Movies About Poverty

From Directors: Fernando Meirelles, Kátia Lund, starring Alexandre Rodrigues, Leandro Firmino, Matheus Nachtergaele, Phellipe Haagensen
Rated R

City of God is a 2002 Brazilian crime drama directed by Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund. Set in the crime-filled 1960s and '70s in the slums of Rio de Janeiro, the film follows the story of Rocket, a young boy from the slums who decides to become a photographer instead of a gangster, despite his environment and the temptations of crime. His journey and the lives of his friends take the audience through the harsh realities of the slums, where the cycle of poverty and violence can be difficult to escape. Through Rocket's eyes, the audience sees the struggles and successes of life in the City of God, and the film ultimately serves as a warning to the dangers of unchecked violence.

From Akira Kurosawa, starring Toshirô Mifune, Yûzô Kayama, Tsutomu Yamazaki, Reiko Dan
Rated Not Rated

Red Beard is an award-winning 1965 drama film directed by the legendary Akira Kurosawa. Set in 19th century Japan, the film follows the story of a young doctor-in-training, Noboru Yasumoto (Yuzo Kayama), as he is assigned to a rural clinic under the watch of the strict and experienced Dr. Niide (Toshiro Mifune). With the guidance of Dr. Niide, Yasumoto begins to learn the true meaning of compassion, duty, and self-sacrifice. He is forced to confront his own prejudices and preconceptions, as he grows to understand the challenges of his patients - both physical and psychological. Ultimately, Yasumoto learns to embrace his new mentor's teachings, coming to respect Dr. Niide's wisdom and compassion as he is transformed into a caring physician. Red Beard is a powerful drama that explores the themes of respect, compassion, and life’s challenges.

From Majid Majidi, starring Mohammad Amir Naji, Amir Farrokh Hashemian, Bahare Seddiqi, Nafise Jafar-Mohammadi
Rated PG

Children of Heaven follows the story of two siblings, Ali and Zahra, whose family is struggling with poverty. When Ali loses Zahra's only pair of shoes, they come up with a plan to share his old sneakers and take turns wearing them to school. In the face of their difficult situation, the two children learn the importance of family, friendship, and resourcefulness. As their story unfolds, Ali and Zahra's bond is tested by the harsh realities of their lives, and their courage and determination are challenged. Through their journey, they discover that even when life is hard, love and kindness can still bring joy.

From Martin Scorsese, starring Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster, Cybill Shepherd, Albert Brooks
Rated R

Taxi Driver is an American psychological thriller directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Robert De Niro as the protagonist, Travis Bickle. It follows Travis, a mentally unstable Vietnam veteran, as he works as a night-time taxi driver in New York City. As he struggles to make sense of his life, Travis becomes increasingly isolated and fixated on cleaning up the city, which he views as overrun by scum and criminals. He begins to form a plan to assassinate a presidential candidate and rescue a 12-year-old prostitute, Iris (Jodie Foster), from her pimp. In the end, Travis is unable to complete his mission and ultimately finds redemption in a climactic shootout. The film was nominated for four Academy Awards and won the Palme d'Or at the 1976 Cannes Film Festival. It has been cited as a classic film of the 1970s.

From Vittorio De Sica, starring Carlo Battisti, Maria Pia Casilio, Lina Gennari, Ileana Simova
Rated Not Rated

Umberto D., a retired Italian civil servant with a meager pension, finds himself facing eviction from his apartment. His only hope is to find a way to earn enough money to pay his rent, but no one will hire a man of his age. As his situation worsens, Umberto and his small dog, Flike, become increasingly desperate. He attempts to borrow money from his landlady and former colleagues, but each endeavor is met with failure. After a series of unfortunate events, Umberto finds himself homeless and facing the prospect of having to give up his beloved Flike. Desperate and alone, Umberto must find a way to survive and ultimately reclaim his life.

