True Stories in Film

Last week at TABLEtalk we got a little side-tracked with a discussion about films based on real life stories.  Lots of people had suggestions and I was asked to write a blog post about some of the films.  

My intention was to stick firmly with my TOP TEN favourites. Films I have seen personally, rather than those yet to be watched (such as 'Wild', 'The Two Popes' and 'On the basis of Sex').  

Unfortunately, I've failed in sticking to my Top Ten, instead you've got my FANTASTIC FIFTEEN (sorry).  You'll find then in alphabetical order rather than order of preference.  

Enjoy 😀😀😀

12 Years a Slave (2013)  ...  Chewetel Ejiofor brings to life this true but harrowing story of Solomon Northrup. Despite being a free black man in upstate New York, Solomon's life is turned upside down when he is kidnapped and sold into slavery. Finally, in the 12th year of his ordeal, on the brink of giving up hope, he meets an abolitionist from Canada who changes his life forever.

A Beautiful Mind (2001)  ...  John Forbes Nash Jr is a mathematical genius, played by Russell Crowe. This film tells the story of Nash's life journey from the heights of notoriety to the depths of despair and struggle with paranoid schizophrenia.

Amazing Grace (2006)  ...  This excellent film tells of the determination of young politician William Wilberforce and his friend, and future Prime Minister, William Pitt, to abolish the British slave trade. 

Apollo 13 (1995)  ...  Tom Hanks plays the lead role in this story of the events surrounding the Apollo 13 lunar mission. The safe return to earth of this mission, despite mounting technical issues, is a testimony to the dedication of many in NASA.  If you are ever in Florida, I encourage you to visit the Kennedy Space Centre at Cape Canaveral.

Captain Philips (2013)  ...  Tom Hanks again leads us through the true story of ship's captain Richard Phillips whose U.S. container ship is boarded by Somali pirates in April 2009. Phillips must use his wits in order to protect not just the ship, but himself and his crew. This is certainly one of my favourites.

Chariots of Fire (1981)  ...  Yes, I know, some of you weren't born in 1981, but that's no excuse to ignore this brilliant film.  Eric Liddell and Harold Abrahams were two determined runners in the 1924 Paris Olympics. Abrahams must overcome anti-Semitism and class bias; whilst Liddell's devout faith as a Christian finds him refusing to train or even compete on the Sabbath.

Freedom Writers (2007)  ...  Actress Hilary Swank plays the role of dedicated teacher, Erin Gruwell, whose inspiration turns around the lives of students in a racially divided Los Angeles school.

Hacksaw Ridge (2016)  ...  The remarkable true story of Private Desmond Doss who won the Congressional Medal of Honour despite his refusal to bear arms on the basis of his religious beliefs. In the Battle of Okinawa, Doss, virtually single-handedly, saved the lives of 75 of his fellow soldiers. Be prepared for the blood and body parts.

Hidden Figures (2016)  ...  Despite discrimination of both their race and gender, this fantastic and inspiring film tells the story of three mathematically brilliant African-American women who play a vital role in the American space race of the early 1960s.

Lion (2016)  ...  This moving story invites us to join Saroo, a five year old Indian boy who gets separated from his family. Saroo survives the streets of Kolkata and is adopted by an Australian couple.  Some 25 years later, with the help of Google Earth and much dogged determination Saroo finds his birth family.

Schindler's List (1993)  ...  Businessman Oskar Schindler, played by Liam Neeson, arrives in Krakow, Poland at the start of World War II ready to make his fortune.  Despite setting out to exploit cheap Jewish labour, Schindler eventually uses his business acumen to save the lives of over 1,000 Polish Jews from certain death during the Holocaust. If you are ever in Krakow, I highly recommend a visit to the Schindler Museum.

The Butler (2013)  ...  Forrest Whitaker plays the lead role in this lovely film about Cecil Gaines, a butler in the White House. His tenure, spanning 34 years and eight American presidents, takes us through such periods of history as the civil rights movement and the Vietnam War.

The Imitation Game (2014)  ...  Benedict Cumberbatch plays the role of mathematician, Alan Turing, whose dedicated work during World War II helped to break Nazi codes, including Enigma, which cryptanalysts had considered unbreakable.  If you get the chance, do visit Bletchley Park which served as a top secret base for teams of cryptanalysts throughout WWII.

The King's Speech (2010)  ...  Prince Albert must ascend to the British throne as King George VI, however he has a nervous stammer and is afraid to speak in public.  This film tells the story of the unusual friendship that forms between the future king and his speech therapist.

The Theory of Everything (2014)  ...  A truly inspirational watch!  Eddie Redmayne brings to us the life of physicist Stephen Hawking who, despite a diagnosis of motor neurone disease at the age of 21, went on the defy the odds and break new ground in the fields of medicine and science.

Even though I exceeded my original quota of 10, I have still missed out on some other great films, such as:  Darkest Hour, Erin Brokovich, Papillon, Coach Carter, Sully, Lincoln, 1127 Hours and The Impossible.  No doubt you have other recommendations to add to the list.