Resistance - Historical
by Deep-Green-Resistance | created - 23 Feb 2014 | updated - 13 Dec 2018 | PublicDeep Green Resistance recommendations for films depicting historical resistance, before the year 2000, to civilization, empire, and oppression.
See also our list devoted to World War II resistance.
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1. The Coconut Revolution (2001 TV Movie)
50 min | Documentary
This is the modern-day story of a native peoples' remarkable victory over Western Colonial power. A Pacific island rose up in arms against giant mining corporation Rio Tinto Zinc (RTZ) - and won despite a military occupation and blockade.
Director: Dom Rotheroe | Stars: Joseph Kabui, Francis Ona
Votes: 211
2. Michael Collins (1996)
R | 133 min | Biography, Drama, Thriller
Neil Jordan's historical biopic of Irish revolutionary Michael Collins, the man who led a guerrilla war against the UK, helped negotiate the creation of the Irish Free State, and led the National Army during the Irish Civil War.
Director: Neil Jordan | Stars: Liam Neeson, Aidan Quinn, Julia Roberts, Ian Hart
Votes: 33,745 | Gross: $11.09M
3. The Wind that Shakes the Barley (2006)
Not Rated | 127 min | Drama, War
Against the backdrop of the Irish War of Independence, two brothers fight a guerrilla war against British forces.
Director: Ken Loach | Stars: Cillian Murphy, Pádraic Delaney, Liam Cunningham, Orla Fitzgerald
Votes: 54,600 | Gross: $1.83M
4. Trumbo (2015)
R | 124 min | Biography, Drama
In 1947, Dalton Trumbo was Hollywood's top screenwriter, until he and other artists were jailed and blacklisted for their political beliefs.
Director: Jay Roach | Stars: Bryan Cranston, Diane Lane, Helen Mirren, Louis C.K.
Votes: 84,768 | Gross: $7.86M
5. The Battle of Algiers (1966)
Not Rated | 121 min | Drama, War
In the 1950s, fear and violence escalate as the people of Algiers fight for independence from the French government.
Director: Gillo Pontecorvo | Stars: Brahim Hadjadj, Jean Martin, Yacef Saadi, Samia Kerbash
Votes: 65,632 | Gross: $0.06M
6. Rang De Basanti (2006)
Not Rated | 167 min | Comedy, Crime, Drama
The story of six young Indians who assist an English woman to film a documentary on the freedom fighters from their past, and the events that lead them to relive the long-forgotten saga of freedom.
Director: Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra | Stars: Aamir Khan, Soha Ali Khan, Siddharth, Sharman Joshi
Votes: 122,348 | Gross: $2.20M
7. The Legend of Bhagat Singh (2002)
Not Rated | 155 min | Action, Biography, Drama
The story of a young revolutionary who raised an armed resistance against the British rule in India.
Director: Rajkumar Santoshi | Stars: Ajay Devgn, Sushant Singh, D. Santosh, Akhilendra Mishra
Votes: 17,289
8. The Weather Underground (2002)
Unrated | 92 min | Documentary, History, War
The remarkable story of The Weather Underground, radical activists of the 1970s, and of radical politics at its best and most disastrous.
Directors: Sam Green, Bill Siegel | Stars: Lili Taylor, Pamela Z, Jim Lange, Evan White
Votes: 3,768 | Gross: $0.56M
9. Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance (1993)
119 min | Documentary
A film account about the military 1990 siege of a Native American reserve near Oka, Quebec, Canada and its causes.
Director: Alanis Obomsawin | Stars: Jack Burning, Herbie Barnes, Alanis Obomsawin, Ethel Blondin
Votes: 481
10. The Singing Revolution (2006)
Unrated | 94 min | Documentary, History, Music
Most people don't think about singing when they think about revolutions. But song was the weapon of choice when, between 1986 and 1991, Estonians sought to free themselves from decades of ... See full summary »
Directors: James Tusty, Maureen Castle Tusty | Stars: Heiki Ahonen, Gustav Ernesaks, Linda Hunt, Mari-Ann Kelam
Votes: 639 | Gross: $0.33M
11. Bloody Sunday (2002)
R | 111 min | Drama, History, War
A dramatization of the Irish civil rights protest march and subsequent massacre by British troops on January 30, 1972.
Director: Paul Greengrass | Stars: James Nesbitt, Tim Pigott-Smith, Nicholas Farrell, Allan Gildea
Votes: 25,752 | Gross: $0.77M
12. Eyes on the Prize (1987–1990)
TV-PG | 360 min | Documentary, History
A documentary about the American Civil Rights Movement from 1952 to 1965.
