Best Anarchist Movies, Ranked

Best Anarchist Movies, Ranked

From Movie Web by Jessica Brajer

If you're in the mood for a little anarchy, check out these hit movies.

Diving deeper into complex styles and genres of cinema is a goal of every film buff. One aspect of film that often goes unnoticed and is forgotten is anarchist cinema. While politics has its place in cinema, anarchism has often been the subject of great controversy, particularly during the Cold War, with communists being considered criminals in the United States. Per BFI, anarchist cinema goes beyond showing a revolution, and uses film as a tool to show anarchism in a new light that audiences will better understand.

In a more progressive world, people are unafraid to revisit what was once considered taboo. One such subject that no longer holds such a status is anarchism. Considering that many of the anarchist films were banned shortly after their release, some of the greatest films of this subgenre have flown under the radar, being forgotten by cinema and Hollywood. Here are the best anarchist movies, ranked.

10 Japanese Summer: Double Suicide

Japanese Summer: Double Suicide is a Japanese film that revolves around a young sex-obsessed woman who meet a suicidal young man on the streets. The two anarchists become trapped in an underground hideout, inspiring the two to bond in a very odd way. The film's portrayal of anarchism is quite different from most of the others on this list, having a plot outside all the politics within the film, Japanese Summer: Double Suicide is a truly unique addition to this list.

9 Alexander the Great

Alexander the Great revolves around a man nicknamed Alexander the Great, who escapes from prison with his bandits. The bandits kidnap a group of people, taking them to Alexander's mountain village to live, but this peaceful existence does not last long when the abducted realize their existence is more than just living for Alexander the Great. Based on the Dilesi Massacre of 1870, Alexander the Great was not well-received at the time of its release and has had limited exposure internationally. This hidden anarchist gem from 1980 deserves more attention for the unique story it brings to the genre.

8 Punishment Park

Punishment Park is set during the Vietnam War when U.S. prisons are at capacity and prisoners must decide between finishing their sentences or spending three days in Punishment Park, where they will be hunted for sport. The film sparked a number of debates, with many having initial negative responses due to the portrayal of the American government and authority figures within the film. Despite the initial negative response, Punishment Park saw a revival after a critical reappraisal in 2005, bumping its position critically, earning a 92% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

7 Eros + Massacre

Another Japanese film to make the list is Eros + Massacre, a film that follows the final days of radical feminist Noe Ito (Mariko Okada) and her lover Sakae, who has several other relationships. This art film may be too stylized for some, but thanks to the work of Yoshishige Yoshida, Eros + Massacre has become one of the best anarchist films to ever come from Japan. Yoshida's original director's cut of the film was not released until 2002, more than 30 years after the initial release of the film. Eros + Massacre has been exceedingly well-received, with special praise for Yoshida's work.

6 Libertarias

Libertarias is a Spanish historical drama set in 1936 during the Spanish Revolution and the Spanish Civil War, about a young nun named Maria recruited by a feminist into an anarchist militia. Maria soon discovers the harsh realities being exposed to the truth, making her question her previously sheltered life. Libertarias has fallen under the radar, losing some much deserved viewership in favor of blockbuster anarchist films like The Matrix and Mad Max. This unique perspective on anarchism is a breath of fresh air among political cinema.

5 Land and Freedom

Set in 1936, Communist David Carr travels from his native Liverpool to Spain to join the International Brigades, an anti-fascist movement of the civil war. Instead, David finds himself a member of the POUM, a Marxist group opposed to Stalin's political views. Land and Freedom focuses on the infighting within leftist groups, a common political issue that detracts from greater goals. Land and Freedom was nominated for several awards, including the Palme d'Or at Cannes and took home the FIPRESCI International Critics Prize and the Prize of Ecumenical Jury.

4 Matewan

Matewan is a dramatized version of the Battle of Matewan, a coal miner's strike that took place in Matewan, West Virginia in 1920. Starring Chris Cooper, James Earl Jones, and Mary McDonnell, Matewan was a critical success, but flopped in the box office. The film was praised for its acting as well as the writing, holding the film up and allowing the message to get across clearly. Matewan received an Academy Award nomination for Best Cinematography and ranked number 21 on Empire's list of 50 Greatest American Independent Movies. Needless to say, this film is a must-watch for a great grasp of real-life anarchism at work.

