Socrates and Subtitles

A sequel to the author’s earlier work Plato and Popcorn: A Philosopher’s Guide to 75 Thought-Provoking Movies, this book presents analyses of 95 movies from the Americas and 20 other countries. Each entry includes a brief introduction to the film along with a list of philosophical questions to ponder after viewing it. Most entries also include a list of additional recommended films.
The films cover a wide range of genres and topics—from the haunting tale of doomed Polish freedom fighters in Kanal’s World War II Warsaw to the romantic and passionate story of rekindled love in Australia’s Innocence.
Instructors considering this book for use in a course may request an examination copy here.

William G. Smith is chair of the philosophy department at Millersville University of Pennsylvania.

William G. Smith
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 248
Bibliographic Info: 80 photos, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2010
pISBN: 978-0-7864-4380-2
eISBN: 978-0-7864-5685-7
Imprint: McFarland

Preface      1
Introduction: How to View, Enjoy, and Critically Appraise Movies      3

United States
Movie 1: Modern Times      11
Movie 2: Now, Voyager      15
Movies 3 and 4: Before Sunrise and Before Sunset      17
Movie 5: You Can Count on Me      25
Movie 6: Kinsey.      27
Movie 7: The Visitor      30

Latin America
Movie 8: Canoa.      32
Movie 9: The Official Story      34
Movie 10: Amores Perros      36
Movie 11: City of God      38
Movie 12: The Motorcycle Diaries      38

Great Britain and Ireland
Movie 13: The Up Series      41
Movie 14: 2001: A Space Odyssey      44
Movie 15: A Clockwork Orange      47
Movie 16: Waking Ned Devine      49
Movie 17: The End of the Affair      50
Movie 18: The Reader      54

Spain
Movie 19: The Spirit of the Beehive      56
Movie 20: El Bola      57
Movie 21: The Sea Inside      58

France
Movies 22 and 23: Jean de Florette and Manon of the Spring      61
Movie 24: The Widow of St. Pierre      63
Movie 25: A Very Long Engagement      65
Movie 26: 13 Tzameti      68
Movie 27: March of the Penguins      71
Movie 28: I’ve Loved You So Long      80

Scandinavia
Movies 29 and 30: Scenes from a Marriage and Saraband      82
Movie 31: My Life as a Dog      85
Movie 32: Hamsun      87
Movie 33: Elling      88
Movie 34: Lilya 4-Ever      90
Movie 35: After the Wedding      91

Germany
Movie 36: Ali: Fear Eats the Soul      93
Movie 37: Run Lola Run.      94
Movie 38: Downfall      96
Movie 39: Caché      98

Eastern Europe
Movies 40, 41 and 42: The War Trilogy (A Generation, Kanal, Ashes and Diamonds)      102
Movie 43: The Cranes Are Flying      106
Movie 44: The Sacrifice.      108
Movies 45, 46 and 47: The Three Colors Trilogy (Blue, White, Red)      112
Movie 48: The Ascent      119
Movie 49: Autumn Spring.      121
Movie 50: The Death of Mr. Lazerescu      122
Movie 51: Grbavica: The Land of My Dreams      123
Movie 52: The Island      125
Movie 53: 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days      128
Movie 54: 12      131

Italy
Movie 55: The Tree of the Wooden Clogs      134
Movie 56: A Pure Formality      136
Movie 57: The Best of Youth      138
Movie 58: Elsa and Fred      139

Africa
Movie 59: The Gods Must Be Crazy      142
Movie 60: Moolaade      143
Movie 61: Tsotsi      145

Israel
Movie 62: Walk on Water      149
Movie 63: Ushpizen      150
Movie 64: Waltz with Bashir      153

Iran
Movie 65: Children of Heaven      155
Movie 66: Two Women      156

India
Movies 67, 68 and 69: The Apu Trilogy (Pather Panchali, Aparajito, The World of Apu)      158
Movie 70: Water      165
Movie 71: Slumdog Millionaire.      167

China, Hong Kong and Nepal
Movie 72: Himalaya      171
Movies 73 and 74: In the Mood for Love and 2046      173

Movie 75: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter … and Spring      175
Movie 76: 3 Iron.      177
Movie 77: Tuya’s Marriage      179
Movie 78: Lust, Caution      181

Japan
Movie 79: Ugetsu      183
Movie 80: Rhapsody in August      184
Movie 81: After Life      187
Movie 82: Kikujiro      190
Movie 83: Nobody Knows      191

Australia and New Zealand
Movie 84: Innocence      194
Movie 85: Rabbit-Proof Fence      196
Movie 86: Look Both Ways      198
Movie 87: The World’s Fastest Indian      201

Canada
Movie 88: Black Robe      204
Movie 89: The Five Senses.      206
Movie 90: The Fast Runner.      211

Back to the United States
Movie 91: Double Indemnity      213
Movie 92: Oleanna      214
Movie 93: The Woodsman.      217
Movie 94: Doubt.      218
Movie 95: Up      220

Notes      223
Bibliography      227
Index      231

“a practical and entertaining read…a gem…a worthwhile addition”—AARBA.