Directors and writers frequently use their preferred visual medium to tell a tale, whether or not they are aware of the art form of filmmaking. Ideologies, ideologies, or any other type of message is constantly decoded in this visual medium in the hopes that the audience understands. Avoiding preaching is the key to crafting a great film, especially when delivering a story. From Mel Gibson to Seth Macfarlene, Federico Fellini to Ridley Scott, and, of course, Alfred Hitchcock, their films all have messages, ranging from symbolist narrative to cunning subtext dialogues. The following is a list of great philosophical films with messages encoded for the viewers.
1. The Tree Of Life
Jack is the youngest of three brothers who grew up in small-town Texas with the O’Brien family. Jack has a tense connection with his father, however, he and his lovely mother get along swimmingly. As an adult, Jack wrestles with his history and tries to make sense of his youth, all while contending with larger existential questions.
Terrence Malick’s The Tree Of Life poses a slew of rhetorical questions and tackles a variety of topics, including the purpose of life, identity and socialization concerns, and the universal conflict between fathers and sons. The characters share deep thinking intertwined with the creation of the elements of the world.
2. Eternity And A Day
Alexander, a well-known author, is terminally ill and only has a few days to live. On the street, he meets a little child who is an illegal Albanian immigrant. Alexander takes the boy to his home. The boy gets rescued from kidnapping as he was going to get sold.
Theo Angelopoulos in his film, Eternity And A Day has shown the real passion of a poet. The film rides along with magical philosophical considerations and the struggle with the past and future. The film interlaces with past historical images and the political turmoil of Greece.
3. Melancholia
Two sisters Justine and Claire, one dealing with a failed marriage and coping and the other with her fate get linked up when they find that the world is about to collide with a massive planet called Melancholia.
Lars von Trier’s Melancholia, despite the fact that it is not a feel-good film, it does leave an artistic warmth. The drama’s all-encompassing, metaphysical nature allows for both kindness and operatic savagery, and total obliteration occurs on a personal scale.
4. A Serious Man
Larry Gopnik works as a physics professor at a 1960s university. However, his personal life is unravelling. His wife is leaving him, his jobless brother has moved in, and someone is attempting to undermine his tenure hopes. Larry consults three different rabbis, but it remains to be seen whether any of them can help him overcome his many ailments.
Coen Brothers’ A Serious Man shows the uncertainty of life. The film has questioned faith and religion. The story shows how one is always accountable to God even though God is not questionable for our personal misfortunes.
5. Interstellar
Professor Brant is an excellent NASA physicist who is working on saving mankind by transporting the earth’s population to a new home via a wormhole. Therefore, Brand sends Cooper, a former NASA pilot, and his team across the galaxy through a wormhole in order to find a capable new home out of the other three planets.
Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar is a masterpiece with stunning space views, sandy scenes, and giant waves. The film questions the modern issues of mankind. It has used space as a metaphysical ground in order to show hope, love, time, and alienation.
I thought it would be neat to create a list of the five greatest philosophical films, in my opinion. There are plenty of lists out there, but few seem to point directly towards films with philosophical messages. So if you’re looking for a fresh take on this kind of list, maybe you’ll like this one.
