Nowadays, the coronavirus is the most dangerous virus in 2020. For preventing the coronavirus, people frequently wash their hands, try to wear masks and stay at home. Because of that, people have more time to do something else such as watching movies in their free time. So there are so many movies which can be opportunities to give you lots of joy for your bored life. In Particular, the movies in the 1920s have so much information about people’s perspectives at that time. Therefore, it can help your knowledge to understand the social problems and stereotypes.

The movie, Suffragette, is good for finding some perspectives and hardships of women at that time. In this film, women tried to overcome the struggles against the injustices of the past. This film focused on an ordinary woman whose life is changed by political engagement. Her name is Maud Watts, and she’s played by Carey Mulligan with somber determination and inspiring pluck. She works in an industrial laundry and scores of women for whom dangerous labor, low pay and sexual harassment are matters of daily routine. No one in this film thought that the protest in Parliament, on the factory floor or at home can be voice. And the vote also can not solve everything, but it will be a starting point to advance in society as the equal people, not as housewives. In the 1920s, women were trying to begin to be new women against stereotypes and social problems. This means that they wanted to be independent American women who pushed barriers in economic, political and sexual freedom for themselves. The script has a few too many glowingly emotive speeches, so it is the best kind of history lesson to know the historical problems of the past.

If there is a movie that shows social satire, tragic romance, and even a false American dream, then it must be a fantastic film, the Great Gatsby. Most characters are upper class, and they want to show off their wealth and knowledge. However, the outside appearances with jewel and money are just showing excessive greed and prodigal lives. In this film, the main character is Gatsby, who symbolizes immutability and blindness to change, can picture himself as only one thing. When he meets Daisy again, he sees only the girl he fell in love with. His love for that moment has rendered all other avenues of possibility impossible, which made it possible for him to see only one version of himself. So this shows that the person who could not find and accept the changes from the past could not give up his impossible wish like a poor and dim-witted person. His dream can deeply represent the American dream. The dream looks so close, but it was so far to seize and achieve it. As a result, this movie can convey the historical information, show ostentatious people of the upper class, and disastrous love story with relationships between Gatsby and people who are selfish for their benefits.

Students, Families, and even business people are getting free time because of coronavirus. For this boring time, the old movies are helpful and meaningful for them to use free time effectively. Using these opportunities, the movies in the 1920s have so much information about people’s perspectives at that time. Therefore, it can help your knowledge to understand social problems and stereotypes.

<Yuri Suh / Portola High School 10th Grade>