THE WORLD AROUND US Introduction Celebrating cinema as a ’passport to the world’, this strand includes films from Iran, France, Africa, New Zealand, Tibet and Mongolia. This resource aims to give these films a context, and to challenge children to think about how the language of film is a universal language that helps us to understand and accept different cultures. The resource will address aspects of P.S.H.E. and Citizenship as well as Literacy, Science and Geography. ©Film Education 2006 1 THE WORLD AROUND US Aliens of the Deep 3D Running Time: 50 minutes Cert: U Suitable for: KS1/2 Literacy, Geography, Science Synopsis A team of young scientists and marine explorers guide us through a journey to some of the Earth's deepest, most extreme and unknown environments in search of the bizarre and alien creatures that live there. Looking at ecosystems, intensely hot oases and oversized sea- creatures, you are invited to consider these strange life forms and decide what they could represent. Film Facts The director of Aliens of the Deep, James Cameron, directed the box office smash, Titanic in 1997. In this documentary, he worked with a team of NASA scientists to explore the Mid-Ocean Ridge, a submerged chain of mountains that band the Earth and are home to some of the planet's most unusual life forms. Pre-viewing activities 1. Where do you think the Earth’s ‘deepest, most extreme and unknown environments’ could be? Look at a globe or in an atlas to find out where the Earth’s deepest oceans, highest mountains and hottest deserts are. 2. Search the internet for information about the Mid-Ocean Ridge. 3. Cameron’s team of scientists and explorers are made up of: • an expedition leader • marine animal physiologists • pilots • a marine seismologist • astrobiologists • an astronaut • astronomers / planetary scientists • a science observer Find out what these people do. Which one of these jobs would you like to do? Post-viewing activities 1. Draw a picture of your favourite underwater creature. 2. Aliens of the Deep is a documentary. What are the differences and similarities between a documentary and a film like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? 3. Which of the creatures would you use to feature in an adventure movie? Why? Write a story outline of your film starring the alien of the deep that you chose. ©Film Education 2006 2 THE WORLD AROUND US The Apple Running Time: 84 minutes Cert: U Subtitled Suitable for: KS2 Literacy, Geography, P.S.H.E. and Citizenship Synopsis Director Samira Makhmalbaf’s fascinating bittersweet Iranian film, this poetic and dramatic tale tells of two sisters who, after twelve years of imprisonment by their own parents, are finally released by social workers to face the outside world and all its beauty and wonderment for the first time. Film Facts Set in Iran, this film is based on real events, and the principal characters play themselves. An eighteen-year-old Iranian woman, Samira Makhmalbaf, directed it. Pre-viewing activities 1. If you were hidden away from the world against your will, what would you miss the most? Write a list, giving reasons for your choices. 2. Find out where Iran is and five facts about its recent history. Post-viewing activities 1. Why do you think the girls’ parents locked them up for twelve years? 2. The girls in the film have to learn how to make friends. What guidelines would you give them? How do they do it in the film? ©Film Education 2006 3 THE WORLD AROUND US The Cup Running Time: 93 minutes Cert: PG Suitable for: KS2 Literacy, Geography, P.S.H.E. and Citizenship Website: www.the-cup.com/start.html Synopsis This is the first motion picture ever to emerge from the tiny central Asian country of Bhutan. It gives an insight into life behind the cloistered walls of the Chokling Monastery. Two young exiled Tibetan refugees arrive at the monastery/boarding school. Soccer enthusiast Orgyen soon arouses a soccer fever amongst students. During the 1998 World Cup, Orgyen and several companions sneak out of the monastery by night and make their way to a shop in the local town where they can watch the matches. They are punished for this, while the head of the monastery faces difficulty in bringing Buddhism into modernity. Film Facts The Cup is the first film ever produced by the tiny Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan. It is based on a true story. The soccer games featured in the movie are from the 1998 World Cup in France. The first game is the quarter-final between France and Italy (France won on penalties), and the second is the final in Paris where France beat Brazil 3-0. Pre-viewing activities 1. The two main characters of the film are refugees. Find out what the word ‘refugee’ means. 