Stars: Julian Bond, Coretta Scott King, John Lewis, Andrew Young
Votes: 736
13. Igniting the Revolution (2001)
20 min | Documentary, Short
An insight into the ideology of radical environmentalism of the international group Earth Liberation Front (ELF). ELF spokesman at the time, Craig Rosebraugh, clarifies the course of the actions, but also their possible consequences.
Star: Craig Scott Rosebraugh
14. Land and Freedom (1995)
Not Rated | 109 min | Drama, War
David is an unemployed communist that comes to Spain in 1937 during the civil war to enroll the republicans and defend the democracy against the fascists. He makes friends between the soldiers.
Director: Ken Loach | Stars: Ian Hart, Rosana Pastor, Icíar Bollaín, Tom Gilroy
Votes: 12,094 | Gross: $0.23M
15. Catch a Fire (2006)
PG-13 | 101 min | Biography, Drama, History
A drama about terrorism in Apartheid-era South Africa, revolving around a policeman and a young man who carries out solo attacks against the regime.
Director: Phillip Noyce | Stars: Derek Luke, Tim Robbins, Bonnie Mbuli, Mncedisi Shabangu
Votes: 11,039 | Gross: $4.29M
16. The Baader Meinhof Complex (2008)
R | 150 min | Action, Biography, Crime
A look at Germany's terrorist group, The Red Army Faction (RAF), which organized bombings, robberies, kidnappings, and assassinations in the late 1960s and '70s.
Director: Uli Edel | Stars: Martina Gedeck, Moritz Bleibtreu, Johanna Wokalek, Bruno Ganz
Votes: 40,113 | Gross: $0.48M
17. Zapatista (1999)
Unrated | 56 min | Documentary
Jan. 1 1994: The Day the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) went in effect. A few minutes after midnight in Southeastern Mexico, several thousand Indian soldiers take over half the... See full summary »
Directors: Benjamin Eichert, Rick Rowley, Staale Sandberg | Stars: Mumia Abu-Jamal, Medea Benjamin, Blase Bonpane, Noam Chomsky
Votes: 203
18. Malcolm X (1992)
PG-13 | 202 min | Biography, Drama, History
Biographical epic of the controversial and influential Black Nationalist leader, from his early life and career as a small-time gangster, to his ministry as a member of the Nation of Islam and his eventual assassination.
Director: Spike Lee | Stars: Denzel Washington, Angela Bassett, Delroy Lindo, Spike Lee
Votes: 102,000 | Gross: $48.17M
19. The Murder of Fred Hampton (1971)
Not Rated | 88 min | Documentary, Biography, Crime
A chronicle of Fred Hampton's revolutionary leadership of the Illinois Black Panther Party, followed by an investigation into his assassination at the hands of the Chicago Police Department.
Director: Howard Alk | Stars: Skip Andrew, Edward Carmody, James Davis, Rennie Davis
Votes: 553
20. Soundtrack for a Revolution (2009)
Not Rated | 82 min | Documentary, History, Music
A fresh and exhilarating take on one of the most important social movements in American history, Soundtrack for a Revolution explores the civil rights struggle through the powerful and stirring songs that inspired a generation.
Directors: Bill Guttentag, Dan Sturman | Stars: The Roots, John Legend, Wyclef Jean, Joss Stone
Votes: 338
21. The Camden 28 (2007)
Not Rated | 83 min | Documentary
The Camden 28 explores how and why 28 individuals intentionally placed themselves at risk of arrest and imprisonment while protesting the war in Vietnam. Featuring a treasure of archival ... See full summary »
Director: Anthony Giacchino
Votes: 114 | Gross: $0.01M
22. Freedom Riders (2010)
Not Rated | 117 min | Documentary, History
The story of the Civil Rights Movement interstate busing protest campaign.
Director: Stanley Nelson | Stars: Raymond Arsenault, Genevieve Houghton, Gordon Carey, Derek Catsam
Votes: 428
23. Matewan (1987)
PG-13 | 135 min | Drama, History
A labor union organizer comes to an embattled mining community brutally and violently dominated and harassed by the mining company.
Director: John Sayles | Stars: Chris Cooper, James Earl Jones, Mary McDonnell, Will Oldham
Votes: 8,908 | Gross: $1.68M
24. Harlan County U.S.A. (1976)
PG | 103 min | Documentary
A heartbreaking record of the thirteen-month struggle between a community fighting to survive and a corporation dedicated to the bottom line.
Director: Barbara Kopple | Stars: John L. Lewis, Carl Horn, Norman Yarborough, Logan Patterson
Votes: 6,626
25. Lal Salaam (2002)
131 min | Action, Drama
This film is mainly based on various true incidents relating to tribles, their culture and their lifestyle. The main characters are Dr. Kanna (Sharad Kapoor), his fiancée Rupi (Ms. Nandita ... See full summary »
Director: Gaganvihari Borate | Stars: Nandita Das, Sharad S. Kapoor, Makrand Deshpande, Vijay Raaz
Votes: 111
26. Lion of the Desert (1980)
PG | 173 min | Biography, Drama, History
In 1929, Italian Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini appoints General Rodolfo Graziani as colonial governor to Italian Libya with orders to stamp-out all resistance from Libyan nationalists led by rebel guerrilla leader Omar Mukhtar.
