Waking Ned Divine (1998)

Here the questions for Waking Ned Divine. Answer two of them:

• What is the theme of the film? Back up your opinion with three examples.
• What did you learn about Irish culture from the film?
• What about that moment when the minor drinks or the big reveal about who said minor's father is? The characters in the movie don't seem to have the same moral qualms with those moments as we do. Why do you think that is? Kudos to anyone who does some cultural research to find out how these actions would be seen in real rural Ireland.

Strange Brew (1983)

What do I say about Strange Brew? It's a strange brew of a movie. Answer two of the following questions:

- What is the theme of Strange Brew? Back up your opinion with three specific examples.
- What did you learn from Strange Brew about Canadian culture?
- Do you think this silly movie is good or bad for the world?

So, get to it, hosers!

First Movie at Home

Remember that you have a homework assignment to watch a movie at home by Tuesday, December 18, 2012. After you watch the film, comment below.

In your response, start by stating what film you watched and what country it is from. Do not write any plot summary but do answer all of the following questions:

• What is the theme of the film? Back up your response with at least three examples from the film.
• How did the film help you better understand the culture of the country in which the film was made?
• After seeing the film, what questions do you plan on asking the person from the country you will interview?

Extra Credit

So, you think you deserve extra credit?!

Well then, you better watch a film from another country above and beyond what is required in class and then write about it in a comment below.

And when you write about it, you gotta' answer at least two of the following questions:

- What is the theme of the film of the film? Back up your opinion with three examples.

- What did you learn from the film that helps you understand the culture of the country in which it was made?

- After watching the film, what questions do you have about the culture of the country in which it was made? (I'll give you even more extra credit if you do research, find answers to those questions, and report on it in your post.)

- What did you notice about how the film uses color? What do the colors symbolize?

Canadian Short Films

Visit the website www.nfb.ca and watch at least three movies. Only one of the movies can be from the home page. The other two must be found on the site but not on the home page. Pick the one short film that you find which you like best and post a link to it in the comments below. Then, also write why you liked this film, which purposes of Canadian film that you feel it fulfills, and what you learned about the style of Canadian films by visiting this site.

Lars and the Real Girl (2007)

Lars and the Real Girl is the most clean movie about a man and his sex doll that you will ever see and that is the genius of it! I hope you all had a wonderful, cathartic experience with this beautiful awkward movie.

I hope you also were able to see it as an example of the kind of story that can be told within Canada's state sponsored film system which would never be produced by Hollywood.

I hope you also enjoyed the wonderful performances of Ryan Gosling and Bianca ;)

As always, please answer the following question:

• For you, what is the most prominent theme of this movie? Back up your opinion with three examples from the film.

Then, answer one of the following questions or respond to something someone else has already said:

• Which purpose(s) of the Canadian Film Board do you feel this film fulfills?
• How is this film different than typical Hollywood movies? How is it similar?

Iron Monkey (1993)

Iron Monkey was the flagship international film of our class. I hope you enjoyed it for all it's Hong Kong gender-blending and awesome fight scenes. I hope it was also a pleasurable adventure in other-culture explorational that helped you become a better world citizen.

In the comments below, first answer the following question:

• In your humble (or not so humble) opinion, what is the theme of Iron Monkey. Provide three examples from the film that illustrate this theme.

Now, answer one of the following questions or respond to something someone else has commented about the film:

• How did the cultural research we did in class prepare you to enjoy this film more?
• Since watching the film, what additional cultural research have you done that has helped you appreciate the film more? Please share it with us for the benefit of all.
• How did this film help you become a better world citizen?