Films you think while difficult are important to watch

[Baconyum]

In response to the thread on films some regret seeing I thought it would be interesting to start a thread on films we think people should watch, if only just once, because of the issues they address rather than just because they're 'good'.

I personally think films aren't just to entertain (though they can be individually), but to enlighten, educate, inform and challenge.

Mine are:
An imitation of life
Blackboard Jungle
A time to kill
Girl, interrupted
Magdalene sisters
In the name of the father
Butterbox babies
The boy in the striped pyjamas
An eye for an eye
Kathy come home
The color purple
Corrina Corrina
The impossible
Children of a lesser God
Flowers for Algernon
American history x
The elephant man
Death of a salesman
Glengarry glen Ross
JFK
Silkwood
My fellow Americans
Wag the dog
Kramer vs Kramer
Ma vie en rose
One flew over the cuckoo's nest
The jazz singer - either version
12 angry men
Boyz n the hood
Born on the fourth of July
Ghandi
Pay it forward
Cry freedom
The accused

Geez better stop as that's quite a lot.

Thoughts?

That IS a lot

Sophie's Choice
Mississippi burning
Sarah's Key
Life is Beautiful

Silent Minority - focuses on the 'care' of patients in asylums in the late 70s/early 80s. Technically a documentary but long enough to be a film and very effective. I was told to watch it for training when I first started to work in care. Parts of it are disturbing but it's unforgettable , highlights how easy it would be to slip back.

The color purple
Mississippi burning
Schindlers list

Good list. I'll add:-

Bowling for Columbine.
The Killing Fields.
Mississippi Burning.

I agree with Mississippi burning I need to add the others to my 'to watch' list. Thanks for replies.

Hotel Rwanda

Ghandi

Torchsong Trilogy
A Beautiful Mind

La Haine

The rabbit-proof fence

Precious was very powerful for me.

I haven't seen a single one of those listed yet, but I don't disagree.

The Homesman

It's very harrowing but I think it is worth watching as shows the dreadful life so many women led in America in the 1800's

In the Heat of the Night
The Deer hunter

the Help, seems unbelievable now.
Beaches and Steel Magnolias shows women's strength and support
The boy in the blue pyjamas heart breaking but very thought provoking film.

Precious 100%
The Magdalene sisters
The help
Blood diamond
American history x
Dallas buyers club
Amistad
Boy in the striped pajamas

Biutiful

I've seen all of the films on the list, I see what you mean about most of them not Pay it Forward

Do the Right Thing
In the name of the Father
The Pianist
The Killing Fields
Dead Man Walking

Sorry you have In the name of the Father - too early!

Great list; I would add:

Grave of the Fireflies
When the Wind Blows
(Slightly random, but) Amadeus

The Railway Man
12 Years a Slave

Erin Brokovitch
An Inconvinient Truth

Once Were Warriors

Lilya4ever

to understand why and how young, desperate women and girls find themselves in prostitution and being trafficked.

Agree with The Pianist.

I haven't seen many films on that list

Someone on the other thread mentioned Fury. It's a grim film but I wish more war films were in that mold.

Crash.