Ghost

Paddington, the bear from Peru, is framed for stealing a rare pop-up book and sent to prison. Instead of fighting, he makes marmalade sandwiches for the inmates, who turn out to be a better crowd than the vain actor who framed him. A family comedy about kindness as a practice, with a London that shows what a welcoming neighborhood looks like.

Why it’s here: It's a kids' movie that says kindness is a political act. What's punk is a bear who changes a prison kitchen by being polite on purpose, and a story that treats the neighbors as the heroes. What's pedagogical is how clearly it shows prejudice as the thing that turns a neighbor against a stranger. Pairs with Last Stop on Market Street, Enemy Pie and The Rabbit Listened. Note: gentle, a little prison peril; a film about welcoming migrants that never says so.

Jess is a British Punjabi eighteen-year-old in West London who plays soccer better than anyone in her park, and her parents want her to learn to cook a full Indian dinner. She joins a women's team behind their backs, falls for her coach, and has to find a way to be both daughters at once. It's a comedy with a wedding, an ugly sports bra and a lot of heart.

Why it’s here: The film makes a joke out of the fight between family expectations and a girl's ambition, and the girl wins on her own terms. What's punk is that Jess isn't asked to choose between her people and her game. What's pedagogical is how it handles racism, sexism and homophobia in a form a family can watch together. Pairs with Persepolis and Funny Boy.