YOUNG STUDENTS IN EUROPE Partners: Istituto Marco Belli di Portogruaro (Italia) - Instituto de Enseñanza Secudaria Xesús Taboada Chivite di Verín (Spagna) - VUC di Lyngby, Copenhagen (Danimarca)
SPECIFICITA' CULTURALI COMMENTO AI FILM PROPOSTI
CULTURAL PECULIARITIES OPINIONS ON THE PROPOSED MOVIES
Durante il secondo anno del progetto ci siamo concentrati su alcune differenze culturali tra i nostri Paesi e ciascun partner ha proposto agli altri un film da commentare. Il gruppo italiano ha inviato in Danimarca e in Spagna Terraferma, di Emanuele Crialese. Abbiamo ricevuto lo spagnolo Los Lunes al sol e il danese film HĂŚvnen.
During the second year of the project we focused on some cultural differencies between our Countries and each partner proposed to the other a film to comment. The Italian group sent to Denmark and Spain Terraferma, by Emanuele Crialese. We received the Spanish Los Lunes al sol and the Danish film HĂŚvnen.
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Abbiamo fornito ai nostri partner alcune domande per aiutarli a commentare il film italiano: 1. Nel film si confrontano la tradizione del mare, che obbliga al soccorso, e la legge che punisce chi ospita i clandestini. Analizza il contrasto. 2. Come affronta il tuo Paese il problema dell’emigrazione? Se dovessi affrontare un situazione analoga, quale sarebbe la tua scelta? 3. I personaggi conoscono un’ evoluzione nel corso della storia? 4.
Il film rivela stereotipi riguardo agli Italiani ?
We gave our partners some questions to help them to comment the Italian film: The background theme for the film “Terraferma” is the contrast between the morality connected to sea life, which makes people ready to help and rescue, and the law which punishes any clandestine and whoever helps them. Analyse this contrast. 1.
2. How does your country faces the issue of immigration? If you had to live a similar experience to that of film, what choice would you make? 3. Do the various characters undergo a change in the course of the story? 4. Can you spot any stereotype connected with the Italian character?
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Some opinions on the film of the Spanish “Los Lunes al sol” and the Danish film “Hævnen” which we saw in class. Florida and Paolo “Los Lunes al sol” The film is set in Spain, in a Northern city that faces the problems of its industrial decline. Six friends who lost their jobs after the shipyard closed, spend they days between drinking at the bar, and are … unlikely to find any new jobs. However they never lose their dignity and despite the difficulties, friendship always won. “Hævnen” The film is set in Denmark. This film invites us to reflect on the difficult topics of revenge and evil. This film highlights the dramatic and real problems of bulling making it clear to us that this could happen to anyone. Unfortunately fragility and loneliness are turned into revenge and two young children risk becoming criminals. Honestly I like which much more the Danish film because the protagonist were two boys. I think it is a very sensitive film, which makes you think in a lot.
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Alessia The differences between Danish and Spanish film are evident. The Danish film speaks about poverty in Africa and bullying in schools. This film mixes the stories of two children, one of which is a victim of bullying, the other give vent to his anger, caused by the death of his mother ,through aggressive actions. On the contrary, the film Spanish talks about unemployment in Spain and the reactions of a group of men, who are desperately trying to find work. Unable to find work, they spend their days at the bar drinking, and the sadness that afflicts them brings one of them to commit suicide.
Anna's point of view I prefer the Danish film because it is a moving film and tells the story of two children. The friendship between the two boys is quite special and particular. This film helps the audience to reflect on the destructive effects of revenge and violence….. in any situation. The Spanish film describes a complex and realistic situation but it was a bit boring, probably because the main characters were only adults.
Giulia “In a better world” is a dramatic story, shot in 2010 and depicts in a very poignant way the conflicts and the emotions of two young teenagers. The main actors are Elias(Markus Rygaard) and Christian (William Johnk Nielsen). Anton, Elia’s father, is a doctor who commutes between his home in an idyllic town in Denmark, and his work at an African refugee camp. In these two very different worlds, he and his family are faced with conflicts that lead them to difficult choices between revenge and forgiveness. Anton and his wife Marianne, who have two young sons, are going through a hard time and struggling with the possibility of divorce. 5
Their older, ten years old son Elias is being bullied at school, until he is defended by Christian, a boy, who has just moved from London with his father, Claus. Christian’s mother recently lost her battle with cancer, and Christian is greatly troubled by her death. Elias and Christian quickly form a strong bond, but Christian involves Elias in a dangerous act of revenge which put their friendship at test.
I really liked this movie because it made us understand how emotions can take upper hand on people, even on young ones and make them unable to stop their impulses. We learned about an apparently quiet child who is so destroyed from within, because of the death of his mother, that he takes revenge on someone else mostly to get rid of his anger. The scene that I liked the most was the one in which the father tells the boys that violence is never the best way to get something. We have realized that too often people prefer to use violence to achieve their aims. There are a lot of young who are convinced that strength and violence are the only way. We could hardly believe about the bomb scene because in reality something like that can’t happen, but today you can take everything you want in internet. 6
The background music accompanies the scenes of the film in the proper way, they help you to predict some tragic moments and underline the dramatic effects. I think that the Danish film is more interesting than the Spanish because it deals with a more involving topic for us teenagers, while the Spanish film moves around the theme of unemployment. The theme is a big issues in Italy as well, because in this moment also in Italy unemployment is everybody’s worries, but we are not yet directly touched by it because we are lucky enough to be still at school.
