Summary of Remember the Titans and Eyes on the Prize

The struggle for equality by African Americans has been largely carried out through the civil rights movement. The movement caught the attention of the entire world, given the fact that the ‘Land of the Free’ stood accused of not giving all its citizens equal rights. The struggle ultimately saw a paradigm shift in the distribution of public resources and opportunities across the different races. The profound nature of this fight attracted the attention of film-makers and documentary creators alike, both having a desire to present the historical events and issues in a manner appealing and at the same time relevant to audiences.

The study analyses the film “Remember the Titans” against the documentary series titled “Eyes on the prize II” The film is based on a true story but also has elements of fiction and drama to make it a complete package. The documentary series on the other hand is based on themed episodes where actual footage of the happenings as well as interviews with the actual participants in the movement are woven into a television program.

Though both the film and the documentary explore the process of desegregation of America, particularly the schooling system, they employ different approaches and angles in delivering the message. However, of the two, it emerges that the series “Eyes on the prize” presents a more accurate picture of what was taking place during the history of the civil rights movement. The film’s message is diluted due to the diplomatic angle that is employed by the director, perhaps to ensure it appealed to a wider audience. At the same time, the film is more specific of the struggles of a few individuals in contrast to the documentary that dwells on the struggle of the larger black population of the day.