From Directors: Danny Boyle, Loveleen Tandan, starring Dev Patel, Freida Pinto, Saurabh Shukla, Anil Kapoor
Rated R

Slumdog Millionaire is a 2008 British-American drama film directed by Danny Boyle and Loveleen Tandan. The movie follows the story of Jamal Malik, an 18-year-old orphan from the slums of Mumbai, who is one question away from winning a staggering 20 million rupees on India's Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? television show. When the show breaks for the night, police arrest him on suspicion of cheating; they interrogate him, and as they do, a series of flashbacks reveals the events that led him to his answer. Through these flashbacks, Jamal's story is told in a series of interconnected narratives. He eventually emerges as an unlikely hero, outwitting and outlasting the game show's malevolent host, Prem, who is determined to discover how Jamal cheated. In the end, Jamal's search for love and redemption is fulfilled, and he is reunited with his long-lost childhood sweetheart Latika.

From Gabriele Muccino, starring Will Smith, Thandiwe Newton, Jaden Smith, Brian Howe
Rated PG-13

The Pursuit of Happyness is a 2006 drama film directed by Gabriele Muccino, starring Will Smith and his real-life son Jaden Smith. The movie follows Chris Gardner, a father struggling to make ends meet and raise his young son. Despite facing numerous hardships, Chris manages to turn his luck around by securing an internship at a prestigious brokerage firm. With the help of his newfound confidence, Chris is able to pursue his dream of becoming a successful stockbroker and provides his son with the life he deserves. Through his determination and courage, Chris is able to overcome his financial struggles and show his son the true meaning of happiness.

From Guy Green, starring Sidney Poitier, Shelley Winters, Elizabeth Hartman, Wallace Ford
Rated Unrated

A Patch of Blue is a 1965 American drama film directed by Guy Green and starring Sidney Poitier, Shelley Winters, and Elizabeth Hartman. It tells the story of Selina D'Arcey (Hartman), a blind white teenager from a dysfunctional family who falls in love with a black man (Poitier). With the help of her new friend, Gordon Ralfe (Poitier), Selina begins to find the courage and strength to stand up for herself and become more independent. The film was adapted from a novel of the same name by Elizabeth Kata and was selected for inclusion in the National Film Registry in 2011. The film was nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Actress for Winters and Best Supporting Actor for Poitier. It also won a BAFTA Award for Best Film and earned strongly positive reviews from critics.

From Lars von Trier, starring Björk, Catherine Deneuve, David Morse, Peter Stormare
Rated R

Dancer in the Dark is a 2000 musical drama film written and directed by Lars von Trier. In the film, an immigrant factory worker named Selma (Björk) struggles to make ends meet while trying to save money for an operation that will prevent her son Gene (Vladica Kostic) from going blind. When her savings are stolen by her landlord, Selma is arrested and charged with murder. While awaiting her inevitable execution, Selma re-lives the joys of her life through a series of musical fantasies, which she shares with her fellow prisoners. Ultimately she must decide whether to accept the tragic end that awaits her or make a final, desperate attempt to save her son.

From Lee Tamahori, starring Rena Owen, Temuera Morrison, Mamaengaroa Kerr-Bell, Julian Arahanga
Rated R

Once Were Warriors is a 1994 New Zealand drama film based on New Zealand author Alan Duff's bestselling 1990 novel of the same name. Directed by Lee Tamahori and starring Rena Owen, Temuera Morrison, and Cliff Curtis, the film follows the story of a Maori family living in Auckland, New Zealand and struggling to maintain their traditional culture in the face of economic hardship and social prejudice. The main character is an alcoholic father, Jake Heke, whose violence and aggression has a negative impact on his wife, Beth, and their five children. As the family struggles to survive, they must also confront racism, poverty, and the problems of assimilation into a Western culture that is unfamiliar to them. Ultimately, the story is a powerful and moving examination of the strength and resilience of the Maori people in the face of adversity.

From Sydney Pollack, starring Jane Fonda, Michael Sarrazin, Susannah York, Gig Young
Rated M

"They Shoot Horses, Don't They?" is a 1969 drama directed by Sydney Pollack and starring Jane Fonda and Michael Sarrazin. The film tells the story of a group of young Americans who have come to Los Angeles in the 1930s to participate in a grueling dance marathon in order to win the grand prize. The participants, desperate for any chance at a better life, will do anything to win, even if it means sacrificing their own dignity and physical well-being. As the marathon wears on, the contestants become increasingly desperate and the lines between morality and desperation become increasingly blurred. In the end, the film is a powerful exploration of human resilience and the lengths to which people will go to survive.

