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Films – Humanitarian Law

The Resource Guide: Books | Rules of War | American Red Cross includes an exhaustive list of films.


Blood Diamond
Director: Edward Zwick, Source: Warner Brothers
The title refers to blood diamonds, which are diamonds mined in African war zones and sold to finance conflicts, and thereby profit warlords and diamond companies across the world. Curriculum from Amnesty International includes lesson plans, a glossary, discussion questions and materials for further study. Lesson 2 deals with colonial exploitation of natural resources and the “resource curse” that leads to war and poverty.
Time: 143 minutes
Grade Level: high school – adult


International Humanitarian Law: A Universal Code
Source: International Committee of the Red Cross
Documentary that looks at the poor security conditions frequently confronting the civilian population, the fact that people often have to flee their homes, hostage-taking, the dangers posed by cluster munitions, and the work of preventing and, punishing war crimes. Explains the basic rules of IHL.
Time: 13:45 minutes
Grade Level: high school
Subject Area: social studies, current events


International Humanitarian Law
Source: American Red Cross
Looks at the poor security conditions frequently confronting the civilian population, the fact that people often have to flee their homes, hostage-taking, the dangers posed by cluster munitions, and the work of preventing and, punishing war crimes. Explains the basic rules of IHL. Three-video collection:

  • The Story of an Idea explains the history of the Red Cross, the Geneva conventions, the Red Cross/Crescent movement.
  • Words of Warriors uses the personal voices of people who have experienced war and to illustrate the work of the Red Cross/Crescent to prevent atrocities.
  • One World/ One Movement describes the work of the Red Cross/Crescent.

Time: 13:45 minutes
Grade Level: high school
Subject Area: social studies, current events


Justice and the Generals
Source: PBS
Excerpts from the video Justice and the Generals report on the events leading to the Ford v. Garcia trial, a civil lawsuit brought by the families of four churchwomen found murdered in El Salvador on December 2, 1980. The program also investigates the Romagoza v. Garcia case, in which Salvadoran torture survivors are suing the same generals in a US court. By viewing the film and participating in its accompanying learning activities, students make critical determinations about the moral and legal implication of the case, including the use of IHL. Lesson 5 focuses especially on IHL. Accompanying Lesson Plan available.
Grade Level: high school
Subject Area: social studies


Rules of War in a Nutshell
Source: International Committee of the Red Cross, 2014
Illustrates that although all cultures use violence to settle disputes, limits must be placed on violence. IHL provides rules protecting non-participants, prisoners and the wounded.
Grade level: middle – high school
Subject Area: social studies


Triage: Dr. James Orbinski’s Humanitarian Dilemma
Director: Patrick Reed, Source: CanWest Global Television Network
Documentary featuring former president of Doctors without Borders and Nobel Prize winner Dr. James Orbinski and interviews with survivors of the Rwandan genocide and Somali famine discussing the moral responsibility of the international community to prevent and alleviate atrocities.
Time: 90 minutes
Grade Level: high school
Subject Area: social studies

 

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