Films for Teaching Peace

A Bold Peace juxtaposes the Costa Rican national policy of demilitarization (since 1948-49) with their investment in education, health, and the environment. Pointed parallels and contrasts are made with recent U.S. debates over the national debt, healthcare, the environment and the escalating cost of U.S. militarism.

An eye-opening exploration of discrimination among children.

Explores one of the 20th century’s most important but least understood stories: how nonviolent power has overcome oppression and authoritarian rule all over the world. Narrated by Ben Kingsley, and nominated for an Emmy, A Force More Powerful premiered on PBS in September 2000.

Carl Lee Hailey (Samuel L. Jackson) is a heartbroken black father who avenges his daughter’s brutal rape by shooting the bigoted men responsible for the crime as they are on their way to trial. He turns to Jake Brigance (Matthew McConaughey), an untested lawyer, to defend him. Brigance struggles to believe that he can get Hailey acquitted in this small, segregated Southern town, given Hailey’s race and the deliberate nature of his crimes, but Carl has unshakable faith in him.

“The Washington Post” reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein uncover the details of the Watergate scandal that leads to President Richard Nixon’s resignation.

A documentary that uses exclusive interviews and rare, never-before-seen film footage to document the vital role that music played in the nearly half-century struggle against apartheid in South Africa.

William Wilberforce’s political fight to end the British slave trade.

A look at a historical slave rebellion and its defense in the American legal system.

Two Rwandan women come face-to-face with the men who slaughtered their families during the 1994 genocide.

“Why don’t Palestinians just use nonviolence–they will surely win?” ask many well-meaning people. This original documentary film answers the question. Palestinians have been using nonviolent resistance for all of their history. Hear in their own voices how and why it works.

A paraplegic marine is sent to the moon Pandora on a unique mission becomes torn between following his orders and protecting the world and culture he’s grown to become a part of.

The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe captured world attention through their peaceful resistance. While many may know the details, Awake, A Dream from Standing Rock, captures the story of Native-led defiance that forever changed how we fight for clean water, our environment and the future of our planet.

In 1999, members of the World Trade Organization arrive in Seattle for negotiations that are closed to the public. Concerned about globalization, activists Jay (Martin Henderson), Lou (Michelle Rodriguez) and Django (André Benjamin) prepare for peaceful protests. Trying to prevent potential violence, Mayor Tobin (Ray Liotta) attempts to coordinate the police to avoid chaos. When a small group of unruly activists begins wreaking havoc, the planned marches quickly turn to riots.

The story of two 9/11 widows who find a profound way to move beyond their tragedy by choosing tolerance over hate and action over indifference. When terrorists shatter their lives, they open their eyes to the world and forge an incredible and unexpected bond with war widows in Afghanistan, the training ground of the 9/11 attackers.

After the shocking murders of her husband and son, a woman travels to Burma with her sister to find peace. There she witnesses protests against the government and the military’s violent response. When Burma enters into military lockdown, Laura loses her passport and is unable to leave the country. A professor helps her, but this makes her a target of the government as she attempts to reach the border and cross into Thailand.

South African journalist Donald Woods is forced to flee the country after trying to investigate the death of his friend, black activist Steve Biko, in police custody.

The origins of the terror group known as Islamic State or ‘ISIS,’ and what they want, are explored by CNN’s Fareed Zakaria, in a one-hour special.

Iraq War veteran Tomas Young returns from duty with a severed spine and post-traumatic stress disorder. As Young reflects on his experiences in combat and the high price he paid for going to fight in the Middle East, he begins to question the validity of the war in Iraq and the value of war in general.

A telling of the nonviolent defeat of Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic, that focuses on the contributions of the student-led Otpor! movement.

Community organizer Ayed Morrar seeks help from Palestinian and Israeli activists to help his village mount nonviolent protests against Israel’s expropriation of their West Bank land.