Director: Moustapha Akkad | Stars: Anthony Quinn, Oliver Reed, Rod Steiger, Irene Papas
Votes: 17,366 | Gross: $3.27M
27. Nat Turner: A Troublesome Property (2003)
PG | 58 min | Documentary
The story and legacy of the enigmatic leader of the notorious 1831 homicidal slave revolt in Virginia, along with reviews of works about him, are explored; twentieth century civil rights discussed and cultural relativism mentioned.
Director: Charles Burnett | Stars: Herbert Aptheker, Ayuko Babu, Charles Burnett, Resharma Coleman
Votes: 182
28. Panther (I) (1995)
R | 124 min | Drama
A dramatized account of the story of The Black Panther Party of Self-Defense.
Director: Mario Van Peebles | Stars: Kadeem Hardison, Bokeem Woodbine, Joe Don Baker, Courtney B. Vance
Votes: 2,694 | Gross: $6.83M
Fictionalized and devolves into action movie silliness at the end, but still some interesting glimpses into Black Panther history.
29. Underground: The Julian Assange Story (2012)
Not Rated | 94 min | Biography, Drama
A look at the early career of Wikileaks founder, Julian Assange.
Director: Robert Connolly | Stars: Rachel Griffiths, Anthony LaPaglia, Alex Williams, Laura Wheelwright
Votes: 2,091
30. 1971 (2014)
Unrated | 79 min | Documentary, History, Thriller
The story of a notorious 1971 activist burglary of an FBI office that led to the Bureau's numerous abuses against dissidents being exposed.
Director: Johanna Hamilton | Stars: Bonnie Raines, John Raines, Bob Williamson, Keith Forsyth
Votes: 912
31. The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution (2015)
Not Rated | 115 min | Documentary, History
This documentary tells the rise and fall of the Black Panther Party, one of the 20th century's most alluring and controversial organizations that captivated the world's attention for nearly 50 years.
Director: Stanley Nelson | Stars: Blair Anderson, Omar Barbour, Julian Bond, Elaine Brown
Votes: 2,144 | Gross: $0.48M
32. Made in Dagenham (2010)
R | 113 min | Comedy, Drama, History
A dramatization of the 1968 strike at the Ford Dagenham car plant, where female workers walked out in protest against sexual discrimination.
Director: Nigel Cole | Stars: Sally Hawkins, Bob Hoskins, Andrea Riseborough, Jaime Winstone
Votes: 16,068 | Gross: $1.09M
33. Sophie Scholl: The Final Days (2005)
Not Rated | 120 min | Biography, Crime, Drama
A dramatization of the final days of Sophie Scholl, one of the most famous members of the German World War II anti-Nazi resistance movement, The White Rose.
Director: Marc Rothemund | Stars: Julia Jentsch, Fabian Hinrichs, Alexander Held, Johanna Gastdorf
Votes: 28,662 | Gross: $0.68M
34. I Am Not Your Negro (2016)
PG-13 | 93 min | Documentary, History
Writer James Baldwin tells the story of race in modern America with his unfinished novel, Remember This House.
Director: Raoul Peck | Stars: Samuel L. Jackson, James Baldwin, Martin Luther King, Malcolm X
Votes: 23,496 | Gross: $7.12M
35. Lucio (2007)
93 min | Documentary
Lucio Urtubia dedicated anarchist participated in notorious kidnappings, he collaborated with Che Guevara, he swindled Citibank of 3,000 million pesetas. And did it all without missing a day's work as a building laborer.
Directors: Aitor Arregi, Jose Mari Goenaga | Stars: Lucio Urtubia, Ramón Agirre, Roland Dumas, Antonio Martín
Votes: 250
36. Pickaxe (1999)
94 min | Documentary
A diverse coalition of activists rises to defend an ancient forest from logging in Warner Creek, within Oregon's Willamette National Forest. They block a logging access road and fend off state police.
Directors: Tim Lewis, Tim Ream | Stars: Jake Ferguson, Mick Garvin, Tim Ingalsbee, James Johnston
Votes: 48
37. Earth First! The Politics of Radical Environmentalism (1987)
60 min | Documentary
The film delves into the theory and practice of Earth First-networks of radical environmental groups employing direct action tactics.
Director: Christopher Manes | Stars: Edward Abbey, Rick Baily, Darryl Cherney, John Davis
Votes: 16
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