I would like to add the film "Welcome to Germany" (German with Subtitles) also known as Wilkommen Bei Den Hartmanns. This film about an upper class family in Munich that takes in a refugee explores modern life and culture, and all the good that come come from overcoming our pre-conceived notion about the "other". Very funny and poignant! Highly recommend.

I really appreciate the way you, Jeremy, responded so kindly to the two comments that express unclear disapproval in two to three words. Knowing myself how time, effort and heart goes into articles we then publish, I wanted to congratulate you that you were successfully able to invite the commenators to explain themselves further. Chapeau!

Such films not only entertain but also inspire and uplift viewers, reminding us of the beauty and potential for kindness in the world.

Australia- such a magnificent film how true love can cut through any appearance or culture as it sees the person as one of their own no matter what society we live in.

It’s longer then the average film so past the highs and lows it tells a decent portion of someone’s life so it also feels more realistic and satisfying once it reaches the conclusion. People change throughout their lives and I think it shows a few trials and stages which is more interesting than the general movie format of introduction, build up to climax/bad thing, then overcoming the situation and end as life just keeps going!

Australia? What an awful movie. Nothing credible about it. Sorry but it is!

Your recommendations came at the perfect time.

Jeremy I am intrigued but have a question. I genuinely struggle with reconciling the positive themes expressed by films with the values expressed by the protagonists who portray them, in real life. This year Wonder Woman - one of your selections vs Gal Gadot's stated views on Palestinians; previously Mel Gibson (multiple films vs anti semitic views); Casey Affleck - Manchester by the Sea vs Sexual harrassment charges; Woody Allen, Kevin Spacey and the list goes on. Does knowledge of the personal behaviour of the individuals that do not highlight the best in humanity diminish the positive themes portrayed in the films they do? Is it possible to separate the two?

I can tell you how I see it (and to be clear, I am in no way speaking for the GGSC). A film like Wonder Woman employs thousands of people, and each one of them is a person with their own histories and views. Some of those people are obviously more important than others, in terms of their influence and impact, but at the end of the day what matters most is what the film itself says. In a generation, I doubt very much that anyone will remember what one employee, Gal Gadot, had to say about any current issues. But people will still watch Wonder Woman. A deeper criticism of the film might be that it's one of those superhero movies in which violence is supposed to stop violence, and that it feeds violent fantasies. I personally accept violence as a genre metaphor for other kinds of conflict, but that's an idea I'm happy to debate and play with, and my views will no doubt evolve. My other thought is that while it's tempting to push Gadot in with, for example, Woody Allen, I actually don't think we should. Unlike Gadot, Allen is independent director and auteur whose films are very much Woody Allen films. Also, unlike Gadot, the issue with Allen involves his actions, not his political views; there is a difference between the two. So, to me, there is no contradiction between rejecting Allen's films while still going to see Wonder Woman.

Poor selection of films.

Why not contribute to the greater good and suggest something better? ;)

I'm also genuinely curious about what films you'd nominate for reflecting the best in humanity. This list is restricted to what our staff happened to see during the past year! We'd love to see other suggestions.

The Big Sick - https://www.rottentomatoes....

The Big Sick is, I'm told, a fine movie. What positive emotion or behavior do you think it highlighted?

Sorry for the delay, but to keep my word, the positive emotion/behavior that *The Big Sick* explores and portrays (brilliantly, I would say) is love. But wait! Some people will tune out as soon as they hear this, but it's not just romantic love/infatuation. It's love in its various forms. Love of family, love of self, brotherly love, love of culture/heritage, etc.

Sadly, some people will not give the movie a chance due their racism/bigotry/ignorance about Muslims and interracial relationships.

I will work on a thoughtful reply to this and get back to you. In the meantime, I will give my nickel review of Lady Bird. First, I will note that the RT audience score for it was MUCH lower than now it has received so many awards, nominations, and accolades in the media. Make of that what you will. :) While I did enjoy the film, it was ultimately another sentimental coming-of-age film with a few touching moments. A great performance from Laurie Metcalf (in a mostly dramatic role) whom I *adore* as a comedian. I had hoped to learn something new about the mother/daughter relationship dynamic, but was left wanting. It also struck me as a love letter from the director to her parents and Sacramento.

I personally haven't seen Lady Bird, but my colleagues Jill Suttie (who wrote the piece above about it) and Jason Marsh loved it. I have noticed that this film, more than any other, has provoked a very polarized response among our readers: It is by far the film they are most prone to vocally dislike, while others seem to absolutely love it. To be honest, this polarization actually makes me want to see it.

I'm the same way. It piques my interest when a movie is a critical darling and the audience is mostly blasé about it.

My comment was simply that I don't like the films chosen as I wouldn't even be willing to watch the majority of them let alone nominate them for anything.

I see. So, you haven't seen any of them?

That struck me as an unnecessary snide, self-defensive comment.

And "Poor selection of films" is a model comment?

Since I was negative, I decided to be fair and take a few minutes I don't have and list some films that though not of the last year, are things I've watched in the last few months that have a positive aspect to them. Won't have time to reply or elaborate further;
Into Our Own Hands (french doc), Project Nim, Treeless Mountain (S. Korea), Grave of the Fireflies (Japanese), Ikiru (great Japanese classic), Diplomacy (dir. by Volker Schlondorff, German), Children of Invention (American recent), Chang (old doc.), No Matter What (Chinese), Stargazer (about Kepler), Uncommon Vision: The Life and Times of John Howard Griffin, The New World or De Nieuwe Wereld (dir. by Jaap van Heusden), Tall as the Baobab Tree (Senegal).

Thanks for sharing your list of recommendations!

I adore "Grave of the Fireflies" and "Ikiru" (to name two) though they wouldn't have made our list, since they appeared decades ago. "Grave of the Fireflies" features an extremely caring sibling relationship, though the film is one of the grimmest I've ever seen. The relationship is moving; the indifference of the adults in their lives is distressing, to say the least.

Very disappointing.

What films from the past year would you nominate for showing what's good in people? I'm genuinely curious.

Do you know that the reviews form is not working? It throws the 404 error. I'm sure, many people, like me, want to just leave a one click feedback without entering deliberations. https://uploads.disquscdn.c...

You're right! Thank you for pointing that out. I'm still interested in hearing what kinds of films you would highlight.