A common criticism of classic films is often that they’re “too old” to be of any contemporary importance. While some bonafide classics have not dated well, there are many others that transcend their social or political periods and give us insight into the human condition that even many contemporary films fail to accomplish.
One could even argue that a film cannot truly be considered classic if it doesn’t manage to live and breathe beyond the time period in which it was made. What can be most surprising about these films is how they treat of social problems and moral issues that are still the topics of debate even today.
With this in mind, we present a list of 9 classic films that remain topical and even disturbingly prescient in the modern world, proving that it is good to remember that just because it’s in black and white, that does not mean it doesn’t still have something to teach us.