*SCAM ALERT*

Beware of emails asking to transfer funds to ILC, this is against our policy. If you have received any suspicious emails, please alert us at info@landcoalition.org

Land Rights & Chill

Artwork by Vanessa Pesarini for ArtistsForClimate.org

land rights in the movies & shows we love

"They're not going to give up their home. They're not going to make a deal. For what? Lite beer and blue jeans? There's nothing that we have that they want."

Jake Sully, Avatar

Grab your popcorn. We've got the perfect recs for movie night...

Documentaries aren't the only place you'll find land rights on the screen. A good land rights drama, comedy, soap opera, action, or adventure are just a click away. Next time you're aimlessly browsing your streaming platforms, try your luck with one of the land rights titles suggested below.

Check back often as we collect popular titles of movies and tv shows written about and by women, youth, peasants, farmers, forest dwellers, fisher folk and Indigenous Peoples who have one thing in common - the fight for their right to land.

flag a film

We're always on the look out for land rights-related movies and shows, and we definitely want to hear from you. Hit us up on social media.

Artwork by Jordan Schiffer for ArtistsForClimate.org

Have you watched ...

The forests of Tama Hills are our home. So you can't keep destroying them all! This plea is from every living creature in the forest.

Pom Poko

THE GRAB

FROM THE SAME PEOPLE WHO BROUGHT YOU BLACKFISH, AN INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALIST UNCOVERS THE MONEY, INFLUENCE, AND ALARMING RATIONALE BEHIND COVERT EFFORTS TO CONTROL THE MOST VITAL RESOURCES ON THE PLANET: LAND, FOOD AND WATER. ALSO KNOWN AS “THE HOLY SH*T DOCUMENTARY OF THE YEAR.”

WHALE RIDER

A YOUNG MAORI GIRL, PAI, BECOMES THE LEADER OF HER TRIBE. WHILE BREAKING GENDER ROLES, SHE ALSO NAVIGATES HER RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LAND AND HER ANCESTORS. HER TRIBE HAS A DEEP CONNECTION TO THEIR LAND AND OCEAN. PAI ALSO LIKES WHALES A LOT, AND SHE RIDES THEM. WE DON‘T HAVE ROOM TO EXPLAIN HOW SYMBOLIC THAT IS, SO WATCH THE MOVIE.

EVEN THE RAIN

A DRAMA ABOUT A FILM CREW FROM SPAIN THAT GOES TO BOLIVIA TO MAKE A MOVIE ABOUT CHRISTOPHER COLOMBUS. THEY STUMBLE UPON THE COCHABAMBA WATER WAR -- WHERE COMMUNITIES FIGHT BACK AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT’S DECISION TO PRIVATIZE WATER. INDIGENOUS RESISTANCE AND LAND RIGHTS IN BOTH MODERN-DAY AND COLONIAL TIMES ARE EXPLORED

Killers of the Flower Moon

OKLAHOMA 1920s

TRUE STORY! INDIGENOUS OSAGE NATION IS FORCIBLY RELOCATED TO WHAT IS CONSIDERED WORTHLESS LAND IN OKLAHOMA. THEY DISCOVER OIL, BECOME WEALTHY AND MURDER TARGETS.

ROBERT DE NIRO PLAYS MAN WHO MARRIES INTO AN INDIGENOUS FAMILY AND ORCHESTRATES KILLINGS TO CONTROL INDIGENOUS LAND.

Pom Poko

A GROUP OF FOREST-DWELLING TANUKI (SHAPE-SHIFTING RACOON DOGS) HOMES AND BIODIVERSE ENVIRONMENT COME UNDER ATTACK BY A HUMAN HOUSING PROJECT. THEY FIGHT TO PROTECT THEIR LAND AT ALL COSTS. WATCH THEM CONFRONT POLICE WITH THE HELP OF THEIR MAGICAL TESTICLES, WHICH TURN INTO PUNCHING BAGS.

LEMON TREE

PALESTINE

A PALESTINIAN WIDOW, SALMA, CULTIVATES HER FAMILY’S LEGACY AND FUTURE THROUGH HER LEMON GROVE UNTIL THE ISRAELI DEFENSE MINISTER BECOMES HER NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBOUR AND DECIDES HER TREES MUST GO. HER LEMONS, APPARENTLY, THREATEN HIS SECURITY? SALMA FIGHTS TO PROTECT HER LAND RIGHTS, AND LEMONS.

