article they will present 20 must-see films for philosophy students due to the deep reflection on life and the reality that can be made from them.

1. The Truman Show (Peter Weir)

This well-known film is part of the list of must-sees for philosophy students due to its subject matter and the reflection it allows on one's own life. In this film we are told about the life of Truman, who from the moment of his birth participates unknowingly in a reality show in the city of Seaheaven, created specifically for the reality show Show.

The protagonist's entire life is being filmed and controlled by the reality team.

Truman's life seems calm and normal until he begins to realize that what happens around him is scripted and prepared. around him, the other citizens being actors and him the only totally real person in the city, with which he ends up trying to escape.

In the film it is reflected how the protagonist tries to know who he is and why his world is the way it is. On a philosophical level, it can serve to reflect on who we are, how we act towards others and the level of control and vigilance that one has over one's own life and the level that the the rest.

2. The Matrix (Lilly Wachawski and Lana Wachowski)

Another well-known and relatively recent film, The Matrix is ​​a particularly philosophical film that refers to the Plato's myth of the cave, when dealing with his argument that we live in a false reality programmed by machines. However, contrary to the myth of the cave, In the Matrix reality is devastating, being the human being harvested as a plant and subdued through illusion.

This film reflects the question of what is real, and how it can be seen, being another philosophical theme the search for freedom and the ability to choose. We can also see the differentiation between the experienced world and the rational world typical of Plato.

3. Origin (Christopher Nolan)

The film Origin is located in a world where there are professionals with the ability to enter the dreams of others, accessing the subconscious of other people and working with them. The protagonist of the film is one of them, who is haunted by his talent and a painful past, and because of this he is unable to lead a normal life.

One of the jobs they are proposed to do ends badly, with which the recruiter cajoles them so that instead of obtaining information from a person's subconscious, they introduce ideas into it. The story is complicated by the possibility of being trapped in the world of dreams, making it difficult to tell when you are awake and when you are dreaming.

On a philosophical level, one can wonder if he is actually living or if what he experiences is just a dream, wondering what exactly reality is and if it really is so important to know. Freedom of choice and other recurring philosophical themes such as the human mentality, guilt, doubt, the need for redemption and hope are also covered.

4. Ikiru (Akira Kurosawa)

During this film we see how its protagonist, Kenji Watanabe, leads a monotonous life. little active and empty, which he does not realize until he is diagnosed with cancer. Based on the diagnosis, he will try to find meaning in his life and in the time he has left..

Philosophically we find relevant topics such as death and the fear of it, loneliness, choice and the search for a vital meaning.

5. The day Nietzsche cried (Pinchas Perry)

In this film we can see how the well-known philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche has a high level of hopelessness, which is why an appointment is made for him with the also renowned doctor Breuer, a renowned professional with dynamic guidance and one of Freud's teachers. Initially the therapy seems to be unsuccessful, but over time it would help to improve his situation. In the same way, the philosopher helped the doctor to cope with social pressures, creating bonds of friendship between the two.

Melancholy, social pressure, despair and friendship are prevailing topics in the film.

6. A Clockwork Orange (Stanley Kubrick)

A Clockwork Orange is another classic with great philosophical significance.. During the course of the tape we see a group of gang members led by Alex, the protagonist. Together they carry out various violent and criminal acts, committing rapes and brutal beatings until, during one of them, one of the people attacked is killed and Alex is caught.

Subsequently, he is subjected to aversive procedures to control and avoid his violent behavior, and after the treatment, the young man will visualize the consequences of his actions, taking revenge on the people he he assaulted

From a philosophical point of view, the tape allows us to reflect on cruelty, violence and the desire to destroy others, as well as the consequences of his own acts. It also serves as a critique of different theoretical models, such as behaviorism.

As in other films and works by Kubrick, a critique of the progressive technologization of information can also be seen. human activity, dumbing down the mass media and making them little aware of reality, as with the parents of Alex.

7. The Seventh Seal (Ingmar Bergman)

This film is set in the Middle Ages, at the time when Blovk, a Swedish knight who participated in the crusades. At a specific moment the gentleman meets death, who has gone looking for him. The gentleman proposes a game of chess, during which aspects of his life will be remembered. life and reflecting on the fears, doubts and questions that he has been asking throughout his life.

As in the case of the previous film, in this film we are made to think about death and vital boredom. They also talk about what it means to live and die, hedonism, love or innocence.

8. The Purple Rose of Cairo (Woody Allen)

This film is the sad story of a woman during the Great Depression., using the cinema as a method of escape from sadness and a life that does not satisfy her. On one of the occasions when she goes to the cinema, one of the fictional characters notices her and accesses the real world across the screen, and soon after they start a romantic relationship on both sides of the screen. However, the producer of the film finds out and devises a plan in order to return each one to his world.

