Movies About Segregation

From Peter Farrelly, starring Viggo Mortensen, Mahershala Ali, Linda Cardellini, Sebastian Maniscalco
Rated PG-13

Green Book is a 2018 American biographical comedy-drama film directed by Peter Farrelly. Based on a true story, the film follows an Italian-American bouncer, Tony Lip (Viggo Mortensen), who is hired to drive African-American pianist Don Shirley (Mahershala Ali) on a tour of venues through the 1960s American South. The film is named after The Negro Motorist Green Book, a mid-20th century guidebook for African-American travelers written by Victor Hugo Green. Tony and Don face racism and danger as they travel through the Deep South, but they form an unlikely friendship, relying on "The Green Book" to guide them to safe havens and places to eat. Along the way, they learn to appreciate and understand each other on a deeper level. As they reach their destination, Tony realizes that he has been changed by the journey, and he and Don part ways on better terms.

From Tate Taylor, starring Viola Davis, Emma Stone, Octavia Spencer, Bryce Dallas Howard
Rated PG-13

The Help is a 2011 American period drama film directed and written by Tate Taylor and based on Kathryn Stockett's 2009 novel of the same name. Set in Jackson, Mississippi in the early 1960s, the film tells the story of a young white woman, Skeeter (Emma Stone), who becomes interested in the lives of the black women who work for her family, and the lives of the other black women in her town. Skeeter decides to write a book about their experiences, which leads to major changes for both her and the black women of Jackson. The film focuses on the relationships between the white women, the black women, and the everyday racial tensions in the town. The cast includes Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, Bryce Dallas Howard, Jessica Chastain, Allison Janney, and Sissy Spacek. The Help received numerous awards and nominations, including four Academy Award nominations and a win for Best Supporting Actress for Octavia Spencer.

From Neill Blomkamp, starring Sharlto Copley, David James, Jason Cope, Nathalie Boltt
Rated R

District 9 is a science fiction action movie directed by Neill Blomkamp and released in 2009. The movie is set in Johannesburg, South Africa and follows the story of an extraterrestrial race of aliens who have become refugees in South Africa after their spacecraft crashed on Earth. The aliens, termed "prawns" due to their physical resemblance to large insects, are forced to live in shantytowns called "District 9" and are mistreated by the local human population. The story follows a bureaucrat, Wikus van de Merwe, who is given the task of relocating the aliens from District 9 to a new camp outside of Johannesburg. As the relocation project begins, Wikus begins to discover secrets about the aliens and soon finds himself embroiled in a conflict with a powerful weapons manufacturer. In the end, Wikus must make a difficult decision between his loyalty to the humans and his newfound empathy for the aliens.

From Bruce Beresford, starring Morgan Freeman, Jessica Tandy, Dan Aykroyd, Patti LuPone
Rated PG

From Bong Joon Ho, starring Chris Evans, Jamie Bell, Tilda Swinton, Ed Harris
Rated R

From Ramin Bahrani, starring Adarsh Gourav, Rajkummar Rao, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Vedant Sinha
Rated R

From Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia, starring Ivan Massagué, Zorion Eguileor, Antonia San Juan, Emilio Buale
Rated TV-MA

From Michael Anderson, starring Michael York, Jenny Agutter, Richard Jordan, Roscoe Lee Browne
Rated PG

From Michel Franco, starring Eligio Meléndez, Regina Flores, Dalia Zuñiga, Gabriela Ruíz
Rated R

From Ben Wheatley, starring Tom Hiddleston, Jeremy Irons, Sienna Miller, Luke Evans
Rated R