FEAR OF THE WALKING DEAD

DESPERATE TO SURVIVE, INHABITANTS OF A POST-APOCOLYPITCIC LOS ANGELES FIGHT TO CONTROL LAND AND RESOURCES. IN SEASON 3 THE HOPI TRIBE, A GROUP OF LOCAL NATIVE AMERICANS, FIGHTS HUMANS AND ZOMBIES FOR LAND TAKEN FROM THEM. EXPECT GUT-WRENCHING DECISIONS ABOUT INDIVIDUAL SURVIVAL OR COLLECTIVE WELLBEING AND ZOMBIES

LAND GIRLS

A WWII SERIES ON THE WOMEN’S LAND ARMY IN THE UK. THE WOMEN CULTIVATE AND MANAGE LAND OWNED BY RICH PEOPLE WHO DO NOT WANT TO WORK ON IT THEMSELVES. MEANWHILE THE MEN ARE BUSY FIGHTING EACH OTHER. UNSURPRISINGLY, THE WOMEN ARE GOOD AT IT, RAISING THE QUESTION, WHY DON’T WOMEN OWN MORE LAND?

Avatar

PANDORA, 2154

PANDORA, A LUSH HABITABLE MOON OF POLYPHEMUS IN THE ALPHA CANTAURI STAR SYSTEM IS INHABITED BY INDIGENOUS NA’VI, 10 FT TALL, BLUE, SAPIENT HUMANOIDS THAT LIVE IN HARMONY WITH NATURE.

ENTER GREEDY HUMANS WHO COME TO MINE VALUABLE MINERAL OFF THEIR LAND. A FUTURISTIC NOT-SO-GREEN TRANSITION?

Australia

AUSTRALIA 1942

A LOVE STORY WHERE NICOLE KIDMAN PLAYS WOMAN WHO INHERITS CATTLE RANCH IN AUSTRALIA AND GOES ON A CATTLE DRIVE ACROSS MILES OF HARSH TERRAIN TO SAVE HER RANCH. HAS THEMES OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND WHITE SAVIOR COMPLEX. EXPECT INTENSE WWII BOMBING SCENES.

The Motorcycle Diaries

BUENOS AIRES 1952

MEET CHE GUEVARA BEFORE HE BECOMES THE SUBJECT OF REVOLUTIONARY BALLADS AND NOT-SO-REVOLUTIONARY T-SHIRTS.

AS THE YOUNG ERNESTO TRAVELS THROUGH LATIN AMERICA, HE WITNESSES LAND INJUSTICES, INCLUDING AN INDIGENOUS PERUVIAN KICKED OFF HIS LAND BY CORPORATE MONOPOLIES ONLY TO BE CRIMINALIZED BY THE GOVERNMENT.

Don't have time for shows or movies?

Our YouTube library is full of land rights stories! They're short and sweet.

Rather read?

Check out our photo essays from real people fighting for land rights

Philippines_hero_carousel
ILC

#Asia #Philippines

9K5A6954.jpg
ILC

#6. Locally managed ecosystems #Togo #ADHD

Photo Essay

Boundaries for peace in Togo

18 September 2023

Read More
Bangladesh-2023-long un mro-1.jpg
ILC

#Asia #Youth #Indigenous Peoples #5. Secure territorial rights for indigenous peoples #7. Inclusive decision-making #9. Effective actions against land grabbing #10. Protection for land rights defenders #Bangladesh #KAPAEENG

Frame-Grabs_4.2.1.jpg
ILC

#Africa #Farmers, Peasants, Forest Dwellers #Women's Land Rights #2. Strong small-scale farming systems #4. Equal Land Rights for Women #South Africa #COVID-19

MANGKIT-69_Indonesia_ghalih pratama.jpg
ILC

#Asia #Human Rights #1. Secure tenure rights #10. Protection for land rights defenders #Indonesia #KPA

maria elena call to action image
ILC

#Latin America & the Caribbean #National Land Coalitions #Locally Managed Ecosystems #Indigenous Peoples #Biodiversity & Conservation #6. Locally managed ecosystems #Ecuador #ECOLEX

Photo Essay

Looking after lagoons in Ecuador

2 December 2022

Read More