Cinema can't resist history. With the same frequency that horror films are produced and now those of superheroes, Hollywood and a good number of national cinematographies worldwide, delve into reviewing and interpreting historical events.
If we analyze all the film productions based on history, some proposals seek to be exact and portray "the truth" in a reliable way. Others are more "free". What are the best historical films?
How to define the best historical films
What parameters should be taken into account when making a list of the best historical films? From the outset, it could be said that it should be faithful to the narrated event. But only this detail already generates inconveniences. Is the story objective?
To carry out this analysis of historical veracity, we will take as a starting point those tapes that narrate a specific event; also those that seek to recreate a historical moment to locate their story. Taking into account that in all cases it is fiction filmsTherefore they should never be taken as absolute and irrefutable truths.
Passion of Christby Mel Gibson (2004)
Many consider this to be the most historically accurate film about the last hours of Jesus Christ on earth.. There are also many who classify it as a "gratuitously bloody" movie. What is a fact is that it is less sweetened than the legendary TV series directed by Franco Zeffirelli in the 70s.
Apocalypse Nowby Francis Ford Coppola (1979)
If there is a controversial episode in history, it is the Vietnam War. Apocalypse now at no time does it pretend to be an exact portrait of what was experienced within this conflict. He only sought to reflect the absurdity that reigned in the middle of the inclement Asian jungles.
The battleship Potemkin, by Sergei M. Eisenstein (1925)
This is not just one of the best historical films of all time. It is in itself a historical document of infinite value.. In addition to recreating the uprising of the crew of the famous ship against the Tsarist officers, one of its scenes (The Odessa stairs), is one of the most iconic ever filmed.
Eby Martin Scorsese (2013)
You don't have to travel decades, centuries or millennia back in history to bring momentous events to the big screen. Directed by the "historic" Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio. It narrates the meteoric rise and consequent fall of a successful Wall Street stockbroker.
Dunkirkby Christopher Nolas (2017)
The award-winning British director Christopher Nolan narrates with his characteristic visual neatness, one of the episodes that marked the outcome of World War II. Distressing, realistic, and haunting. These are some of the adjectives with which international critics celebrated this work.
The darkest momentby Joe Wright (2017)
Located within the same episode of Dunkirk, but centered on the political struggle that took place in London. It earned its place without argument among the best historical films. Gary Oldman's performance of Wiston Chrchill opened the doors to the Olympus of great actors.
Lincolnby Steven Spielberg (2012)
Steven Spielberg rose to fame for his fantastic films (Shark included). But he has been a prolific director within historical cinema. It narrates the last four months of the American president, as well as all his efforts to achieve the abolition of slavery.
bravehearthby Mel Gibson (1995)
Frequent title within many lists with the best historical films. Although from a purely historiographical point of view, it is a highly questioned film. The harshest critics argue that the plot has little to do with the events that occurred in William Wallace's Scotland. They even point out that beyond this soldier's name, everything else is pure fiction.
The thin red lineby Terrence Malick (1998)
Terrence Malick portrays a large-scale war conflict, in the middle of the impressive rainforest of the Solomon Islands. At the same time, it investigates the moral conflicts of the characters involved in the fierce carnage of World War II.
An impressively poetic film, in contrast to the horrors of another conflict that, seen from the perspective of the soldiers involved, does not make much sense.
The tongue of butterflies, by José Luis Cuerda (1999)
What is the limit of a child's innocence when his daily life is interrupted by an “adult” fight? That is one of the many questions that this Spanish film leaves in the air, set in Galicia in the moments before the Civil War.
Hotel Rwandaby Terry George (2004)
The contemporary history of many African countries is full of episodes like the one narrated in this film. With Don Cheadle as the protagonist, a film that does not pretend to be friendly with any of the figures that intervene in it.
Invictusby Clint Eastwood (2009)
Again the cinema and history locate the events in Africa. This is a quick review of Nelson Mandela's rise to the presidency of South Africa. The story focuses on how the African leader used rugby, a traditionally white sport, to unify the fragmented country.
Saving Private Ryanby Steven Spielberg (1998)
Another fictional story that serves as an excuse to portray the vicissitudes of World War II. Its place in the best historical films has earned it thanks to the impeccable and uncomfortable direction of Spielberg.
The Postby Steven Spielberg (2017)
Again Steven Spielberg offers his vision of history. A vision that, within certain circuits, is qualified as “objective”. Received as an "anti Trump" movie, recounts the Washington Post's journalistic feat to publish the secret Pentagon documents about the Vietnam War.
Spotlightby Thomas McCarthy (2015)
Another battle of a group of American journalists after an uncomfortable news. Oscar winner for Best Picture. It stands out, among other things, for its impressive choral cast, consisting of Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton and Rachel McAdams, among others.
Image Sources: HobbyConsolas / Hard Pop