What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThings Fall Apart
Chinua Achebe · Book · 1958
If you loved Things Fall Apart, start with Out of Africa (Sydney Pollack, 1985) — a film on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Things Fall Apart across media.
If Things Fall Apart gripped you, it is because you are drawn to stories about how societies crumble under external pressure.
Films on the same thread
Apocalypse Now
Francis Ford Coppola · Film · 1979
Shares a thread with Things Fall Apart: Colonialism.
Much like the tragic descent of Okonkwo in Things Fall Apart, this film explores the psychological toll of moral ambiguity and the inevitable collapse of order within a foreign land.
Black Panther
Ryan Coogler · Film · 2018
Shares a thread with Things Fall Apart: Cultural Identity.
If you appreciated the tension between tradition and change in Things Fall Apart, you will find a modern echo in this conflict over cultural identity and political succession in Wakanda.
Out of Africa
Sydney Pollack · Film · 1985
Shares a thread with Things Fall Apart: Colonialism.
This story offers a different perspective on the cultural clash depicted in Things Fall Apart, focusing on the complex experience of an outsider navigating a changing African landscape.
Night of the Living Dead
George A. Romero · Film · 1968
Explores: Societal Collapse, Government Incompetence, Fear of the Other.
The societal collapse featured in this film reflects the same sense of dread found in Things Fall Apart, as characters struggle to survive against an overwhelming and misunderstood threat.
Series on the same thread
Roots
Alex Haley · Series · 1977
Shares a thread with Things Fall Apart: Cultural Identity.
This epic family saga mirrors the generational trauma and resistance against oppression that anchors the narrative of Things Fall Apart, grounding historical shifts in the struggle of one family.
Downton Abbey
Julian Fellowes · Series · 2010
Explores: Class conflict, Social change, Upstairs-Downstairs.
While the setting differs from Things Fall Apart, you will recognize the same preoccupation with social change and the erosion of traditional hierarchies in the face of modern history.
Twin Peaks
Mark Frost · Series · 1990
Explores: Small Town Secrets, Doppelgangers, Good vs Evil.
This mystery explores existential dread and the fracturing of a community, echoing the way the arrival of new forces disrupts the established equilibrium of the village in Things Fall Apart.
The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin
David Nobbs · Series · 1976
Explores: Midlife Crisis, Existentialism, Identity Crisis.
If you were moved by the identity crisis within Things Fall Apart, this satire provides a cynical look at how one man loses his place in a shifting, modern world.
Podcasts on the same thread
1619
The New York Times · Podcast · 2019
Explores: systemic racism, national identity, legacy of slavery.
This podcast examines the foundational impact of colonialism and slavery, providing a deeper historical context for the themes of identity and systemic displacement explored throughout Things Fall Apart.
Fall of Civilizations Podcast
Podcast
Explores: Civilizational Collapse, Historical Analysis, Ancient History.
This podcast captures the same fascination with civilizational collapse seen in Things Fall Apart, analyzing exactly why societies fail and what that unraveling looks like for those living through it.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Things Fall Apart based on a true story?
Things Fall Apart is a work of fiction by Chinua Achebe, though it depicts historical realities of pre-colonial life in southeastern Nigeria and the arrival of Europeans in the late 19th century. It is recognized as an archetypal modern African novel.
When was Things Fall Apart first published?
Things Fall Apart was first published in 1958. It is the debut novel by Nigerian author Chinua Achebe and is widely considered one of the first African novels in English to achieve global critical acclaim.
Why is Things Fall Apart studied in schools?
Things Fall Apart is a staple book in schools throughout Africa because it provides a significant portrayal of pre-colonial life in Nigeria and the impact of European arrival. It is regarded as the archetypal modern African novel in English.
What setting does Things Fall Apart cover?
Things Fall Apart is set in the southeastern part of Nigeria. The narrative depicts the cultural life of the region during the late 19th century, specifically focusing on the period before and during the arrival of Europeans.