Enrichment Opportunity for Second Quarter
This quarter, we will watch a film together called G-d Grew Tired of Us. I hope that we will be touched by their trials and tribulations, and I hope that our perceptions will be challenged. Whether or not we were aware of the situation in Sudan is inconsequential; the importance of the Lost Boys is that they exposed us to the humanity in all of us, regardless of our background, social class, or where we live.
Your enrichment this quarter is to find your own documentary film that either challenges one of your perceptions or focuses on a topic you’re interested in but know little about and watch it. You get to choose the film. Then, freewrite (at least 2 pages, MLA) about it. The prompt is as follows: write about something from this film that makes you think. Be specific to the perceptions it challenges or the information it provides. Make connections. Show your thought process.
There are a couple of ways to find a film you might like. If you are a member of Netflix or Blockbuster (or any other movie rental place), you can either browse online or in the store until you find something that looks good to you. If you prefer something nominated for an Oscar, you can search the Oscar website – you’re looking for feature films, not shorts. The following website is also a great source; it even has many feature length documentaries available for free and highlights different subjects on different days. Here is the address: http://www.snagfilms.com/
If you still don’t know what you might like to see, here are some films that I personally like:
Four Little Girls
Born into Brothels
Devil’s Playground
March of the Penguins
Dogtown and Z-Boys
Grizzly Man
Skid Row
Which Way Home
Surfwise
An Inconvenient Truth
Please don’t forget that some of these films are rated R. If you choose one that is, you must attach a note granting you permission to watch, and it must be signed by a parent or guardian. And PLEASE – don’t limit yourself to Michael Moore. I know he’s popular, but that doesn’t mean he’s the best. Remember that there’s tons more out there.
Enjoy.