Global Cities in Film
The following is a list of suggestions from the critical geography list in reponse to a query about films to use for teaching about global cities.
12 Stories
A Friend of the Deceased
It captures a bit of the anxiety amid change from a socialist city to a capitalist one; the city itself is somewhat showcased, and I remember being struck by the beautiful architecture of older buildings and a skyline dominated by cranes constructing new developments...
Amores Perros
Autumn Moon
Blade Runner
Bride and Prejudice
Bugis Street
Café Lumiere
Central Station
Chungking Express
Great film, but you run the risk of your students throwing themselves out of the nearest window if your students don't get it.
Chunking Express
City of God
Great camerawork.
Brilliant film capturing the malaise of Rio.
What a film - outstanding.
Dirty Pretty Things
dealing with illegal migrants in London
About hotel workers in London.
Has it all: global cities, migration, sweat shops, gender issues, as well as a great story and great acting!
Eating Air
Fallen Angels
Floating Life
Grand Canyon
Happy Together
Heat
Undoubtedly Michael Mann's masterpiece, focuses on L.A.'s crimescape (based on true events from the 1960s).
I Not Stupid
In the Mood for Love
La Ville Est Tranquille
Les Avants Du Pont Neuf
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
Would give you a certain view of London, and it is a cracking film.
London
Patrick Keiller's fictional narrative as told in a documentary style is mesmerising, as is the film's counterpart 'Robinson in Space' (1997) although this is about the UK in general.
Los Angeles Plays Itself
Lost in Translation
I used this for cultural approaches to the city.
Mee Pok Man
Money No Enough
Monsoon Wedding
Resurrection Man
This is set in 1970s Belfast and you can really appreciate the ethnic conflict and associated microgeographies of fear (Nuala Johnston from Queen's Belfast has written about this in E & P D I think).
Rogue Trader
Rudy
Starring James Woods in one of his best roles. This charts the rise and fall of the Giuliani administration and takes us into the heart of the post 9/11 city.
Run Lola Run
Salaam Bombay
Sporchi, Brutti e Cattivi
Amazing and little-know film. Try and find subtitled version.