Again the theme of freedom of choice, the way to face reality and the distinction between reality and fantasy are some of the philosophical elements seen in this film.

9. Numbered Lives (Jill Sprecher)

It is a film divided into thirteen parts., in which five different people live their lives as they try to be happy and reflect on who they are, where they want to go and how they try to get there.

This film analyzes the search for happiness, hope and connectivity between people and phenomena.

10. Cartesius (Robert Rosellini)

It is a film centered on the figure of Rene Descartes. In it we see how throughout his life the thinker tried to justify reason as the basis of thought. The philosophical interest of this tape is the visualization and deepening of the thoughts of the well-known philosopher, as well as the type of life that led him to reflect in this way.

11. Waking Life (Richard Linklater)

Another work of great philosophical significance. During the movie we see how the main character is in a permanent state of lucid dream as a result of a hit-and-run. In this state he proceeds to reflect on different issues such as the meaning of life and the desire to live, coming to hold conversations with different thinkers of history when trying to solve their doubts.

In this film dreams, the meaning of life and thought are reflected from very different perspectives, displaying various philosophical currents.

12. 2001: A Space Odyssey (Stanley Kubrick)

A cult work of science fiction, this film covers different historical periods, from prehistory to a future in which humanity is in full space exploration.

One of the best-known fragments is set in the future, in a space exploration to Jupiter in which a supercomputer seems to gain consciousness, appearing doubt, fear and even going so far as to kill one of his crew members

Evolution, intelligence and the development of technology, along with the existence of consciousness in humans and non-humans, are topics to reflect on after viewing.

13. The Tree of Life (Terrence Malick)

The film centers on the eldest son of the O'Brien family, Jack, who throughout his life has seen his mother as tender and loving and his father as stern and serious. At 19 years old, Jack's brother loses his life, which has serious effects on family life.. Years later, an adult Jack begins to ask himself deep existential questions, reflecting on the influence that his family, environment and experiences have had on his life.

It can allow reflection on thinking, the effects of interaction and socialization.

14. The possible lives of Mr. Nobody (Jaco Van Dormael)

A recent film that reflects the life of the last mortal human in a world in which the majority of human beings have left that condition thanks to the advances of science. Just about to die, Mr. Nobody thinks, remembers and imagines a series of possible situations that they could have experienced if he had decided certain courses of action.

Freedom and choice, as well as love and the meaning of life, are themes on which the film allows us to reflect.

15. Blade Runner

One of the great classics of science fiction, in this film we see how society has evolved to create replicants, robots initially thought of as slaves until they rebelled, a rebellion that resulted in their exile. Many of these replicants return, ignoring some of them that are not human. The Blade Runners are a police team dedicated to destroying them, among which is the protagonist of the story.

Awareness, perception, inequality and rejection, misunderstanding and fear go hand in hand in this film, being observable themes and later debatable after viewing.

16. The Butterfly Effect (Eric Bress and Mackye Gruber)

This film stars Evan, a young man traumatized by painful events of the past.. Through reading, the young man discovers a way to go back in time and change some of the events that marked his life, thus making the future different. However, fixing one of the events can cause other consequences that are just as or more painful than what originally happened.

Some of the philosophical themes covered in this film are the passage of time, destiny, action and choice, and remorse.

17. V for Vendetta (James McTeigue)

This film is about V, a flamboyant and intellectual man who is dedicated to fighting against the tyranny of dystopian society. in which his life passes, seeking revenge through the destruction of the political system.

Corruption, politics and the search for freedom are themes present in the film.

18. Fight Club (David Fincher)

This tape is about the life of a sleepless and empty young man, who after meeting a soap salesman decides with him to found a secret fight club, based on the thought that only pain makes life worthwhile and in which the members can discharge their frustration.

This film can serve to reflect on the issue of pain, the appreciation of life from different perspectives, knowing and perceiving what is real, how we think and how all this affects our lives.

19. Artificial intelligence (Steven Spielberg)

What is the human being and from what point can we consider that something is alive or real? These are some of the themes that can be explored in this film.

The plot is based on David, a robot boy created and programmed with the ability to love in a world where the only thing that makes humans and robots different from each other are feelings. Despite its creation, people are not able to accept it, so the little robot will try to find the answer of who it is.

20. Sea inside (Alejandro Amenábar)

The story told in this film, based on real events, tells the life of Ramón Sampedro and his search for euthanasia after decades of being bedridden because of an accident.

Freedom of choice, the right to life and to dispose of one's own death and suffering are central themes of this film.