With the holiday season on the horizon, “The Student Movement” would like to provide you with some recommendations on how to spend your time during your brief Thanksgiving break. Of course we want you to stuff yourselves with turkey and green bean casserole and enjoy quality time with your family, but how about a good ol’ Thanksgiving movie? Yes, I said it–a Thanksgiving movie.
As a culture we celebrate the quintessential Christmas movie, constantly raving about the same movies year after year (I know “Home Alone” is an absolute must and “Elf” is one that will never fail to make me laugh). But, I am here to tell you that there is such a thing as a Thanksgiving movie and am here to provide you with a different way to spend a portion of your Thanksgiving right before you get back into Christmas films once December rolls around.
Here are a few of my recommendations for Thanksgiving movies or specials, ones I’ll probably be spending my time watching due to the fact that I’ll be here for the break. Yes, I’m seeking pity.
Let’s start with a classic: “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” (1973) directed by Phil Melendez and Phil Roman
You are never too old to watch “Charlie Brown,” and this episode is no exception. In the episode, Charlie Brown, along with Linus, Snoopy, and Woodstock, attempt to throw together a Thanksgiving dinner after Peppermint Patty invites herself and her friends over to Charlie’s for Thanksgiving. This special brings back all the nostalgia from my childhood as well as the warm spirit that the Thanksgiving season never fails to have.
“A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” is available on AppleTV.
Next, “Lady Bird” (2017) directed by Greta Gerwig
I know what you’re thinking: “this is definitely not a Thanksgiving themed movie.” In fact, this movie is about a headstrong teenager, known as Lady Bird (played by the fantastic Saoirse Ronan) trying to navigate her final moments in high school while trying to heal her relationship with her mother. But if you remember the movie correctly, one of her conflicts lands during the Thanksgiving season. I won’t spoil what happens; I guess you’ll just have to watch the 2017 Golden Globe award winner for Best Motion Picture to find out.
You can watch “Lady Bird” now on Netflix.
For my last pick in the Thanksgiving special draft, I would like to suggest a basketball related Netflix docuseries called “Basketball or Nothing” (2019) directed by Matt Howley.
This Emmy-nominated docuseries follows the Chinle High School boys’ team, a Arizona Navajo Nation basketball team, in their quest to win a state championship. It’s important to remember that although we use Thanksgiving as an excuse to practice gratitude and spend time with our loved ones, the history of Thanksgiving is deeply rooted in the Indigenous peoples and their struggles. Noted, it was the Wampanoag Indians, not the Navajo, that were a part of the historic origin of Thanksgiving. Yet, this series does a beautiful job of celebrating the lives of this neglected and underrepresented group and highlights the impact they could have if we just give them a fair shot.
If you know me well, you’ll know that I love anything basketball related, so I am looking forward to really getting into this six-part docuseries.
Again, you can stream “Basketball or Nothing” on Netflix.
If anyone wants to share a moist turkey and watch these recommendations next week, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of 老司机传媒. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, 老司机传媒 or the Seventh-day Adventist church.