European Film Day

3 February 2012

The European Film Day

The European Film Day is an opportunity to enthuse young people about European languages and cultures through the medium of film. Held at London's 'global university', UCL, and screened in the Bloomsbury Theatre, the day offers teachers and students in Years 10-11 the opportunity to see original-version films in a full cinema setting , with subtitles in English.

Accompanying workshops for the first two films, run by UCL academics, allow a limited number of registered groups to discuss aspects of the country's history, culture and politics as portrayed in each film, while exploring the medium of film itself. Teaching materials for these two films will be made available to all those who register for the screening, which will also be introduced by a UCL academic. 

Films

Pan's Labryinth (El laberinto del fauno, Guillermo del Toro, 2006)
In post-civil war fascist Spain 1944, the bookish young stepdaughter of a sadistic army officer escapes into an eerie but captivating fantasy world. Ofelia travels with her pregnant and sick mother Carmen Vidal to the country to live with her stepfather, Captain Vidal, in an old mill. During the night, she meets a fairy who takes her to an old faun in the centre of the labyrinth. He tells her she's a princess, but must prove her royalty by surviving three gruesome tasks. If she fails, she will never prove herself to be a true princess and will never see her real father, the king, again.           

The Wave (Die Welle, Dennis Gansel, 2008)
Germany. Today. When Rainer Wegner, a popular high school teacher, finds himself relegated to teaching autocracy as part of the school's project week, he devises an unorthodox experiment. But his hastily conceived lesson in social orders and the power of unity soon grows a life of its own. Probing the underpinnings of fascism, The Wave is a gripping drama that cuts through superficial ideological interrogatives and aims to uncover human psychology and individual behaviours that contribute to collective movements. Based on a real-world experiment in the US, the film lays bare the terrifying irony that these students may welcome the very things they denounce.

The Class (Entre les murs,Laurent Cantet, 2008)
Winner of the Palme d'Or at Cannes, this is an autobiographical film about a young teacher reaching out to a troubled class of underprivileged kids. François and his fellow teachers prepare for a new year at a high school in a tough neighbourhood. Cultures and attitudes often clash in the classroom, a microcosm of contemporary France. François' classroom ethics are put to the test when his students begin to challenge his methods.

Registration

All activities on the day are free of charge but registration is required. 

Workshops:
All workshops are now fully booked. For further information, aplease contact european.institute@ucl.ac.uk.

Screenings:
We take bookings for all three screenings in the Bloomsbury Theatre, which will be introduced by a UCL academic. Please book your place below. Please note: this event is for schools, teachers and university staff and students only.

Campus Tour:
Please contact us for further information if you are interested in a Campus Tour.

Organised in cooperation with Routes into Languages and Film Education.