On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti How America sees itself through film
Feb 16, 2026
Ty Burr, longtime film critic and columnist, and Rachel Stolche, head of the Library of Congress’s film preservation center, discuss how films reflect and shape American culture. They sample Registry picks, explain how movies are preserved, debate which modern films might endure, and highlight surprising inclusions and diversity efforts in the National Film Registry.
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Films Rise In Status Over Time
- Ty Burr celebrates late-recognized films like The Truman Show and The Thing as rising in esteem.
- He highlights how critical reception can shift over decades and elevate cultural status.
Films Shape National Self-Understanding
- Cultural significance means films broaden understanding of American identity.
- Ty Burr says films help us remember and reframe societal history and self-image.
Comfort From Golden Age Musicals
- Rachel Stolche calls Singing in the Rain a comfort film tied to golden-age Hollywood.
- She links classics to personal nostalgia and cinematic craft.