3 Born in Flames

Born in Flames is set in a dystopian future after a revolution that shows a socialist government handling the issues of progressive groups like feminists, minorities, etc. but these issues are still problematic as the government has a preference for violent problem-solving. Having had enough, a group of women organizes a revolution that will shake the way the world works forever. Born in Flames has been criticized for being too politically heavy, losing sight of the filmmaking, however; over time, the film has become an '80s landmark of indie and queer cinema.

2 Zero for Conduct

A French masterpiece, Zero for Conduct was banned in France due to the fact that the government feared the film would cause disturbances to the way of life. The film revolves around four young boys at a repressive boarding school who revolt against their teachers and take over the school. The film is based around director Jean Vigo's time spent in boarding school and reflects a rebellious/anarchistic view of childhood and adolescence. At the time of the film's release in 1933, Zero for Conduct was met with very extreme reactions both bad and good. The film was rediscovered in 1945 and received a whole new appreciation from audiences with a better understanding of anarchism in cinema.

1 Salt of the Earth

Salt of the Earth tops the list as the best anarchist film as it not only focuses on politics, but also does not lose sight of the filmmaking process in favor of political focus. Produced by a group of alleged communists blacklisted from Hollywood, Salt of the Earth revolves around a strike against Delaware Zinc and how all parties respond to the strike. Based on the 1951 strike of the Empire Zinc Company, the film features a number of non-professional actors which add to the realistic feel of the film. Due to the content, the film was considered a piece of Communist propaganda at the time of its release but is now considered a powerful film with 100% approval from critics on Rotten Tomatoes.

There are 16 Comments

Mostly because the East is a shitty liberal movie that demonizes direct action? Just a thought...

You're just stuck with the scene from the end of the movie. Let me tell you, this movie is not about demonizing direct action but about the dangers of NGOs infiltrating the anarchist movement which will render him impotent! NGO on my ass!

jfc, only Libertarias is actually about anarchists. a few of them are fun, a few are interesting in terms of the history of cinema, but calling Stalinist propaganda "anarchist" is some lowdown despicable shit.

anarchism happens to be about more than the Spanish Civil War. can Japanese anarchists exist in your world? can bandits and rebellious children be anarchic?

What? Eros + Massacre is about Itō Noe and Ōsugi Sakae. I can assure you they were actual anarchists.

Most of the list is kinda shit tho.

"Anarchists is a 2000 South Korean action film directed by Yoo Young-sik and co-written by Park Chan-wook. Set in Shanghai in 1924, the film is about a covert cell of insurrectionist anarchists who attempt to overthrow the Japanese government's occupation of Korea through propaganda of the deed. Told from the perspective of the youngest member, Sang-gu, years after the fact, the story is a sympathetic look at a group of revolutionaries through the eyes of one of their own."

Right there! The amount of control and drdication it takes to produce a film, plus "anarchy". The films here seem really good, yet obviously those posting this are more interested in communism and progressivism.

I think David Lynch has a fairly anarchist approach to art, and you understand that more through interviews with him than watching his "wtf" art films. Twin Peaks is all about moral nihilism, the idea that good and evil are imaginary and other-worldly.

Also, lynch was apparently chewed out for walking out of a bob dylan performance, which makes him pretty cool in my opinion, even though i do like some of dylan's music.

Not an anarchist.
The films are not anarchist films.
No need to insist things are something ithey're not.
Pooping doesn't have to be "anarchist pooping" for it to be a great time.

Dave Lynch is an unapologetic capitalist director of films for pseudo-intellectual hipster bourgeoisie!

As a liberal capitalist he still is far less annoying and more THOUGHT-PROVOKING and than libcap producers of liberal eye-candy cheesefest like Wes Anderson... Same goes for the crowds liking their respective styles.

But I get that he hasn't got any more to do with anarchy or anarchism then Chris Nolan or whatever. It is also known in the business that the near-totality of film directors are rich kids connected to the establishment.

to try control other people's artistic tastes, i would find that more tolerable if maybe the people above who wrote the article would say how any of these movies have to do with the life they want to inhabit.

Still, if someone walks out on some revered celebrities performance, that will always gain sympathy from me.

most of these aren't anarchist films. some are great films, but not anarchist. amazingly sad how "radical"="anarchy" these days.

Land and Freedom, i could only watch half of it. It is very much an anti-fa film but i didnt see any connections to anarchism, or any challenging of conventional logic. Its more of an emotional war film with communist strategizing/report-back.

I think maybe with movies, having something anarchist themed is more possible than "an anarchist movie". You need to have a lot of money to dole out in order to make decent and engaging films, the simulations of sex and violence are pretty important...because nobody wants to watch a movie about daily life!

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