From John Schlesinger, starring Dustin Hoffman, Jon Voight, Sylvia Miles, John McGiver
Rated R

Midnight Cowboy is a 1969 drama film directed by John Schlesinger and starring Jon Voight and Dustin Hoffman. The film follows the story of an unlikely pair of drifters, a naive Texan named Joe Buck (Voight) and a small-time hustler named Ratso Rizzo (Hoffman), as they try to survive on the streets of New York City. Buck arrives in New York with dreams of becoming a gigolo, only to find that the city is not what he had imagined. He soon finds himself in the company of Ratso, and the two form an unlikely bond. Together, they struggle to survive in the unforgiving city, and each helps the other to overcome their respective hardships. Despite their differences, the two men come to rely on each other, and together they attempt to find a way out of their destitute situation.

From Majid Majidi, starring Hossein Abedini, Zahra Bahrami, Mohammad Amir Naji, Hossein Mahjoub
Rated PG

Baran is a 2001 Iranian film directed by Majid Majidi. It tells the story of Lateef, an Afghan refugee worker in Iran, who falls in love with a young Iranian woman, Baran. Despite having to work hard to make ends meet, Lateef is determined to win Baran's heart. As the two grow closer, the obstacles they face in the form of cultural differences, class divisions, and Lateef's illegal status, threaten to tear them apart. Ultimately, Baran is a story of love and overcoming differences in a world where these two things are often seen as mutually exclusive.

From Deepa Mehta, starring Lisa Ray, John Abraham, Seema Biswas, Sarala Kariyawasam
Rated PG-13

Water is a 2005 Canadian-Indian drama film directed by Deepa Mehta. It is set in 1938 and tells the story of a group of widows living in an ashram in Varanasi, India. The film explores the hardships of these widows, who have been ostracized from the rest of society, and follows the story of an eight-year-old girl, Chuyia, who is sent to live in the ashram after her husband's death. The film follows Chuyia as she learns about life and love, as well as the struggles of the widows, who are forced to live in poverty and endure verbal and physical abuse. Throughout the film, Chuyia's presence brings hope and possibility to the widows, but also brings up questions of tradition and faith. Ultimately, the film explores the complexities of Indian society and its treatment of widows.

From Elia Kazan, starring Stathis Giallelis, Frank Wolff, Elena Karam, Harry Davis
Rated Approved

America America is a 1963 film directed by Elia Kazan and based on his uncle's experiences in escaping the Ottoman Empire and coming to the United States. It tells the story of Stavros Topouzoglou, a poor Greek-Armenian boy who dreams of going to America. After attempting to run away from his arranged marriage and being publicly shamed in the process, Stavros sees a chance to escape when a wealthy relative offers to pay for his passage to America. Stavros embarks on a long and dangerous journey, encountering numerous obstacles along the way, including a crooked passport clerk, a false accusation of murder and a pirate ship attack. Through courage and determination, Stavros eventually makes it to America, where he faces a new set of struggles as an immigrant in a strange land. The film is a powerful exploration of the human cost of emigration, as well as a tribute to the immigrant experience and the courage and determination of those who seek a better life in a new country.

From Bahman Ghobadi, starring Ayoub Ahmadi, Rojin Younessi, Amaneh Ekhtiar-dini, Madi Ekhtiar-dini
Rated Not Rated

A Time for Drunken Horses is a 2000 Iranian film directed by Bahman Ghobadi. The film tells the story of a family of Kurdish nomads in a poverty-stricken area of Iran, struggling to survive and care for their ailing brother. The eldest brother, Aghabal, decides to smuggle goods across the Iranian-Iraqi border to try and make enough money to pay for his brother’s surgery. Along the way, Aghabal is forced to make difficult decisions and confront a harsh reality, highlighting the harsh conditions of poverty in Kurdistan. The film was an international success and earned Ghobadi numerous awards, including a Golden Camera award at the Cannes Film Festival.

