Cultural Diversity

Cert

Age groupAll ages

Duration98 mins

The Wizard of Oz(1939)

One of early cinema's most beloved films sees a young girl called Dorothy, and her dog Toto, whisked away from Kansas to a fantastical land called Oz.

Film is one of the great tools for teaching us about people different to ourselves and learning respect. The Wizard of Oz remains one of the defining examples of this, as Dorothy comes into contact with all sorts of strange and eccentric people whilst following the yellow brick road, learning lessons about home – and the world outside – along the way.

Cert

Age group5–12

Duration89 mins

Babe(1995)

A heartwarming and very funny family tale of a pig with a penchant for sheep-herding, much to the chagrin of the local sheepdog.

The story of a young piglet adopted by a kindly sheepdog has firmly established itself as one of the classics of children’s cinema. Much of its appeal and ongoing relevance relates to the way the film gently introduces young people to issues around social isolation and victimisation, bravery and vulnerability.

Cert

Age group8–15

Duration91 mins

Paddington(2014)

Charming family film about an accident prone young bear from Peru arriving in London and searching for a new home.

The story of another explorer, this time a young bear travelling from Peru to London is a wonderful celebration of multiculturalism, tolerance and inclusion, as Paddington encounters all manner of weird and wonderful characters on the capital’s streets, and residents don’t bat an eyelid at the sight of a skateboarding, marmalade eating bear!

Kirikou et les hommes et les femmes (Kirikou and the Men and the Women)

Cert

Age group5–12

Duration88 mins

Kirikou et les hommes et les femmes (Kirikou and the Men and the Women)(2012)

Gorgeous, striking animated feature that follows the resourceful and heroic Kirikou; a small child living in a village in Africa.

Much like Darkest Peru, life for young people in an African village can seem very distant to many of us. Based on a series of folk-tales, this enchanting animation opens up a new culture to us in accessible fashion. The myths and legends seen in the film are both culturally specific and also ripe for fascinating comparison with our own.

Cert

Age group5–12

Duration77 mins

Ernest and Celestine(2012)

A beautiful animation about an unlikely friendship between a big clown bear and a clever orphan mouse, from the makers of A Town Called Panic!

Depending on the situation we have all at times felt as small as a mouse or as tall as a bear. This lovely film explores themes of friendship, belonging and tolerance through the unlikely friendship of two such creatures living in Paris who realise how much they can learn from and help one another.

Cert

Age group8+

Duration30 mins

Jemima + Johnny(1966)

A short British film exploring race relations in post-riots Notting Hill in the 1960s through the friendship of a little girl and boy.

Also a story of new friendships and their ability to open our eyes to other’s experiences is this short film set at the height of the Windrush migration. It follows Jemima as she is shown around the neighbourhood by an English boy called Johnny. Although the children are naïve to the racial hostility, Johnny’s father must face his own racist attitudes.