Publish at May 25 2021 Updated November 26 2025
What remains of the past, memories, are personal. Organized memories can make stories to tell. Those that combine the memories of several people can be organized for many purposes: culture, entertainment, education, social or political animation, information, propaganda.
Here's a directory of films, games and, above all, historical documentaries from which to draw to enrich just about any subject. Obviously, the more spectacular or memorable, the more references you'll find. Apollo XI and XII are better covered than Apollo III or XV; Cleopatra more than Marie-Antoinette, the French Revolution more than that of the Canuts.
Some resources immerse us in the atmosphere, others analyze particular aspects in detail, or abandon historical truth for the sake of entertainment. As far as getting into the mood is concerned, most are great.
An interesting Wikipedia compilation of over 1000 films based on historical facts teaches us many things about history.... and also about cinema.
Many of these films can be seen on You-Tube or in various directories - See Thot Directory of Online Cinema
1- History interests the world.
The production of all these films represents several billion dollars, euros, francs, rupees, rubles, yuan and every other currency you can imagine since the invention of cinema. Stories from virtually every country in the world can be found here. The audience is there.
2- History is told by those who can, and from their point of view
The story of Cleopatra told by Americans in 1953 or Italians in 1962 is as different as possible. The story that will one day be told by Egyptians will surely have a different color. All of them will base their stories on a few sources, from which the remains of the plot will be extrapolated, according to the prevailing values of the milieu producing the film. As a result, we learn less about the few known historical facts than about their interpretation according to the film's aims: entertainment, political awareness or documentary.
3- The history of certain countries has yet to be told
While the wars in Vietnam and Algeria have been told in many different ways and from all sides, and the French Revolution and the October Crisis have been the subject of patriotic films, the war of liberation in Cameroon, Burma and many other regions has yet to be told. The Cameroon war lasted 16 years, and France was involved to the bone. Hundreds of thousands died, and there were many heroes and remarkable turnarounds. Nothing, not a film. Silence is sometimes eloquent, and signals that part of the political situation in many countries will be resolved when the story can be told.
4- A film is not often an educational document
While almost all these films are based on historical realities, for the rest, they are at the service of the cinema and the screenplay. The further back in time a story goes, the less verifiable and reliable it becomes. The more politically charged the subject, the more obvious the bias. You choose what to tell, you choose the point of view, you make do with the budget and the actors. The result is always an interpretation. This is a far cry from reportage or historical documentary.
Historical documentaries are based on contemporary documents: either the events have taken place since we were able to film or photograph them, or we have filmed or photographed existing or now-defunct witnesses or artifacts. In some cases, the reconstruction may be real or virtual, while trying to respect a certain historical truth.
But as these productions are always intended to attract an audience, both the choice of subjects and their treatment must remain lively, and can't really be encumbered by subtlety. Didactic approaches are rather rare. More often than not, they are used in education to provide an overview or to launch a project, a discussion or frame an intervention.
When it comes to contemporary periods, we're well served. But what happens away from the cameras or is unspectacular doesn't often find its way in. What isn't interesting isn't much more interesting in education.
In the meantime, to enjoy documentaries, often political :
A good game takes place in an environment... why not a historical context? It's a good opportunity to re-enact history and get into the mood. Some games even feature "educational" modes, in which assassins, warriors and enchanters have no access.
You might also like:
How does machine learning improve the credibility of online information?
Measuring media quality is a subjective exercise. Human reasoning is the only way to ensure perfect detection of fake news. But experience with Artificial Intelligence shows that it can be of great help.
What creates or induces a sense of belonging can take many forms, but the essence can be summed up in this simple quote, the fox's secret to the Little Prince.
Disguised manipulation: when parents abuse their status
Parents immerse themselves in their role when it comes to implementing their educational project. However, manipulation sets in when they are blinded by their status, which makes them impervious to contradiction and prevents them from taking a step back. Even if this is a role for which he has had little or no preparation, certain resources, initiatives and tricks can help him break out of this spiral, to improve his parenting.
The formula for a winning school marketing video
If you want to stand out from the crowd, there's no point in extolling the virtues of your institution or the advantages of distance learning - all institutions will say the same thing. Discover six extraordinary educational promotional videos and, also, how to stand out on the networks.
Why and how to make MOOCs a common good?
The MOOC is capable of filling an educational gap, whether it be at the academic or professional level. This vocation allows it to bring education within the reach of all.
