The Human Condition in Five Easy Pieces

Out of the Past

Those of you who waste a portion of your lives pondering the human condition will welcome these five motion pictures. Long before the neocons overthrew the government, Hollywood film auteur had the human race all figured out.
“Out of the Past” leading lady Jane Greer as Kathy illustrates the 1947 feminist question by shooting her three leading men.
The mistress of gambler Kirk Douglas [Witt], she punctures his stomach with lead and escapes with his $40,000. A glutton for punishment, Witt hires private detective Robert Mitchum [Jeff] to bring Kathy and the money back to the fold.
One look at the stunning Kathy persuades Jeff to join her side. The two leave Acapulco for northern California. By chance, Jeff’s former partner Steve Brody sights them and follows Kathy to the lovers’ hideaway. After Steve demands the $40,000 [and not Kathy], she shoots him to death, runs away in the car and leaves Jeff to bury the body.
Jeff changes his name, opens a gas station and courts a local small town virgin who favors him over the sheriff.
One of Witt’s henchmen spies Jeff pumping gas. Witt offers Jeff a new job to get incriminating tax evasion evidence from an unscrupulous lawyer. Especially after Kathy re-appears as Witt’s mistress, Jeff fears all of them are using him as a scapegoat.

Orson Welles directs the 1948 “A Touch of Evil” starring as the corrupt sheriff. Fond of strangling witnesses and framing innocent suspects, Orson conducts a one-man border war with Mexico.
The supporting cast includes Charlton Heston, Janet Leigh and Marlene Dietrich with Dennis Weaver, Zsa Zsa Gabor and Joi Lansing making cameo appearances.
If you don’t like movies, you can obtain similar wisdom from two years study at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.
An updated DVD version contains Welles’ original edits foolishly cut by Universal.

Directed in 1966 by Gillo Pontecorvo, “The Battle of Algiers” will tell you everything you will ever need to know about the Middle East, the Arabs and the colonialist Europeans.
This monumental film presents all participants as human beings with nary a slip into stereotyping or propaganda.

In 1948 George Orwell wrote the definitive 21st century novel. A 2008 re-reading will disclose Orwell a prophet or the leader of world events. However we consider him, he is right on the money.
The two filmed versions of “1984” leave the viewer with the uncanny feeling that Orwell is living and writing in 2008.

“Blade Runner” [1981] is the logical extension of “1984” with human beings in a smog-filled condition of slavery.
Robots [replicants] are virtually the only beings who display human emotions.

Certainly, there are at least 250 other films that describe the human condition. The IMBd list contains 250 all-time favorites and every film buff can add any number of his choices.
I humbly suggest my five picks as a starting point for young people.