Movies and Shows Similar to Polytechnique

Description: This documentary critically examines the causes of the Columbine High School massacre and broader issues of gun violence in America. Its investigative approach and provocative questions about societal violence make it a compelling watch.

Fact: The film won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. It features interviews with survivors and controversial figures like Marilyn Manson.

Description: This drama follows a convicted child molester attempting to reintegrate into society. Its unflinching look at redemption, guilt, and societal rejection is both challenging and deeply empathetic.

Fact: The film was shot in just 18 days. It sparked controversy for its sympathetic portrayal of a pedophile.

Description: This film explores the harrowing reality of a school shooting, focusing on the mundane yet tense moments leading up to the event. Its stark, documentary-style approach and unflinching portrayal of violence create a deeply unsettling atmosphere.

Fact: The film won the Palme d'Or at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival. It was inspired by the Columbine High School massacre but avoids sensationalism.

Description: Set in communist Romania, this film depicts the grim realities of an illegal abortion. Its unflinching realism, tense atmosphere, and focus on personal and societal oppression make it a powerful experience.

Fact: The film won the Palme d'Or at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival. It was shot in long takes to enhance realism.

Description: This German drama explores how a classroom experiment in autocracy spirals out of control, revealing the dangers of groupthink and authoritarianism. Its tense narrative and social commentary are both gripping and thought-provoking.

Fact: The film is based on a real-life social experiment conducted in a California high school in

Description: Set in a multicultural Parisian school, this film captures the tensions and conflicts between students and teachers. Its raw, realistic portrayal of institutional challenges and social dynamics offers a poignant look at education systems.

Fact: The film won the Palme d'Or at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival. It was largely improvised by non-professional actors.

Description: This black-and-white drama examines the roots of violence and authoritarianism in a pre-WWI German village. Its chilling portrayal of repressed cruelty and moral decay offers a haunting reflection on human nature.

Fact: The film won the Palme d'Or at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival. It was shot in a deliberately austere visual style to evoke the era.

Description: This psychological thriller delves into the aftermath of a school massacre, examining the complex relationship between a mother and her disturbed son. The film's tense, fragmented narrative and exploration of guilt and responsibility resonate deeply.

Fact: The movie is based on Lionel Shriver's novel of the same name. It uses a non-linear narrative to build suspense.

Description: This surreal drama depicts a family living in extreme isolation, where the parents control their children's reality. Its disturbing exploration of control, manipulation, and violence is both bizarre and unsettling.

Fact: The film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. It features a highly stylized and unsettling visual aesthetic.

Description: This intense drama follows a man wrongly accused of child abuse and the ensuing social ostracism. Its exploration of mob mentality, false accusations, and the fragility of reputation is both harrowing and deeply human.

Fact: The film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. It sparked debates about the handling of child abuse allegations.