apeurofinalfilmassignment

AP Euro Film Assignment 2018

This isn’t extra credit, but it should be a way to enhance your grade. Over spring break you are required to watch ONE of the following historically based films. (Yes, I know it's not extra credit--just an easy A, I hope.) You must choose from the list below.

You must write a one-page reflection that should include the following: 1. Specific story of the film and its connection to historical events we've studied in class. Be sure to discuss how historical figures are portrayed and what point you think the director/writer is trying to make. I've seen all these films, so don't recount the story. Tell me how it connects to history. Be sure to review your notes when you do this. 2. Tell me what you enjoyed most about the film and tell me what perspective the director/writer had of the historic event. Don't complain about actors and such. Think about how the film portrays a historical event/period. Look at many of the examples in Spielvogel for examples on how to do the first part. Read a film review in the paper for an example on how to do the latter half.

To ensure that you don't just read a summary on wikipedia or some other website, I will quiz you verbally about your film, so be sure to watch it carefully and be able to answer all my questions.

Make sure that you have parental permission to watch each of these films; some are rated PG-13, others R and may be unsuitable for you.

Due on the day we return from Spring Break

15 points total

Films for this assignment:

__Reformation__ Luther (2003) Martin Luther—The Protestant Reformation (nothing questionable)

__Imperialism:__ Gandhi (1982) British Imperialism (very clean).

__WWI:__ [|Joyeux Noel] (could have questionable material--it's European, after all)

__Irish Independence:__ [|The Wind that Shakes the Barley] (stars an actor from Inception--violent a bit, but what film about Ireland and its independence is not?) I don't recommend this film unless you're really interested in Irish history. There's a lot of dialogue. Similar to Land and Freedom, which isn't a surprise as it's done by the same director.

__Spanish Civil War:__ [|Land and Freedom] (fairly clean, but I'll warn you it's heavy on dialogue and most students don't like it as much as I do)

__WWII (Most of these are about resistance):__ [|Sophie Scholl: The Final Days] (clean) [|Army of Crime] (violent) [|Casablanca] (very clean) Max Manus (violent, some questionable content) The Pianist (Best film having to do with the plight of Jews and, peripherally, the Holocaust. It's really sad, as if none of these films is.) [|Defiance (Polish Resistance fighters)] Downfall--Hitler's last days (Compelling, but dark. Consider the subject matter.)

__Cold War__ [|Lives of Others] (some questionable content--one awkward scene--but otherwise a brilliant film) [|Goodbye Lenin] (one questionable scene in a video store)

These are all fantastic films. My personal favorites are Land and Freedom, Casablanca, Sophie Scholl, and Lives of Others and Goodbye Lenin. Heck, I love 'em all!