2. The two refugees in the film are from Tibet. They find refuge in a monastery in India. Find Tibet and India on a map. How far away from each other are they? How far away are they from the UK? ©Film Education 2006 4 THE WORLD AROUND US 3. The film’s tagline is: ‘Buddhism is their philosophy. Soccer is their religion.’ Research the main ideas behind Buddhism. Are there any links that can be made between Buddhism and football? Post-viewing activities 1. Soccer is said to bring the world together. No matter where you are from, you can enjoy a game of football. What is it about the game that is so special? 2. The Cup is based on a true story. Whilst the characters are played by actors, we see life going on in the background that is ‘real’. List some of the real events that you saw. 3. Describe how the monks lived without modern technology. How does their life compare to yours? ©Film Education 2006 5 THE WORLD AROUND US Deep Blue Running Time: 91 minutes Cert: PG Suitable for: KS1/2 Literacy, Science, Geography Website: www.deepbluethemovie.com/main.html Synopsis A unique documentary, based on the BBC series ‘Blue Planet’, Deep Blue allows a fascinating view of the world’s oceans. The filmmakers have captured images of species that have never been seen before, all in their natural habitats. The film emphasises the diversity of the planet and the importance of furthering our understanding and preservation of it for the future. Film Facts The documentary Deep Blue is based on the BBC series ‘Blue Planet’ which was aired in 2001. Over twelve million people watched the series when it first aired in the UK. It has since been screened in over fifty countries. The underwater photography set new standards, both for its beauty and for never-before- photographed sequences of ocean life. Recently discovered species were shown for the first time, and behaviour that had hitherto never been witnessed was captured on film. Pre-viewing activities 1. Find out how much of the Earth is covered in ocean. 2. Imagine a species of ocean creature that has never been seen before. What will it look like? Draw a picture. Post-viewing activities 1. What can you do to help preserve our oceans for future generations? 2. Before the age of the cinema, natural historians would have to record details of the natural life by making notes and drawing diagrams in a notebook. What does the film Deep Blue show you that could not be recorded in a notebook? 3. Describe the most interesting species of animal that you saw in the film. Whilst you are describing it, think about the five senses: sight, sound, touch, taste and smell. ©Film Education 2006 6 THE WORLD AROUND US Deep Sea 3D Running Time: 50 minutes Cert: PG Suitable for: KS1/2 Literacy, Science, Geography Website: www.imax.com/deepsea/ Synopsis This undersea adventure offers up-close exploration of the planet’s deepest unknown oceans. Introducing some of the most strange and unusual beings on the planet, filmgoers will glide underwater with exotic, dangerous and colourful creatures with explanations offered about this exciting underworld. Issues such as survival, dependency and relationships are looked at as each animal relies on another in order for all of them to thrive. Film Facts The fact that this is a 3D IMAX® film means that the audience can get a real insight into the mysterious world of the deep sea. Whilst watching through your 3D specs, you experience waves rushing towards you and the feeling of being momentarily engulfed in the ocean; a jellyfish field appearing to fill the whole theatre; a shark powering towards you and predators pouncing from behind rocks and devouring their prey. Pre-viewing activities 1. What type of creature do you think could be one of the planet’s most ‘strange and unusual beings’? Draw what you imagine this deep-sea creature to look like. 2. Find out how 3D vision works at an IMAX® theatre. How do you think it will be different to going to see a film at a regular cinema? Post-viewing activities 1. Write about the most exciting part of the movie for you. 2. Deep Sea uses 3D to its maximum potential. What other subjects do you think would be good filmed this way? ©Film Education 2006 7 THE WORLD AROUND US Eight Below Running Time: 120 minutes Cert: PG Suitable for: KS2 Literacy, P.S.H.E. and Citizenship, Geography, Science, History Website: http://disney.go.com/disneyvideos/liveaction/eightbelow/ Synopsis Inspired by a true story, Eight Below is an action-adventure about loyalty and the bonds of friendship set in the extreme wilderness of Antarctica.