Short Film Umbrella
Films give us the opportunity to see the world from a different perspective and help us develop a better understanding of what others think and feel. Although the short film Umbrella is not
primarily an account of the refugee experience, it helps us to understand what it means to be a refugee child. The inspiring story evokes empathy and touches the hearts of viewers young and
old.
The animated film by Brazilian filmmakers Helena Hilario & Mario Pece is based on a true story experienced by Hilario's sister. It is about Joseph, a boy in an orphanage who meets a little
girl with a yellow umbrella who brings back memories of his father. The film has been nominated in several film festivals and has won several awards. According to Hilario, “We always wanted to make a film without dialogue and use animation, music, and the
narrative itself to evoke deep emotions and reflections.”(Cartoon Brew Connect)
Exploiting the film in the classroom
Umbrella
is suitable for students at different levels in the EFL classroom because it has no spoken
dialogues and the tasks can be adapted to the students’ level. The following example shows how the film can be used as a lead-in to the topic of refugees.
Pre-viewing task
Ask students to describe an object that is special to them and explain what
makes it special.
While-viewing task
Ask students to pay attention to the following questions while watching the film:
- Who are the protagonists?
- Where does the action take place?
- What happens in the course of the film?
- How does the story end?
-
How does the film make you feel?
After watching the film, ask the last question first. Next, students fill in a story map based on the above questions. A template can be downloaded here:
https://www.educationworld.com/tools_templates/template_StoryMap.doc
After finishing the task, students give feedback in the plenary or in small groups depending on the class size. In this way, they can compare their interpretations of the story.
Post-viewing activities
For lower-level students:
Ask students or pairs of students to write a short summary in the present tense for a friend based on the story map and to comment on the film. When they are finished, they can share their stories in small groups and revise them by correcting each other and adding details.
Facts about refugees
The little boy Joseph portrayed in the short film Umbrella is just one of many people who are a refugee. Ask students to have a look at the statistics on refugees on the following website:
https://www.unhcr.org/figures-at-a-glance.html
What facts surprise you?
Do you know any refugees? What is their story?
Find out some information about refugees in your town and talk about it in the next session.
For higher-level students (from level B2):
Ask students to take the viewpoint of one of the characters in the film and write an account of the story from the his or her point of view (in the past tense). Those students who have described the same point of view can share and revise their stories. Finally, some or all the stories are shared in mixed groups or in the plenary depending on the size of the group.
What is a refugee?
Ask students how they would define a refugee. According to the 1951 Refugee Convention, a refugee is “someone who is unable or unwilling to return to their country of origin owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion.”
Facts about refugees
Ask students to read the information on the following website:
10 FACTS ABOUT REFUGEES 2020 - UNHCR
https://www.unhcr.org/cy/wp-content/uploads/sites/41/2021/01/10-facts-about-refugees-1-Aug-2020_ENG.pdf
Which facts are probably true for Joseph, the boy in the short film?
Do you know any refugees? What is their story?
Find out some information about refugees in your town and talk about it in the next session.
Umbrella at a glance
|
Title |
Umbrella |
|
Release date |
December 25, 2020 |
|
Genre
|
Animation |
|
Screenwriters and directors |
Helena Hilario, Mario Pece |
|
Music |
Gabriel Dib |
|
Synopsis |
The story of a boy who lives in an orphanage and whose memories are evoked by a yellow umbrella
|
|
Culture portrayed |
A universal story related to the refugee experience
|
|
Important aspects |
Refugee experience, traumatic experience of loss
|
|
Language |
No spoken dialogues
|
|
Production company |
StratoStorm |
|
Country of production |
Brazil |
|
Length |
8 minutes
|
|
Available |
on YouTube |
|
More information |
http://www.umbrella.movie/
|
Kommentar schreiben