Investigative cinema through politics, environmental issues and abuse of power: an analysis of six pivotal movies

At the basis of this study lies the analysis of investigative cinema, a compelling and dynamic form of storytelling that seeks to scrutinise social issues, weaving tales that transcend mere entertainment, as it focuses on themes that resonate with the collective consciousness. This study delves into the history of American cinema to comprehend and delineate the origins of investigative cinema, from the pioneering work of muckraking journalists, progressing through the broader sphere of the social problem movie and finally unravelling the intricacies of this genre by offering an understanding of its evolution, thematic nuances, and its substantial impact on American cinematic storytelling. Successively, this thesis focuses on three major social issues in American society analysed, with a narrative and mise-en-scène approach, through six pivotal movies: All the President’s Men (1976) by Alan J. Pakula, and Good Night, and Good Luck (2005) by George Clooney concerning politics; Erin Brockovich (2000) by Steven Soderbergh and Dark Waters (2019) by Todd Haynes regarding environmental issues; lastly, Spotlight (2013) by Tom McCarthy and She Said (2022) by Maria Schrader, concerning abuse of power.