When the Libyan people rose up in anger across social media because of a scene from a low-quality Ramadan drama, I wondered for the millionth time: if bad acting can cause such a national stir, why haven’t our civil society institutions used this medium to tackle the real issues destroying our society?
If we are a people who claim to fear cinema because it might “offend public modesty,” yet we constantly preach virtue until it loses its meaning, then cinema is actually our most powerful tool for change. Through the lens of shock theory, film can be far more effective than traditional methods. If a single word can cause an uproar and a single scene can turn social media into a battlefield for analysts, why does using film for social progress seem so difficult?
Consider the case of South Korea. Did you know that a law was enacted there because of a movie? It was even named after the film itself. The 2011 film Silenced, also known as Dogani, was based on true events at a school for deaf children in Gwangju where students had been sexually abused in secret for years. The case was already known to the public through traditional media, but the film sparked a massive national outcry. It offered an honest, emotional portrayal of suffering and highlighted the justice system’s failure to punish the perpetrators.
The school’s case was not a secret revealed by the film; the media had already covered it. However, the film’s treatment of the subject made people feel as if they were hearing about it for the very first time. Within a month of its release, the Korean Parliament passed the “Dogani Law,” which removed the statute of limitations for sexual crimes against minors and people with disabilities, significantly increasing the penalties for offenders. One movie and two hours of viewing time pushed a nation to change its laws and protect its citizens.
The Neurological Impact of Film
The impact of films on societies cannot be understood without referring to the neurological and psychological foundations of this impact, for the emotional interaction shown by the audience toward a dramatic scene is not just a superficial impulse, but rather the result of activating advanced neural mechanisms within the human brain.
When we say a viewer was moved by a scene, we are referring to Neural Simulation, where mirror neurons activate, making the brain process the scene as if it were a direct personal experience. This explains why viewers respond to scenes of violence, social injustice, or human suffering with a genuine sense of pain or anger, even though they know they are watching a performance. This is the true power of cinema as an instrument for change.
The Role of Institutions in Transforming Reality
Civil society organizations, with their independence and flexibility, have the power to invest in visual media and films to shape public awareness and direct it toward positive change. As stated previously, the true power of cinema lies in its ability to penetrate emotions and the conscience, making the individual feel, interact, and reconsider their attitudes and behaviors. When these institutions realize that the power of cinema lies not just in its ability to show, but in its ability to move emotions, stimulate thought, and reshape attitudes, they will use it to turn individual empathy into a collective consciousness, and subsequently into tangible actions that contribute to social development.
Personally, I do not see a more important role for these organizations than creating this kind of impact. Their core mission should be to create a healthy environment by controlling the narrative, specifically by reframing social issues in a way that makes the audience interact with them deeply, live the experience, and become a part of the change. When used intelligently, films are not just a way to entertain; they are a tool for building a more just and sustainable future.
Because an experience is only complete when it reaches its audience, institutions should not limit themselves to traditional cinema models. They should redefine screening spaces to include small halls, cultural centers, universities, or even smartphone screens. While we know that everything seems difficult in this country, even with genuine attempts, we cannot wait for a perfect image of the future. A start, even if flawed or incomplete, is better than nothing.
The role of these organizations is not to force cinema upon the public through state decrees, but to create an environment where cinema becomes a necessity. When a broad societal awareness is formed regarding the importance of film, and when visual content becomes a central part of public debate, it becomes impossible to ignore. This is how change happens: from the bottom up, moving from society to the official institutions, not the other way around.
Conclusion: A Crisis of Tools, Not Issues
We do not have a crisis of issues; we have a crisis of tools. Our social problems are well known, but our methods of addressing them remain traditional, direct, and limited in their impact. Words are spoken, posts are written, and lectures are given, yet nothing changes.
People do not change because of what they are told, but because of what they feel. This is exactly where cinema shines. A film does not just explain a problem; it makes you live it. It allows you to see with eyes that are not yours and feel with a heart that is not yours. It places you inside the experience rather than in front of it. This distance between seeing and living is what makes all the difference. When our social institutions grasp this difference and turn it into a tool for public guidance, we will finally see the society we have always dreamed of.
