20 must-see films for philosophy students

Philosophical films to reflect on interesting aspects of existence.

Since ancient times, human beings have asked questions about who we are, why we exist, what is the meaning of life, how and why we feel, perceive, think and act and, in general, how the universe works and why it does so.

The visualization and reflection of these and other phenomena have generated different types of explanationsThese explanations have been elaborated and contrasted over time through different scientific disciplines. Not in vain, philosophy is considered the mother of all sciences.

For this reason, philosophy continues to be an exciting field of study that allows us to reflect on the origin of what we know today and to ask ourselves about what is still unknown from different points of view.

A score of films with philosophical interpretations

In this article we will present 20 essential films for philosophy students because of the deep reflection on life and reality that can be made from them.

1. The Truman Show (Peter Weir)

This well-known film is part of the list of essential films for philosophy students due to its subject matter and the reflection it allows on life itself. This film narrates the life of Truman, who from the moment of his birth unknowingly participates in a reality show in the town of Seaheaven, created specifically for the reality show. The protagonist's entire life is being filmed and controlled by the reality show crew..

Truman's life seems calm and normal until he begins to realize that what happens around him is scripted and prepared around him, being the other citizens actors and him the only totally real person in the city, so he ends up trying to escape.

The film reflects how the protagonist tries to find out who he is and why his world is the way it is. On a philosophical level, it can serve to reflect on who we are, how we act towards others and the level of control and surveillance we have over our own lives and the lives of others.

2. Matrix (Lilly Wachawski and Lana Wachowski)

Another well-known and relatively recent film, the Matrix is a particularly philosophical film that refers to Plato's myth of the cave in its argument that we live in a false reality programmed by machines. However, unlike the myth of the cave, In Matrix, reality is devastating, being the human being harvested as a plant and subdued by illusion..

This film reflects the doubt of what is real, and how this can be seen, being another philosophical theme the search for freedom and the ability to choose. It also shows the differentiation between the experienced world and the rational world typical of Plato.

3. Inception (Christopher Nolan)

The film Inception is set in a world where there are professionals with the ability to enter into the dreams of others, accessing the subconscious of others.accessing other people's subconscious and working with them. The protagonist of the film is one of them, who is haunted by his talent and a painful past and because of it is unable to have a normal life.

One of the jobs they are asked to do ends badly, so the contractor tricks them into introducing ideas into a person's subconscious instead of obtaining information from it. The story is complicated by the possibility of being trapped in the dream world, making it difficult to discern when one is awake and when one is in a dream.

On a philosophical level one may wonder whether one is really living or whether what one is experiencing is just a dream, wondering what exactly is reality and whether it is really so important to know. Freedom of choice and other recurring philosophical themes such as human mentality, guilt, doubt, the need for redemption and hope are also addressed.

4. Ikiru (Akira Kurosawa)

During this film we see how its protagonist, Kenji Watanabe, leads a monotonous life, not very active and empty, which he does not realize until he is diagnosed with cancer. From the diagnosis, he will try to find a meaning to his life and to the time he has left..

Philosophically, we find relevant themes such as death and the fear of death, loneliness, choice and the search for meaning in life.

5. The day Nietzsche cried (Pinchas Perry)

In this film we can see how the well-known philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche has a high level of hopelessness, which is the reason why he is prepared for his death.For this reason, an appointment is arranged for him with the also renowned Dr. Breuer, a well-known professional of dynamic orientation and one of Freud's teachers. Initially the therapy seems to be unsuccessful, but over time it would help to improve his situation. In the same way, the philosopher helped the doctor to cope with social pressures, and the two became friends.

Melancholy, social pressure, despair and friendship are prevailing topics in the film.

6. A Clockwork Orange (Stanley Kubrick)

A Clockwork Orange is another classic with great philosophical significance.. During the course of the film we see a group of gang members led by Alex, the protagonist. Together they carry out various violent and criminal acts, committing rapes and brutal beatings until, during one of them, one of the assaulted people dies and Alex is caught.

Subsequently, he is subjected to aversive procedures to control and avoid his violent behavior, and after the treatment the young man will visualize the consequences of his actions, taking revenge on the people he assaulted.

From a philosophical point of view, the film allows us to reflect on cruelty, violence and the desire to destroy others, as well as the consequences of one's own actions. It also serves as a critique of different theoretical models, such as behaviorism.

As in other films and works by Kubrick, one can also visualize a critique of the progressive technologization of human activity, making the masses idiotized by the media and making them unaware of reality, as with Alex's parents.

7. The Seventh Seal (Ingmar Bergman)

This film is set in the Middle Ages, at the time when Blovk, a Swedish knight who took part in the Crusades, is in the middle ages.. At a particular moment the knight meets death, who has come looking for him. The knight proposes a game of chess, during which he will be remembering aspects of his life and reflecting on the fears, doubts and questions that he has been asking himself throughout his life.

As in the case of the previous film, this film makes us think about death and life boredom. It also talks about what it means to live and die, hedonism, love or innocence.

