Lady Bird (2017, dir Greta Gerwig)

“Money is not life’s report card”.

Lady Bird is a coming-of-age film about a high school senior, played by Saoirse Ronan, who navigates the complexities of relationships and personal identity during her senior year in Sacramento, California. The film tackles themes of family, friendship, love, and self-discovery.

Do the Right Thing (1989, dir Spike Lee)

“Trust you? The last time I trusted you, Mookie, I ended up with a son”.

Do the Right Thing is a socially conscious film that follows the story of a young man named Mookie, played by Spike Lee, and the events that unfold on a hot summer day in a Brooklyn neighborhood. The film tackles themes of racism, gentrification, and police brutality.

Big Fish (2003, dir Tim Burton)

“There are some fish that cannot be caught. It’s not that they are faster or stronger than other fish, they’re just touched by something extra”.

Big Fish is a fantastical drama about a young man named Will, played by Billy Crudup, who tries to unravel the truth behind his dying father’s tall tales, played by Albert Finney, while reconciling their relationship. The film tackles themes of family, love, acceptance, and the power of storytelling.

City of God (2002, dir Fernando Meirelles)

“It was like a message from God: ‘Honesty doesn’t pay, sucker’”.

City of God is a crime drama set in the Cidade de Deus, a suburb of Rio de Janeiro, that follows the story of a young man named Rocket, played by Alexandre Rodrigues, as he navigates the violent world of drug gangs and police corruption. The film tackles themes of poverty, violence, and the cycle of crime.