6 philosophical films to reflect on life

Often, the great questions of the human being have inspired many creators, who use reflections on death, injustice or human nature itself, among others, as a common thread for their productions. The case of cinema – with its philosophical films – is perhaps one of the most favorable means to reflect on human existence, the absurd, the usefulness of morality or the question of identity.

Directors, such as Lars Von Trier, Alfred Hitchcock, Ingmar Bergman, Woody Allen and Federico Fellini, have found in the seventh art the ideal field to delve into and reflect on fundamental questions in life. Similar or the same as those that have worried us all at some point.

If you are one of the people who questions life in search of answers to questions about whether God exists, the origin of life, love, death or spirituality, you will like these philosophical films to reflect on. In them, stunned protagonists in the same search for those answers are masterfully represented.

1. Melancholia (2011)

This movie, directed by Lars Von Trier, explores some of the fundamental questions about the meaning of life, where the human being can even suffer existential depression because of it; just as happens to Justine, its protagonist. She is young, beautiful, and has just gotten married surrounded by her family and friends, and yet, she is not happy.

At the same time, Melancholia It is a planet that is about to collide with Earth, and paradoxically, Justine feels an immense and intriguing tranquility knowing that the apocalypse is approaching, a fact that makes her lose her fear of death.

A plot that rises, little by little, when the tragic is glorified, and human conditioning is exposed, by showing not only the fear of death, but the fear of dying alone, but above all the fear of having to live a life we ​​don’t want.

2. La Dolce Vita (1960)

This Italian film, directed by Federico Fellini, has been considered one of the masterpieces in the history of cinema. Divided into several episodes, The story focuses on the exploration of enjoying life above all elsethrough the figure of one of its protagonists.

Marcelo is a dissatisfied journalist in search of new sensations and pleasures, who visits numerous night parties in Rome and which leads him to consider How is it possible to lead a good life and enjoy it?.

A question that the Greek philosopher Epicurus, founder of the hedonistic school, has raised in much of his work and his life, dedicated to the study of the place that pleasure has in human existence.

3. My Night with Maud (1969)

He film French, My night with Maudexplores another of the eternal questions that human beings have asked themselves throughout the centuries: Does God exist?

The film, directed by Éric Rohmer, stars a devout Catholic named Jean-Louis, who during a mass notices a young blonde whom he would like to marry. Days later, he meets some old friends by chance, who invite him to spend Christmas Eve with them. That night passes between endless talks about religion, marriage or morality.

One of the philosophical films to reflect on that puts special emphasis on the beauty of the human being and his ability to communicate in order to get out of himself; just as happens to the character of Maud, a divorced, free, and desirable woman, probably to make Jean-Louis hesitate in the certainty that love can never go hand in hand without sexual fidelity.

4. Love and Death (1975)

This film, directed by Woody Allen, is a satire of the Russian novels by Leo Tolstoy and Fyodor Dostoyevsky, whose plot revolves around the philosophical and humorous conversations between its protagonists.

Boris Grushenko is the youngest son of a family of small landowners; and He is in love with his cousin Sonia, with whom he has long philosophical and passionate conversations. However, the beautiful young woman prefers her brother Iván.

A film whose protagonist is Woody Allen himself, who together with Diane Keaton, debate about love, human existence, or the effect of the consciousness of death, based on the characters of the novels of 19th century Russian literature.

5. The Seventh Seal (1957)

One of the classic films par excellence, The seventh seal It is a highly recommended philosophical story to delve deeper into the meaning of life.since the plot focuses on this idea throughout the entire plot, as well as themes related to virtue, good and evil, sin, or the existence of God.

Directed by Ingmar Bergman, this Swedish film set in medieval times in the dramatic-fantastic genre tells the story of a knight, Antonius, who after battling in The Crusades, finds himself disenchanted and has completely lost his faith.

In the midst of his crisis, Death appears, whom Antonius will challenge and play a game of chess. Thus, The knight wants to buy time to find some sign that gives meaning to his life before he dies.

6. Rope (1948)

The rope (in its Spanish translation) is a film directed by the British filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock and which explores German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche’s theories about mediocrities and supermen.

A film recorded in a single take in which throughout the entire film the the idea of ​​the superiority of man or a group over others and if that gives them power to decide about the identity and lives of other people.

Thus, in the film, two young and brilliant university students, Brandon and Phillip, conscious and aware of their control over themselves and others, do not tolerate the values ​​imposed by others, and They end up murdering a classmate from their university to prove that they are superior.

Surely there have been many philosophical films left in the pipeline that could well have a place on this list. For our part, we have collected the ones that we found most interesting. However, we will be happy if you suggest some more in the comments.

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