5 Steven Spielberg dramas that prove he's more than blockbusters
What's the story
Steven Spielberg is one of the most celebrated filmmakers of all time. He has made a variety of films over the years, and while we all know him for blockbusters, his work in drama has also been phenomenal. Here are five dramas directed by Spielberg that prove the master storyteller can tell a compelling story through any lens.
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'The Color Purple': A tale of resilience
Released in 1985, The Color Purple is an adaptation of Alice Walker's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. It tells the story of Celie, an African American woman in the early 20th-century South. The film touches upon themes of resilience and empowerment in the face of adversity. It was critically acclaimed and earned multiple Academy Award nominations, marking a career-defining moment for Spielberg as it proved he could handle sensitive subject matter with care.
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'Empire of the Sun': A journey through war
Released in 1987, Empire of the Sun tells the story of a young British boy, Jim, who gets separated from his parents during World War II in Shanghai. The film captures Jim's journey through war-torn landscapes and his struggle for survival. It highlights themes of innocence lost and resilience found amidst chaos. This drama established Spielberg's reputation for creating visually stunning narratives that resonate emotionally with audiences.
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'Schindler's List': A historical masterpiece
Schindler's List, which was released in 1993, is based on the true story of Oskar Schindler, a German businessman who employed over 1,000 Polish Jews in his factories during the Holocaust and saved them. The film is known for its stark black-and-white cinematography and gripping storytelling. It bagged seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director for Spielberg, making it one of cinema's most important historical dramas.
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'Amistad': A fight for freedom
In 1997, Spielberg's Amistad told the real-life story of a slave ship's uprising in 1839 and the subsequent legal battle for freedom led by John Quincy Adams. It explores justice, human rights, and morality. Although it received mixed reviews initially, it remains one of the prominent films in Spielberg's portfolio for tackling complicated social and political issues.
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'Bridge of Spies': Cold War tensions unveiled
Released in 2015, Bridge of Spies stars Tom Hanks as James Donovan. He's a lawyer negotiating the exchange of a captured American pilot for Soviet spy Rudolf Abel in the Cold War. This drama shows the diplomatic intricacies and speaks on the importance of dialogue across ideological divides. Spielberg crafts an engrossing narrative combining historical events with deep emotional and character development.