8. The Purple Rose of Cairo (Woody Allen)

This film is the sad story of a woman in the era of the Great Depression, using cinema as a method of escape from sadness and a life that does not satisfy her.She uses the cinema as a method of escape from sadness and a life that does not satisfy her. On one of the occasions when she goes to the movies, one of the fictional characters notices her and enters the real world through the screen, and soon after they begin a romantic relationship on both sides of the screen. However, the film's producer finds out and devises a plan to return each of them to their own world.

Again the theme of freedom of choice, the way of facing reality and the distinction between reality and fantasy are some of the philosophical elements seen in this film.

9. Told Lives (Jill Sprecher)

This is a film divided into thirteen partsin which five different people live their lives as they try to be happy and reflect on who they are, where they want to go and how they try to get there.

This film discusses the search for happiness, hope and connectivity between people and phenomena.

10. Cartesius (Robert Rosellini)

This is a film centered on the figure of René Descartes. In it we see how throughout his life the thinker tried to justify reason as the basis of thought. The philosophical interest of this film lies in the visualization and deepening of the thoughts of the well-known philosopher, as well as the kind of life that led him to reflect in this way.

11. Waking Life (Richard Linklater)

Another work of great philosophical significance. During the film we see how the main character is in a permanent state of lucid dreaming as a result of an accident.. In this state, he proceeds to reflect on different questions such as the meaning of life and the desire to live, even holding conversations with different thinkers of history while trying to solve his doubts.

In this film, dreams, the meaning of life and thought are reflected from very different perspectives, visualizing different philosophical currents.

12. 2001: A Space Odyssey (Stanley Kubrick)

A cult work of science fiction, this film covers different historical periods, from prehistory to prehistoric times.from prehistoric times to a future in which mankind is in full space exploration.

One of the best known fragments is set in the future, in a space exploration to Jupiter in which a supercomputer seems to acquire consciousness, appearing doubt, fear and even murdering one of its crew members.

Evolution, intelligence and the development of technology, along with the existence of consciousness in humans and non-humans, are topics to reflect upon after viewing.

13. The Tree of Life (Terrence Malick)

The film centers on the eldest son of the O'Brien family, Jack, who throughout his life has seen his mother as tender and loving and his father as stern and serious. At the age of 19, Jack's brother loses his life, which has serious effects on family life.. Years later, an adult Jack begins to ask himself profound existential questions, reflecting on the influence his family, environment and experiences have had on his life.

It can allow reflection on thinking, the effects of interaction and socialization.

14. The Possible Lives of Mr. Nobody (Jaco Van Dormael)

A recent film that reflects the life of the last mortal human in a world where most human beings have left that condition thanks to the advances of science. On the verge of death, Mr. Nobody thinks, remembers and imagines a series of possible situations he could have lived if he had decided on certain courses of action. had he decided on certain courses of action.

Freedom and choice, as well as love and the meaning of life, are themes on which the film allows us to reflect.

15. Blade Runner

One of the great classics of science fictionIn this film we see how society has evolved to create replicants, robots initially thought of as slaves until they rebelled, a rebellion that resulted in their banishment. Many of these replicants return, some of them ignoring that they are not human. The Blade Runners are a police team dedicated to destroying them, among which is the protagonist of the story.

Consciousness, perception, inequality and rejection, misunderstanding and fear go hand in hand in this film, being observable themes and subsequently debatable after viewing.

16. The Butterfly Effect (Eric Bress and Mackye Gruber)

This film stars Evan, a young man traumatized by painful events in his past.. Through reading, the young man discovers a way to go back in time and change some of the events that marked his life, so the future differs. However, fixing one of the events may cause other consequences as or more painful than what happened originally.

Some of the philosophical themes dealt with in this film are the passage of time, destiny, action and choice, and remorse.

17. V for Vendetta (James McTeigue)

This film is about V, a flamboyant, intellectual man who devotes himself to fighting against the tyranny of the dystopian society in which he lives, seeking revenge through the destruction of the political system. in which he lives, seeking revenge through the destruction of the political system.

Corruption, politics and the search for freedom are themes present in the film.

18. Fight Club (David Fincher)

This film is about the life of an insomniac and empty young man, who, after meeting anAfter meeting a soap salesman, he decides to found a secret fight club with him, based on the thought that only Pain makes life worth living and where members can vent their frustration.

This film can be used to reflect on the theme of pain, the appreciation of life from different perspectives, to know and perceive what is real, how we think and how it all affects our lives.

19. Artificial Intelligence (Steven Spielberg)

What is the human being and from what point we can consider something alive or real are some of the themes that can be explored in this film. are some of the themes that can be explored in this film.

The plot is based on David, a child robot created and programmed with the ability to love in a world where the only thing that makes humans and robots different from each other are feelings. Despite his creation, people are not able to accept him, so the little robot will try to find the answer to who he is.

20. Deep Sea (Alejandro Amenábar)

The story told in this film, based on true events, narrates the life of Ramón Sampedro and his search for euthanasia after decades of being bedridden due to an accident. because of an accident.

Freedom of choice, the right to life and the right to dispose of one's own death and suffering are central themes of this film.