History in Film

Through the lens of a character story, we see Afghanistan’s fall from a modernized country to one under the thumb of the repressive Taliban. The post W088: The Kite Runner (2007) appeared first on .

Another Oscar-winning foreign film, The Sea Inside tells the true story of a quadriplegic man fighting for the right to end his own life. Rich and Logan also discuss the [ … ] The post W087: The Sea Inside (2004) appeared first on .

After being released from prison and elected president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela seeks to use rugby to unite the country. The post W086b: Invictus (2009) appeared first on .

This Oscar-winning foreign film gives a glimpse into the conflicts that unfolded during the collapse of Yugoslavia. The post W086: No Man’s Land (2001) appeared first on .

A heartbreaking film depicting the true story of a hotel manager struggling to keep his family and thousands of others safe during the Rwandan genocide. The post W085: Hotel Rwanda (2004) appeared first on .

As East Berlin opens back up to the West, a son must protect his mother’s fragile health. He tries to replicate the Communist world that fell while she was in [ … ] The post W084: Good Bye Lenin! (2003) appeared first on .

Merry Christmas! Historical icons Bill S. Preston and Ted “Theodore” Logan travel through time and abduct historical figures so they can pass their high school history final. The post W083b: Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989) appeared first on .

A small story from tribal life in the South Pacific. Based on an actual event and featuring actual tribe members as the cast. The post W083: Tanna (2015) appeared first on .

A powerful film about a woman seeking an abortion in communist Romania. The post 82b: 4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days (2007) appeared first on .

Texas Congressman Charlie Wilson is recruited to help the people of Afghanistan. He’s in a unique position to get them the resources they need to fight off a Russian invasion. The post W082: Charlie Wilson’s War (2007) appeared first on .

This story follows the gangs of the Cidade de Deus favela of Rio de Janeiro from roughly the late-60s to early 80s. It’s also an all-time great film. The post W081: City of God (2002) appeared first on .

Western journalists are on the front lines as Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge ruthlessly take control of Cambodia. They want to expose the atrocities, but need to make sure [ … ] The post W080: The Killing Fields (1984) appeared first on .

Following the massacre at the 1972 Munich Olympics, Israel seeks vengeance on the perpetrators. The post W079: Munich (2005) appeared first on .

Forest Whitaker gives a terrifying performance as Idi Amin, the charming and homicidal dictator of Uganda in the 1970s. The post W078: The Last King of Scotland (2006) appeared first on .

The quagmire of the Vietnam War is on full display in Oliver Stone’s Oscar winner for Best Picture. The post W077: Platoon (1986) appeared first on .

Linda Hunt steals this show in this drama following journalists during the 30 September Movement in Indonesia in 1965. The post W076: The Year of Living Dangerously (1982) appeared first on .

Happy Halloween! Director David Fincher explores the mystery of the Zodiac serial killer who terrorized northern California in the late 60s and early 70s. The post W075b: Zodiac (2007) appeared first on .

Hope everyone is staying safe this summer. Rich and Logan give a lengthy recap of the first half (and change) of the 20th century and the movies they discussed in [ … ] The post 3rd Hiatus – recap appeared first on .

The space race and Cold War are on full blast. A crop of young test pilots fight to see if they have what it takes to be the first U.S. [ … ] The post W075: The Right Stuff (1983) appeared first on .

Patrice Lumumba strives for an independent Congo, but struggles against all the various factions at play. The post W074: Lumumba (2000) appeared first on .

The native Algerian population has had enough of French control. Terrorism and torture leave neither side as the “good guy” in this conflict. The post W073: The Battle of Algiers (1966) appeared first on .

Edward R. Murrow publicly challenges Senator Joseph McCarthy’s aggressive campaign targeting supposed Communists in the United States. The post W072: Good Night, and Good Luck. (2005) appeared first on .

A formative journey in the life of Che Guevara before he became world famous as a revolutionary. The post W071: The Motorcycle Diaries (2004) appeared first on .

A weak film, but one that does offer a good look into the life of Argentinian first lady Eva Peron. The post W070: Evita (1996) appeared first on .

In post-war Japan, a government bureaucrat wonders what the point of his whole life has been. The post W069b: Ikiru (1952) [BONUS EPISODE] appeared first on .