From Yimou Zhang, starring Minzhi Wei, Huike Zhang, Zhenda Tian, Enman Gao
Rated G

Not One Less is a Chinese drama film directed by Yimou Zhang in 1999. It tells the story of a 13-year-old girl, Wei Minzhi, who takes a job as a substitute teacher in a rural village for a month while the regular teacher is away. At first, Wei struggles to manage the class, but as time goes on, she develops a bond with her students, who look up to her. However, one of the students, Zhang Huike, runs away from the village in search of better opportunities. Wei is determined to bring him back, so she embarks on a journey to find him. Along the way, she learns about the difficulties of life in rural China and the power of determination. The film ultimately explores the country’s changing times and the resilience of its people.

From Mike Leigh, starring David Thewlis, Lesley Sharp, Katrin Cartlidge, Greg Cruttwell
Rated Not Rated

Naked is a British black comedy-drama written and directed by Mike Leigh. The film follows the story of Johnny, a misanthropic drifter who arrives in Manchester and becomes embroiled in the lives of a group of complicated and eccentric characters. Johnny is a loner and a drifter who has just been released from prison. He sets up camp in an abandoned building and quickly finds himself in a series of uncomfortable and ambiguous situations. He encounters a young woman named Louise who takes care of him, a paranoid and violent ex-soldier named Jeremy, and a domineering and outspoken alcoholic named Sophie. As the story progresses, it follows the tumultuous relationships between these characters and the chaos that ensues when their lives intersect. The film features darkly humorous moments, as well as questioning of society's values and treatment of the disenfranchised.

From Radu Jude, starring Teodor Corban, Mihai Comanoiu, Toma Cuzin, Alexandru Dabija
Rated Not Rated

Aferim! is a 2015 Romanian historical drama directed by Radu Jude. Set in early 19th century Romania, the film follows a constable and his son as they search for an escaped gypsy slave. The constable, Costandin, and his son, Ionita, are hired by a boyar (a wealthy landowner) to capture the runaway slave. As they make their journey, they come across a variety of characters and situations, offering a unique insight into Romanian society at the time. Along the way, Costandin and Ionita grapple with the moral implications of their mission as well as their changing relationship with each other. Aferim! ultimately paints a complex portrait of a society struggling to come to terms with its own prejudices and biases.

From Cary Joji Fukunaga, starring Paulina Gaitan, Marco Antonio Aguirre, Leonardo Alonso, Karla Cecilia Alvarado
Rated R

Sin Nombre is a 2009 crime drama film directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga and starring Paulina Gaitan, Edgar Flores, and Kristyan Ferrer. The film follows two Central American immigrants, Sayra and Willy, as they attempt to cross the Mexican-American border. Along the way they encounter a violent gang, who they must evade while they fight for the chance at a better life in the United States. The film's themes of immigration, violence, family, and justice are realistically portrayed, making this a powerful, heartbreaking story.

From Gary Sinise, starring John Malkovich, Gary Sinise, Ray Walston, Casey Siemaszko
Rated PG-13

Of Mice and Men is a 1992 drama directed by Gary Sinise and based on John Steinbeck's classic novel of the same name. The film follows two migrant workers, George (played by Sinise) and Lennie (played by John Malkovich), as they travel through 1930s California in search of employment. Their strong bond of friendship is tested as they deal with the harsh realities of the Great Depression and the cruelty of other people. Despite the danger they face, they remain hopeful that one day they will find a place to call their own and live the American Dream.

From Abdellatif Kechiche, starring Habib Boufares, Hafsia Herzi, Farida Benkhetache, Abdelhamid Aktouche
Rated Not Rated

From Directors: Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne, starring Jérémie Renier, Déborah François, Jérémie Segard, Fabrizio Rongione
Rated R

From Phillip Noyce, starring Everlyn Sampi, Tianna Sansbury, Kenneth Branagh, Laura Monaghan
Rated PG

From Nabil Ayouch, starring Mounïm Kbab, Mustapha Hansali, Hicham Moussoune, Abdelhak Zhayra
Rated Not Rated