Cinema's Power to Shape Politics and Legislation
Novelist Arundhati Roy recently withdrew from the Berlin Film Festival jury in protest against jury president Wim Wenders' assertion that films should "stay out of politics." Roy described Wenders' position as "unconscionable," arguing that art inherently engages with political realities. This debate underscores a critical truth: numerous films have not only shifted public opinion but have directly catalyzed legislative action across the globe.
Films That Forged Legal Change
Contrary to Wenders' view that cinema merely builds empathy, several screen works have demonstrably altered political landscapes. Here are eight films that led to concrete legislative outcomes:
- A Fantastic Woman (2017): Sebastián Lelio's Oscar-winning drama about a transgender woman in Chile resonated deeply with then-President Michelle Bachelet. The film helped break a five-year legislative stalemate, contributing to the passage of Chile's gender identity law, which formally recognized transgender rights.
- A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness (2016): Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy's documentary on "honour" killings in Pakistan prompted the prime minister to pledge legal reform. Subsequently, Pakistan enacted stricter punishments for such murders and closed loopholes that allowed perpetrators to evade justice through family forgiveness.
- A Handful of Ash: This documentary by Shara Amin and Nabaz Ahmed, focusing on female genital mutilation in Kurdistan, was screened in parliament. In 2011, it influenced the Kurdistan parliament to pass a bill outlawing the practice, marking a significant advancement in women's rights.
- Cathy Come Home (1966): Ken Loach's BBC television play exposed the harsh realities of homelessness in Britain. It led to the founding of the charity Crisis shortly after its broadcast and, more gradually, inspired the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act of 1977, which mandated council rehousing for homeless families.
- Mr Bates vs the Post Office: This ITV drama brought the Post Office Horizon scandal to widespread public attention, after years of campaigning. It pressured politicians to pass the Post Office (Horizon System) Compensation Act 2024 and the Post Office (Horizon System) Offences Act 2024, providing justice for affected subpostmasters.
- Silenced (2011): Directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk, this film depicted sexual abuse at a school for deaf children in South Korea. Public outrage fueled by the film led to the "Dogani law," which eliminated the statute of limitations for sexual crimes against children under 13 and disabled individuals.
- The Day After (1983): Nicholas Meyer's television film about a nuclear attack reached over 100 million viewers, including President Ronald Reagan. Reagan noted in his diary that the film left him "greatly depressed" and influenced his shift toward diplomacy, culminating in the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty of 1987.
- The Snake Pit (1948): Anatole Litvak's psychological drama exposed inhumane conditions in psychiatric hospitals. It spurred legal reforms in several U.S. states, leading to improved standards and care for mental health patients.
The Enduring Impact of Political Cinema
These examples illustrate that films can transcend entertainment to become catalysts for social and political change. By humanizing issues such as homelessness, gender identity, and nuclear war, cinema engages both the public and policymakers, proving that art and politics are inextricably linked. As Roy emphasized, dismissing this connection overlooks the profound role that storytelling plays in shaping our world.
