Experience the beauty and diversity of Africa through the lens of some of the most acclaimed films in recent history. From the stunning landscapes of the savannah to the bustling cities, these ten movies, voted top ten on Reddit, transport viewers to the continent's heart and provide a glimpse into Africa's rich cultures and complexities.
1. Out of Africa (1985)
Starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford, Out of Africa is a romantic historical drama in Kenya in the early 20th century. Based on the memoirs of Karen Blixen, the film tells the story of a Danish woman who moves to Africa to run a coffee plantation and her love affair with a big-game hunter.
2. The African Queen (1951)
The African Queen, starring Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn, is a classic adventure film set during World War I in Africa. The story follows a boat captain and a missionary as they navigate through dangerous waters and make a plan to destroy a German gunboat.
3. Blood Diamond (2006)
Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Connelly, and Djimon Hounsou, Blood Diamond is a political thriller set in Sierra Leone during the civil war of the 1990s. The film tells the story of a diamond smuggler who joins forces with a local fisherman to find a rare pink diamond and exposes the brutal reality of the diamond trade in Africa.
4. The Ghost and the Darkness (1996)
Starring Michael Douglas and Val Kilmer, The Ghost and the Darkness is a historical adventure film set in Africa in the late 19th century. The movie tells the story of two British engineers tasked with building a railway bridge in Africa and stalked by a pair of man-eating lions. Stephen Hopkins was its director, and it received mixed reviews from critics.
5. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (2019)
Starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, who also directed the movie, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind is a drama film set in Malawi. The story follows a 13-year-old boy who builds a wind turbine to save his village from famine. It is based on a true story and is highly praised for its performances and powerful message of hope and resilience.
6. Gorillas in the Mist (1988)
Gorillas in the Mist is a biographical drama directed by Michael Apted. It stars Sigourney Weaver as the naturalist and anthropologist Dian Fossey. The film is based on Fossey's 1983 book of the same name and tells the true story of her work in Rwanda studying and protecting gorillas.
7. Beasts of No Nation (2015)
Beasts of No Nation is a war drama film directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga and starring Idris Elba and Abraham Attah. The film is based on Uzodinma Iweala's 2005 novel and tells the story of a young boy in an unnamed West African country who is forced to become a child soldier in a brutal civil war.
8. The Constant Gardener (2005)
The Constant Gardener is a political thriller directed by Fernando Meirelles and starring Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz. The movie is based on the 2005 novel by John le Carré and tells the story of a British diplomat who uncovers a conspiracy involving a powerful pharmaceutical company and the Kenyan government.
9. The Woman King (2022)
The Woman King is a historical drama directed by Gurinder Chadha and starring Viola Davis and Lupita Nyong'o. The film is set in the Kingdom of Dahomey, a powerful West African state in the 18th and 19th centuries, and tells the story of two women who lead the Dahomey Amazons, an all-female military unit, in the fight against French colonialism.
10. The Power of One (1992)
The Power of One is a drama film directed by John G. Avildsen and starring Stephen Dorff, Morgan Freeman, and John Gielgud. The film is based on Bryce Courtenay's 1989 novel of the same name and tells the story of a young boy growing up in South Africa during the 1940s and 1950s and his experiences with racism and violence.
We hope you enjoyed these Reddit recommendations of the best films capturing beautiful Africa. This article was inspired by the internet and did not necessarily reflect the views of Finance Quick Fix.
More From Finance Quick Fix:
- 10 Significant Things Inaccurately Depicted in Movies and Television
- 10 Terrible Movies That Everyone Seems to Love
- 10 Actors People Never Believed Would Become as Big as They Did
Feature Image Credit: Shutterstock – DFree.
