Movies as an Epistemic Source of Law and Its Influence on Lawmaking Process

Law and art are concepts intrinsically linked to culture and human society. Both can shape human communities in spiritual and material ways. This paper focuses on a relatively modern form of artistic expression – film – which emerged in the late 19th century. Despite its relatively short history, film has become an integral part of everyday culture on a global scale. The combination of moving images and sound possesses a unique informative and educational potential, which can be employed constructively but also misused to influence public opinion. This paper explores the distinctive power of film to shape legal consciousness and, in some cases, to directly or indirectly has influence on lawmaking process. The paper is structured into four parts. The first part outlines the theoretical relationship between film and law within the academic discourse. The remaining three parts present specific instances where films have influenced legislative changes. In each of these sections, we analyse two examples from the major legal systems around the world. For each selected film, we briefly summarise its essential content and the social issue it addresses. Then we examine what role film played in the process of lawmaking in six selected jurisdictions. Finally, we identify common factors shared by these films that led legislative action and legal reform.