The Most Humanzing Moments in Cinema

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About this video essay:
An analysis of the philosophy of Levinas, the depiction of humanity through cinema, and the hidden meaning that can be found within it.

Chapters:
0:00 Levinas and the Face of the Other
1:23 Performing Humanity
4:13 The Weight of Guilt
6:40 The Nature of Our Conscience
8:32 Denying the Humanity of Others
10:20 Everyday Dehumanization
13:35 Facing True Humanity
15:54 A Kingdom of Conscience

Listen to my podcast, Cinema of Meaning:

Further Reading:

Music:
Slow Meadow – Crown of Amber Canopy
Dexter Britain – Dream Array
Jude Cosmo – Lunar Echo
Jo Blankenburg – Canopus

Additional Music:
We Dream of Eden – Sleeping Seeds

Included Media:
A Fantastic Woman; Amadeus; Avatar; Better Call Saul; Blue Valentine; Burning; Carol; Chernobyl; Children of Men; Crime and Punishment; Decision to Leave; Deepwater Horizon; Dunkirk; Fences; Fifty Fifty; Fleabag; Good Will Hunting; Hacksaw Ridge; Her; Ikiru; In Bruges; It's a Wonderful Life; Kingdom of Heaven; Knight of Cups; Lion; Louder Than Bombs; Love Actually; Manchester by the Sea; Me and Earl and the Dying Girl; Midsommar; Minari; Moonlight; Nightcrawler; Only the Brave; Paterson; Persona; Phantom Thread; Pig; Portrait of a Lady on Fire; Prisoners; Saving Private Ryan; Schindler's List; Sense8; Shame; Short Term 12; Station Eleven; Tar; The Elephant Man; The Farewell; The Great Beauty; The Great Dictator; The Greatest Showman; The Green Mile; The Grey; The Hobbit; The Killing Fields; The Passion of Joan of Arc; The Perks of Being a Wallflower; The Railway Man; The Secret Life of Walter Mitty; The Thin Red Line; The Tree of Life; The Worst Person in the World; Thirteen Lives; To the Wonder; World Trade Center

[anubratoroy]

Every single video of this guy makes me shed a tear in the true sense of what it means to be a human being 🥺❤️❤️

[BruceHurley]

This is the kind of deep, rich, textured content that really explores the potential of the internet. Yes, there's a lot of nonsense and I think that's perfectly okay, but it's nice that there are people exploring more substantive and impactful contributions.

[EMAbreuLucas]

Feels like the creator of Like Stories of Old is studying so much film, poetry, philosophy and all the things that awe the humanity so that he will eventually direct a movie or write a story that will be as amazing as the videos he makes. An amazing mind!

[TenderLovinz]

Thank you for showing us your face. I have no idea of the levels of anxiety that comes with producing something that is so intimate and wondering if it will resonate with a single person. I want to affirm you that each piece you produce, they are deeply felt. Thank you again.

[roc]

I think in today’s culture, we needed reminding of THIS more then ever before. I work as a social worker and just coming into contact with my clients on a daily basis over the years has radically transformed my perception on what SHOULD be important. Everywhere I go, so many of my neighbors, co-workers, strangers in my community seemed to be detached from everything other than what is right in front of them. So many people busy at work propping up their digital ambassadors on social media and getting lost in the internet. So many people breaking off friendships of something very pity. Families going decades without speaking to each other over a political opinion. It’s truly heart breaking to see the loss of our humanity for one another. I pray that someday, we remind ourselves as a society to never let ourselves become what we’ve always feared by accident or design. My favorite quote from the film Call Me By Your Name said it best:

“We rip out SO much of ourselves to heal from things faster, that we go bankrupt by the age of 30. And have less and less to offer, each time we meet someone new. But to feel NOTHING, so as to not feel ANYTHING……what a waste”.

[maniksha]

For weeks I carried this anxiety while reading crime and punishment, a feeling of hopelessness. It was crippling. Only towards the end, when Raskolnikov felt a hope for absolution in repentance that I was at ease. This book was such an experience

[dr.delroyale]

Seeing someone with deformations say that line... "I am not a monster. I am a human being" was moving. I've never had any physical abnormalities, but yet, I felt that. I felt the years of being tormented, alienated, and possibly betrayed by his fellow humans who feared something they did not understand - never caring to know what he's been through. I know it's all acting but it's also excellent, at that, because despite not being in his condition, I empathize.

[andrewmckinlay]

The university program I'm in (nursing) has robbed me of a lot for how far away its taken me from what I knew as my life beforehand. And, to a certain extent I'm able to alleviate the feelings of isolation and frustration that being so far away from everything I've known has caused by going to other movie channels on youtube. But this channel is where I go when I really need to rally the remaining hopes I have. I dont know if anyone on the platform produces content thats so raw and honest in what you discuss. I dont know. Its difficult to articulate from behind a keyboard but your channel has helped a lot with keeping me going and finding some good in the things that I do and in who I am. Cant thank you enough.

[whatbringsmepeace]

Oh I cried. Please never stop making these videos. They are so needed in the world.

[GentlyHewStone]

This is the very best video you've made yet, and that's saying a lot. A perfect message for the holiday season, and to energize our hearts for the new year!

[geriburrito]

With this video you made me remember many of the best moments I have experienced while watching a film. I've been going to therapy for some time to deal with emotional blockage, and this helped bring that hurt that seats deep inside one inch closer to the surface and oxigenate my feelings. Thanks for the effort and care you put in your videos.

[jasonkraley]

well, this unexpectedly brought me to tears from inside me.. i think for me, it’s realizing what the covid pandemic changed inside me as you described adeptly: “our body reacts by slowly disconnecting us from the outside.. even though we may still exist in this world physically, touching things don’t feel the same, colors don’t seem as bright, music feels distant.. though the sensation is often experienced as one of numbness, our body is screaming at us, imploring us to come back, to get back in touch.. every day you wake up there’ll be less of you..” THAT hit me as the best descriptor of my pandemic isolation as what it has done to me unexpectedly.. i’m currently trying to work through this, but it takes time - & a few unexpected, private breakdowns.. thank you for this: another wonderful video essay! have a good new year!

[pablohb]

Damn man your work touches me so deep, thank you so much, you have no idea how appreciated it is. Your calm honest voice, your cadence, the images you choose, the themes. You make art, wonderful art so thank you so much again. I'm reading comments of pretty much the same thing I'm saying and that makes me happy so you know, one more heart, one more conscience has been moved today and I want you to know that because that's huge. So, hope you're well. Oh and just in case you haven't read The Brothers Karamazov, you would love it, that book makes me think of a lot of what you're touching on this video. Big hug and happy holidays, thank you again!

[SuzumeMizuno]

Oh, boy, I don't get how you always manage to write and edit such wonderful videos, but I'm so thankful.

[macfilms]

When I see a video from you appear in my YouTube recommendations, it's like an unexpected gift. I know going in that you will be asking deep, important questions and I know I will probably shed a tear or two. I honestly mean it when I say that I think your work is the absolute best I have seen on this platform. Thank you for what you do.

[devangkakkad]

Please never stop making videos. It makes us more human.

[LasherAF]

The most underrated artist I've ever seen in my life dude this is amazing

[IronSouledWarrior]

There hasn’t been one day in the past four years that I haven’t watched or listened to one of your videos. You are a very special person and I am very grateful for the value you provide to the universe. Thank you.

[magnificus]

Your videos are always so thoughtful and moving, one of the most unique channels on YouTube, thank you.

[advisorrook]

This is incredible. Just fantastic work. Your video on the Magician will always speak to me the most, but this one made me cry.