"These movies are all good ways to learn about important events, foreign cultures or economic realities. As with the Recommended Reading list, I’ve seen and enjoyed them all."
Kimberly Amadeo
Publisher, World Money Watch
Index of Topics
South America
China
Southeast Asia
Middle East
Building Wealth
Just click on the film's title to order from Amazon.com.
South America
Maria, Full of Grace
A film about a Columbian woman who agrees to be a “mule” rather than work in a U.S. rose factory for the rest of her life. A mule is one who carries cocaine packets in her stomach to smuggle into the U.S.
Winner, 2004 Sundance Film Festival Audience Award
Aguirre, the Wrath of God
A good story of Peru after the Spanish destroyed the Incan empire. The best collaboration between Klaus Kinsk (Aguirre) and the New German Cinema director Werner Herzog.
China
Bladerunner
Set in Los Angeles, 2019, it gives a good portrayal of what the world would look like if Asia were the dominant culture. And also, if human cloning were possible. Early great performances by Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Edward James Olmos, Darryl Hanna, and Sean Young. Directed by Ridley Scott.
Raise the Red Lantern
A sad but probably accurate story of life in 1920’s China, when rich men could have four wives. This movie reaffirmed Zhang Yimou as a world class director, and stars Gong Li.
Temptress Moon
A good portrayal of life in China in the 1920’s. The story of a powerful Chinese family, the daughter who inherits the power, and the gigolo who tries to take it away from her.
Xiu Xiu The Sent Down Girl
Between 1967 and 1976, nearly 8 million Chinese youths were "sent down" for specialized training to the remotest corners of the country. A chilling and haunting indictment of what happened to one girl’s innocence and beauty under Mao’s Communism. Directed by Joan Chen.
Southeast Asia
The Killing Fields
Unbelievable but true story of what this Cambodian journalist went through, and what happened when the Khmer Rouge took over his country. Hard to watch, but well worth it.
The Quiet American
Gives you a really good sense of the subtle role the CIA played in Vietnam in the 1950’s. Also great love story with the fabulous Michael Caine.
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring
A fascinating story of life in a Korean Buddhist monastery - but it is so much more than that. It’s really more a beautiful film that happens to be Korean.
The Vertical Ray of the Sun
A beautifully filmed story of how three women in live in modern day Vietnam. Gives a good sense of what it would really be like to live there.
The Year of Living Dangerously
Great introduction to the uprising in Indonesia against Sukarno. Another good love story, and also gave Mel Gibson and Sigourney Weaver their first serious roles - but Linda Hunt blows them all away in her role as the photographer, Billy.
Middle East
Death in Gaza
An HBO documentary about Ahmed and his best friend Mohammed, two 12 year old Palestinian boys who are being pressured to join the resistance and become martyrs. Filmed by James Miller, the English photo-journalist who was shot by an Israeli patrol - all captured on film. Gives an incredible understanding of what it is like to live in Gaza.
Kandahar
Incredible story about a woman who returns to Afghanistan to save her sister, and her discovery of what has happened to her country. Incredible imagery.
Paradise Now
A behind-the-scenes story of two Palestinians who volunteer as human bombs - why they do it, the social pressures that support it, and how they face the moral implications.
Building Wealth
The Secret
Provides great motivation, support and easy-to-use steps to help you believe that you deserve to be rich and retire early -- or anything else your heart desires.
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