Eleonora, Angela and Anna Review: In a better world In a better world is a movie full of suspense that focuses on many contemporary issues such as violence in developing countries, problems of in relationships, adolescence problems, problems within the family, conflict in school context. The story is set in two different countries, Denmark and an unmentioned poor refugee camp in Africa . The film describes the story of two families. In a family there is the father, Anton, a doctor who works in a camp in Africa where he saves the lives of many people. His wife Marianne lives in Denmark with their two sons. The oldest son, Elias is a ten years old boy and he is bullied at school. 7
In the other family, there is only a father and his son Christian. They have just moved from London after the death of Christian’s mother. Christian is shocked and desperate after his mum’s death but he transforms his sorrow into anger and rage. The movie develops around the friendship of the two young boys Elias and Christian. The friendship starts when Christian wants to protect Elias from the bullies. The link between the two boys becomes dangerous because Christian wants to revenge a violent act that a man committed towards Elias’ s father. Christian tries to build a bomb to hurt the violent man. Fortunately nobody is seriously hurt and the parents of both boys help the children to solve this complicated situation. Elias’ s father is an important character in the film because he teaches the two boys the importance of peace and tolerance and the danger and uselessness of revenge and violence. The film is riveting and meaningful. It helps the audience to reflect upon the fact that revenge is not the way to solve problems, but sometimes its destructive effects are inevitable.
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Martina In a better world is a Danish film written by Anders Thomas Jesen and directed by Susanne Bier. The main characters are Elias and Christian, two boys, and their fathers. Elias’ s father, Anton works in Africa and he’s a doctor. Elias is bullied at school. Christian ‘ s father is a business man and he has just moved from London with his son Christian who is devastated by the death of his mother. He and Elias become friend and they get involved in a situation of violence and revenge and risk their life. Elias’ s father helps also Christian to stop the desire for revenge. I liked this film because there is also some suspense and everybody should watch it because it is a lesson against violence and revenge.
Giorgia TITLE: In a better world COUNTRY: Denmark DIRECTED BY: Susanne Bier CHARACTERS: Anton, Marianne, Elias, Christian, Claus. MAIN ACTORS: Mikael Persbrandt as Anton. Anton works as a doctor among the victims of an unnamed war beaten country in Africa. When he goes back to Denmark, he has the comfort of his sons, but he feels estranged from his wife Marianne. He’s also the main confidant of his son Elias. Trine Dyrholm as Marianne. Marianne is an unhappy soul. She can’t forgive her husband for what he’s done, though she seems to love him still. She’s protective of a son who’s the victim of bullying at school, and she doesn’t really like the only friend he has. Ulrich Thomsen as Claus. Christian’s father. Claus tries to be a good father to his son after his wife’s death. Unfortunately, Christian seems to blame him for his mother’s death. Claus seems unable to understand 9
what’s going on within his son. In contrasts to Elias’ parents Claus is very cold and and distant. SETTINGS: the film is shot into two different places, Africa and a Danish city. The setting allows two different plots. One talks about violence in a refugee camp in Africa; Anton is the main character. The other talks about the adventures and the friendship between the two guys Elias and Christian in Denmark. The only character that interacts in both settings, is Anton (Elia’s father).
PLOT IN BRIEF: Anton is a doctor who commutes between his home in an idyllic town in Denmark, and his work at an African refugee camp. In these two very different worlds, he and his family are faced with conflicts that lead them to difficult choices between revenge and forgiveness. Anton and his wife Marianne, who have two young sons, are separated and struggling with the possibility of divorce. Their older, ten-yearold son Elias is being bullied at school, until he is defended by Christian, a new boy who has just moved from London with his father, Claus. Christian’s mother recently lost her battle with cancer, and Christian is still affected by her death. Elias and Christian quickly form a strong bond, but when unfortunately Christian involves Elias in a dangerous act of revenge, their 10
friendship is put at test and their lives are put in danger. Ultimately, it is their parents try to come to terms with the complexity of human emotions, pain and empathy. MESSAGE: we liked this movie a lot because it talks about adolescent, their difficulties and troubles such as the death of a parent, the anger against life, but overall, the revenge. Anton, the doctor unites the two plots and the two very different situations so that Anton is the character that tries to find a moral answer to the existential problem: is it necessary to fight the violence with other violence? Is there no other way out? COMPARISON: we think that the Spanish film represents quite well the difficult economic situation of the moment in Spain, and probably also in Italy. However, the film is too slow and the settings not very well painted, even though the actors are quite good. In the Danish film the story is very riveting and appealing, but it also suggest s a very negative side in the Danish soul. Anyway the actors, particularly the two children are very good and the message is involving.
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Liceo “Marco Belli� di Portogruaro Anno scolastico 2012/2013 12