Cinema has always been inherently political. At times in support of the ruling class and at other denouncing the rich, filmmakers have played in important role on the general public's perception of their leaders. With this selection of four films, we explore class struggles across geographies. With I, Daniel Blake, we look at the how the everyman experiences job precariousness and the effect of a difficult economy on a man's dignity. With Shoplifters and Parasite, set in Japan and South Korea, respectively, we turn our attention to what the working class must do to survive, from shoplifting from small stores to conning the wealthy. Lastly, Roma looks at the entrenched discrepancy in status based on ethnic origin and skin colour in Mexican society. Taken together, these four films provide a glimpse into the difficult circumstances facing a large portion of the world's population. At times emotionally and physically brutal, these works address pressing issues from a variety of angles and lead to a greater sense of empathy.

These films all contain scenes that some viewers may find disturbing.  Viewer discretion is advised and you should ask your parents if it is appropriate that you watch these films.

• I, Daniel Blake (UK, 2016)

• Shoplifters (Japan, 2018)

• Parasite (Korea, 2019)

• Roma (Mexico, 2018)

• Nomadland (USA, 2020)