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Since World War II, anti-fascism has permeated many of our mainstream narratives, from the audacity of Charlie Chaplin’s masterpiece The Great Dictator to Cabaret, Casablanca, and The Sound of Music. In the last few years, fighting for freedom from overbearing rulers has powered the plots of not only critically beloved TV series such as Andor (see below), but also glitzy family fare like KPop Demon Hunters and the Wicked films. Here, three of the best recent fiction and nonfiction stories about pushing back against authoritarian forces, all of them Peabody winners this year.
‘Andor’
In this two-season television prequel to the Star Wars films, an ordinary thief, Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) is radicalized against the fascist Galactic Empire and becomes a spy for the rebellion. Created by Tony Gilroy, both seasons won Peabodys for their portrayal of the ways that regular people are called to fight forces that can seem overwhelming, but also unquestionably wrong. It’s a rare example of a major Hollywood franchise using its powers not only for good, but for complicated, interesting, daring good, drawing on collective knowledge of the Star Wars universe to underscore an important and relevant story.
Where to Watch: Disney+
Explore More Andor on Peabody’s Website
‘Mr. Nobody Against Putin’
Pavel Talankin worked as a videographer and events coordinator at a Russian primary school for a few years after the country’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, allowing him to document his and the school’s activities as they were required to stage “patriotic displays” and employ a state-approved curriculum that justified the war to students. Working with director David Borenstein, Talankin provides a powerful portrait of everyday life inside Russia and his own acts of resistance, like disrupting a flag-raising ceremony by playing Lady Gaga’s recording of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” His ultimate show of defiance, however, is the film itself, released after Borenstein helped Talankin escape Russia with his footage and gain asylum in Europe when evidence emerged that police were surveilling his home.
Where to Watch: Apple TV
Explore More Mr. Nobody Against Putin on Peabody’s Website
‘Mussolini: Son of the Century’
This eight-episode historical drama, directed by Joe Wright and based on Antonio Scurati‘s 2018 novel, stars Luca Marinelli as Benito Mussolini during his rise in the 1920s. Wright focuses his knack for bringing history to vibrant and relevant life on the story of how a man becomes a history-warping dictator. Mussolini’s rock-star appeal is dramatized in postmodern pastiche, with direct-to-camera address, puppets, modern songs, and rallies that play more like fan-filled concerts. As Marinelli pointedly promises to “make Italy great again,” he also ties the character to the longer arc of history.
Where to Watch: MUBI
Explore More Mussolini: Son of the Century on Peabody’s Website
Mussolini: Son of the Century Trailer
Further Listening: Andor: Tony Gilroy on Oppressive Regimes and Popular Revolutions
We Disrupt This Broadcast, our podcast in partnership with the Center for Media and Social Impact, features an interview with Andor creator Gilroy, in which he talks about how revolutions are born, what makes someone join, and how real history informed the series.
Where to Listen: PeabodyAwards.com