Movies To Build Empathy

Culture Movies

Unfortunately the movie I watched last night cannot really be listed here in this series. Vicky Cristina Barcelona just won an Academy Award for best supporting actress, and the story takes place in Barcelona, but the movie was slow and, apart from some lovely locations, it does not give any insights into life in Spain.

Earlier in this article series we have seen how movies help us to open up our understanding of people we find different. There are many ways people are different. We have already covered people with different:

• Heritage
• Abilities or disabilities
• Lifestyles

Different Religions

Religion is another obvious way people are different.  This is also a difference where many personal barriers interfere with the ability of  seeing life through the other person’s eyes.

Remember…

Empathy is only the ability to put yourself in another person’s shoes and understand his way of thinking.

Empathy is not the acceptance of these differences on a personal level.

Empathy opens up your vision of the world, but it does not directly change your core beliefs.

People with strong empathic skills also have a strong self-awareness.  They are able to understand others without this changing their own core being.  They are able to see the world through other people’s eyes and still remain themselves.

Improving your understanding of different religions is a good exercise to improve your cross-cultural communication and your ability to empathize with others.

• You can usually see when your own personal barriers come into play with your ability to empathize with different people.
• The more you become aware of your own personal barriers, the more you learn about yourself.
• Stronger self awareness gives you increased confidence to step outside of your comfort zone and open yourself to understanding others.

Here are some movies about religion:

1. Amish – Witness
2. Catholic – Moonstruck
3. Jewish – A Stranger among Us
4. Jewish – Crossing Delancey
5. Jewish – Yentl
6. Presbyterian – A River Runs through It

Let me know if you have any other other movies to add to this list.

More on Culture Films:

• Watch Movies To Pick Up Cross-Cultural Communication Tips

1. How To Choose Movies To Watch And Improve Your Cross-Cultural Skills
2. Movies For Cultural Insights
3. Movies To See Life Through A Different Lens
4. Movies To Work Through Personal Barriers
5. Movies Make It Easy To See The Differences
6. Movies Take You Different Places
7. Movies To Understand The History Behind Culture
8. Movies To Build Empathy
9. Movies For Different Perspectives
10. Movies To Understand Cultural Differences
11. Movies On Adapting To Different Cultures

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