Film review

Last edited by Dr. Currin on July 2018

Film Analysis

SEE GRADING RUBRIC AT THE END OF THIS DOCUMENT

Summary of film

· Provide a full reference (APA style) for your film at the beginning of your paper. See the end of this document for example of referencing a movie in APA style or follow this link. Click here .

· Provide a short summary of the plot and a description of the major disability issues addressed in the film.

· Describe any character or role that epitomizes the issue(s) being addressed.

Critique of the film:

Answer the following questions (number each response) to report your analysis (your thoughts and reflections). Write each section heading and then fully answer in paragraph format. Use the following headings in your paper.

A. APA Reference of the film

B. Summary of Film: Provide a short summary of the plot, important characters and a description of the major disability issues addressed in the film.

C. Emotional Response: Describe your emotional, intellectual and behavioral responses. For example, how did this movie make you feel or think? What did you want to do after viewing the film?

D. Portrayal: Explain whether the person(s) with a disability was portrayed as ordinary people, as super- or sub-human, or were they stereotyped. For example, were they viewed as

· an object of pity (someone to feel sad or sorry for, less fortunate)

· a burden or in need of charity (needing help)

· a menace or an object of dread (feared, scary, made you/others anxious)

· an object of ridicule (humorous, silly, laughable)

· subhuman (less than human, a “vegetable”, animal like, defective)

· sick (diseased, something “wrong”)

· holy innocent (with a special protection from God, without the ability to understand evil)

· sexual deviate (sexual pervert or asexual)

E. Filmmaking: What do you think the filmmaker was trying to say about people with disabilities? (Were there values or stereotypes that the filmmaker subtly or not so subtly, reinforced?) Give examples to support your interpretation of the filmmaker’s intention. If this film reported on historical discrimination, do you think this discrimination is still present today?

F. Images: Discuss how the story line included images of how the person(s) with a disability were portrayed. For example, were they portrayed as having

· inherent strengths

· expectations (Did they have dreams? Were they allowed or encouraged to “dream”? Were they supported in achieving these dreams?)

· relationships (Did they have personal connections to others: friends, family, others in their lives?)

· positive contribution (Did they contribute to their family, circle of friends, community, school and/or job, etc.?)

· full citizenship (Were they seen as worthy and having the same rights and opportunities to participate “in the American life” as others?)

· choices (Were they allowed / encouraged to have some direction in their own lives? To have and express preferences? Was self-determination promoted?)

G. Personal Introspection: What are your ideas about people who are “different” from the norm (or are “at risk”) that ties into this movie? What connection can you make to what you've experienced or learned?

· Do you think other people (who have not had this class) would have a more positive attitude about people with disabilities after viewing this film? Why or why not?

H. Cultural Response: What did you learn about our culture's way of responding to people with differences?

· Did you watch this movie with someone else? If so, who? What were their perceptions of the portrayal of diversity in this film?

Motion Picture

APA example

Basic reference list format:

Producer, P. P. (Producer), & Director, D. D. (Director). (Date of publication). Title of motion picture [Motion picture]. Country of origin: Studio or distributor.

Note: If a movie or video tape is not available in wide distribution, add the following to your citation after the country of origin: (Available from Distributor name, full address and zip code).

Disability Films

Approved and not approved

DSCLAIMER: Neither Dr. Currin nor Texas A&M Commerce makes any claim, rating or guarantee about the content of any of the following films. The list has been compiled from several sources including films known to the instructor, films used by other universities for similar assignments, and films listed for inclusion in disability /diversity studies by film producers and advertisers. They have NOT been screened and may contain explicit content. Before you select and watch a film, please research it for content that might be offensive to you (sexual content; sexual orientation, religious orientation, violence, language, etc.).

These films have been specifically chosen to give you an introduction into some of the issues we discuss in this class. If you would like to suggest another movie about schooling or disability, contact the instructor by e-mail. Any deviation from this list must be approved by the instructor in advance.

The important elements regarding selecting a film is that it must show educational struggles, home and social environmental settings experienced by the student/child with the disability.

Films about schooling

· Waiting for Superman

· Freedom Writers

Films about disabilities

· Temple Grandin (the movie) Highly Recommended

· My Left Foot

· Precious

· The Miracle Worker

· F.A.T. City (not Return to F.A.T. City)

The following films WILL NOT be approved (due to lack of sufficient content on the topic of disability for you to receive a good grade for analysis)

· Sling blade

· What’s Eating Gilbert Grape

· The Color Purple

· Back in Business

· None of the Harry Potter movies

You must have the following headings in your paper:

A. The Film

B. Summary of Film

C. Emotional Response

D. Portrayal

E. Filmmaking

F. Images

G. Personal Introspection

H. Cultural Response

I. Closure

SEE RUBRIC ON NEXT PAGE

Rubric-Film Analysis

	Important Guidelines	Teacher’s Comments	Available Points	Earned Points
A	The Film: APA Reference of the film		3
B	Summary of Film:		5
	Provide a short summary of the plot, important characters and a description of the major disability issues addressed in the film.
C	Emotional Response:		5
	Describe your emotional, intellectual and behavioral responses. For example, how did this movie make you feel or think? What did you want to do after viewing the film?
D	Portrayal:		5
	Explain whether the person(s) with a disability was portrayed as ordinary people, as super- or sub-human, or were they stereotyped. For example, were they viewed as an object of pity (someone to feel sad or sorry for, less fortunate)
E	Filmmaking:		5
	What do you think the filmmaker was trying to say about people with disabilities? (Were there values or stereotypes that the filmmaker subtly or not so subtly, reinforced?)
	Give 2 examples to support your interpretation of the filmmaker’s intention. If this film reported on historical discrimination, do you think this discrimination is still present today?
F	Images: This section is worth 15 points. Be sure to cover all aspects below.		15
	I. Discuss how the story line included images of how the person(s) with a disability were portrayed. For example, were they portrayed as having…
	· inherent strengths · expectations (Did they have dreams? · Were they allowed or encouraged to “dream”? Were they supported in achieving these dreams?) · relationships (Did they have personal connections to others: friends, family, others in their lives?) · positive contribution (Did they contribute to their family, circle of friends, community, school, job, etc.?) · full citizenship (Were they seen as worthy and having the same rights and opportunities to participate “in the American life” as others?) · choices (Were they allowed / encouraged to have some direction in their own lives? To have and express preferences? Was self-determination promoted?)
G	Personal Introspection:		7
	What are your ideas about people who are “different” from the norm (or are “at risk”) that ties into this movie? What connection can you make to what you've experienced or learned?
	Do you think other people (who have not had this class) would have a more positive attitude about people with disabilities after viewing this film? Why or why not?
H	Cultural Response:		5
	What did you learn about our culture's way of responding to people with differences?
	Did you watch this movie with someone else? If so, who? What were their perceptions of the portrayal of diversity in this film?
I	Closure: How will this assignment influence your teaching in the future?		2
		Total Points	52
	Sentence Structure, Mechanical Errors, and Vocabulary Choice: Pertains to knowing and correctly applying the basic rules of grammar, punctuation, syntax, and spelling, and varying sentence structure when appropriate. Pertains to the rich and effective use of language for graduate level. Includes appropriate citations and references for all sources used.

*Floating points are points deducted anywhere APA errors exist.

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