The year 2020 gave us a lot of unpleasant things to remember for the entire life. Many nations around the world began lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The massive fall on the action in big cities caused effects on the minds of people, and discussions turned into the year being unfavourable for numerous people. Months of social isolation, fear and sadness took a toll, leading many people to face multiple issues. The outbreak of the virus and the lockdown even got people to binge-watch pandemic and apocalyptic movies. However, the year somehow ended and the news of getting a vaccine in the new year of 2021 conveyed hope in the minds of people. Still, many people are digging into virtual escapes from wounds of the last year. And if you are feeling down, apathetic or stuck, here is a list of 7 lesser-known motivational movies to choose from, when you need a good laugh, some tears, or a spark of motivation.
1. Hillbilly Elegy (2020)
It's all about family in the end. In this pandemic, we all have certainly experienced how things work with family. This brilliant movie is Ron Howard's extraordinary vision of a small-town family suffering through a cycle of addiction. When an urgent phone call pulls a law student back to his hometown, he reflects on three generations of his family history and his future. Here is one quote from this movie which will make you watch this masterpiece.
“Where we come from is who we are, but we choose every day who we become”
2. The boy who harnessed the wind (2019)
The filmmaker Chiwetel Ejiofor displays an inspiring real-life story of William Kamkwamba. William, a thirteen-year-old boy creates a unique way to protect his family and village from famine and builds a windmill. Here is a quote which perfectly describes the thoughts and beliefs of the people living in his community. When almost everyone believed that magic was the driving force of the universe, William was different, by believing that things could be achieved by using science.
“Before I discovered the miracles of science, magic ruled the world”
3. Hidden Figures (2017)
The historic space mission of John Glenns was possible because of a team of three African-American women. The Hidden Figures movie teaches us about a team of Katherine G. Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson, which faces discrimination while working for NASA, and yet become the unsung heroes of the historic space race. Theodore Melfi has directed this inspirational movie. It is written by Allison Schroeder, and here is a quote from this movie which simply speaks a lot!
“If you act right, you are right. That's for certain”
4. Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
This movie is a masterpiece by David O. Russell, which is an outstanding blend of huge laughs and painful authenticity. We love our family. They make us laugh and sometimes they drive us nuts, and probably we all have experienced this in this lockdown. There is a remarkably effective message in the Silver Linings Playbook, about living amends, love, grace and the healing powers of selfless love. Here is a quote from the Silver Linings Playbook which can make you watch this movie.
“You gotta pay attention to the signs. When life reaches out a moment like this, it's a sin if you don't reach back. It will haunt you for the rest of your days like a curse”.
5. Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012)
This movie is a fantasy drama, and it centres around six-year-old Hushpuppy. When her community is struggling with environmental problems, she learns to adapt to a new world. The movie educates us that even our tiny steps can make great changes, and here is a brilliant quote that tells us about the significance of our existence in this huge world.
“When you are a small piece of a big puzzle, you gotta fix what you can”
6. Mud (2012)
Jeff Nichols has beautifully shot this movie. It blends crime, drama and romance into a heartfelt story that pursues two young boys who confront a fugitive in the desire of their help on an isolated island. As they become friends, it's so noticeable that the law is after them. Here is a beautiful quote from the Mud which guides us to look out for the benefits out of any situation.
“There are fierce powers at work in the world, boys. Good, evil, poor luck, best luck. As men, we have got to take advantage where we can”
7. Of Mice and Men (1992)
Of Mice and Men is Gary Sinise's excellent adaptation of John Steinbeck's classic novel. In this movie, the character named George with his strong willpower, travel around America with mentally disabled Lennie, as farmhands, dreaming of one day owning their land. Of Mice and Men brilliantly tells the significance of a true companion in life, and here is a simple but meaningful quote from this movie, which lets out the value of companionship.
“We got a future. We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us”.
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Reflections:
- www.cosmopolitan.com
- www.m.imdb.com
- www.goodreads.com