Films Features • Short Films • Documentairies • Film Study Teaching Guide

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Feature Films

Ali Zaoua – Prince of the Street
France/Belgium/Morocco 2000 (Arab with subtitles in English) 90 min
Director: Nabil Ayouch
film study guide (french)

Ali, Kouka, Omar and Boubker are a group of chemkaras or street kids living in Casablanca. Their everyday lives are fi lled with violence, begging, prostitution and neglect. The boys seek refuge together in sniffi ng glue, as they daydream of sailing away to an imaginary island with two suns and no problems. When Ali, the leader, is senselessly killed by a rival gang, the three grieving survivors seek to give him the burial of a prince, as Ali’s island represented hope in the midst of horror and despair. The street has a power that is both tragic and lyrical, a power that is maintained by the imagination of these children.—Nabil Ayouch. This fi lm will generate discussion on human rights, global responsibilities and the power of the human spirit to sustain hope. Suggested for grades 9 to 12

The Blue Umbrella / Chatri Chor
India 2007 (Hindi with English subtitles), 90 mins.
Director: Vishal Bharadwaj

A huge success in India, this evocative film offers an interesting adaptation of the colonial era children’s book of the same name by Ruskin Bond. A combination of stunning cinematography, vibrant colour and a touch of Bollywood will transport your students to an exotic world where a young girl learns about the responsibility that comes with the ability to make choices. This beautiful fable explores the inherent power of ownership, the pitfalls of covetousness and the value of sharing. A wonderful opportunity for students to explore music from another country. Suggested for grades 4-8

Butterflies / Pirret
Sweden 2007 (Swedish with English subtitles), 52 mins.
Director: Kjell-Åke Andersson

Who hasn’t dreamed of flying? But what if it really happened to you…? One day, six-year-old Sara discovers that she can fly. But it proves to be a capricious capacity, coming to her only sporadically when she gets the sensation of butterflies in her stomach. Sarah’s worried mother takes her to the hospital. Amidst mad-scientist doctors and other mayhem, Sara befriends a very ill little boy, to whom she gives a toy airplane before she goes home. This film portrays the imagination of a child coming to terms with her differences from others, who in the process experiences profound joy and hope. Suggested for grades 1- 4

Max Minsky and Me / Max Minsky und ich
Germany 2007 (German with English subtitles), 99 mins.
Director: Anna Justice

Nelly Sue Edelmeister has a hopeless crush on handsome Prince Edouard from Luxemburg. Then she meets basketball ace Max Minsky, her last hope for making the school team before it heads off to the championships in Luxemburg where Prince Edouard will officiate the game. Meanwhile, Nelly is forced to deal with her parents’ decision to separate, and Max with his father’s rejection. To make matters worse, Nelly and her mother disagree about whether she should celebrate her bat mitzvah. It is the friendship and loyalty between the two children that sustains them through these difficult times as they discover the mixed blessings they receive from their families. Suggested for grades 4-8

Mukhsin / Mukhsin
Malaysia 2006 (Malay with English subtitles) 94 mins.
Director: Yasmin Ahmad

Orked is ten. Mukhsin is twelve. They are the best of friends. Until…Mukhsin falls in love with Orked. «What happens when your very best friend - someone with whom you've been learning to do cool best-friend things like climbing trees, flying kites, riding bicycles and even getting into fights with other kids - starts to develop romantic notions about you?» asks the film’s director. This tender and moving story of first love by an accomplished Malaysian filmmaker is an intimate portrait of two young people whose beautiful friendship seems threatened by the equally beautiful feelings of love. Suggested for grades 7 and 8

We Shall Overcome / Drommen
Denmark 2006 (Danish with English subtitles), 105 min
Director: Niels Arden Oplev

Frits has fallen out of favour with the headmaster of his school. The year is 1969 and the world is changing rapidly. Corporal punishment has been banned, but the tyrannical headmaster hasn’t bothered to notice. Frits spends his summer holidays watching the family’s fi rst television, and is infl uenced by the winds of change. Watching Martin Luther King’s speeches, where he talks of his dreams of a better world, gives Frits the courage to rebel. The next time the headmaster steps over the line, Frits reports him to the authorities. Based on a true story, the fi lm off ers an excellent introduction to the infl uence of media in the pursuit of human rights and individual empowerment. Suggested for grades 9 to 12

Where is Winky’s Horse? / Waar is het paard van Sinterklaas?
Netherlands 2007 (Dutch with English subtitles) 94 mins.
Director: Mischa Kamp

A sequel to the 2007 hit, Winky’s Horse, this film picks up the story several months later as nine-year-old Winky, a Chinese immigrant living in the Netherlands, prepares for the arrival of a new baby in her family. She is charged with caring for Saint Nicklaus’ horse, and dreams continually of the day when she would be big enough to ride it. Seeking to make her dream a reality, Winky learns a hard lesson when she betrays the trust of her friends, the stable owners. Suggested for grades K-5

Short Films

Animated shorts from Caméra enfants admis
Belgium, various years (No dialogue) 60 mins.

On March 14, Jean-Luc Slock, guest artist from Belgium and Founding Director of Caméra enfants admis, will present a collection of animated short films made by film professionals with the help of children and teens. These shorts offer a look at various filmmaking techniques as well as specific themes, such as human rights. A complete listing of films will be available online at www.freezeframeonline.org. This screening can be combined with a two-hour workshop on basic stop-motion animation technique, led by our other Belgian guest artist, Delphine Hermans. Suggested for grades 3 to 8

Short Film Collection
From experimental to documentary, his collection takes
you through a wide range of styles and themes. An
audience Q & A with filmmaker Mike Maryniuk follows
the screening. Suggested for children aged 11+.

Sleeping Betty
Canada 2007 without words) 9:14 min. Director: Claude Cloutier film study guide
Princess Betty sleeps in a narcoleptic stupor. The king appeals to his subjects to wake her.

Aboriginality
Canada 2007 English and Cree) 5 min. Director: Dominique Keller
Dance and animation with English and Cree spoken word rap.

Flutter
Canada 2007 without words) min. Director: Howie Shia
Striking drawings, electronic music and jazz come together to recount the adventures of a student that escapes from class to explore the city.

Fragile
France 1998 without words) in.,,
Director: Daniel Wiroth
A classic love story retold with beer glass, wine glass and champagne flute glasses in a bar.

Mclaren ’s Negatives
Canada 2006 English with French subtitles)10 min Director: Marie-Josée Saint-Pierre
An intimate look at cinematographic creation, this visual essay shares secrets of the legendary Canadian animator Norman McLaren and his personal view of filmmaking.

Stop Tattoo
Canada 2007 without words
Director: Mike Maryniuk
A hand-made experimental using temporary tattoos.

Yellow Sticky Notes
Canada 2007 English) min. Director: Jeff Chiba Stearns
synopsis and about the director
A personal exploration juxtaposing the apparent urgency of the yellow sticky note with world events.

Matapos – An African History
France 2006 without words) 8 min. Director: Stéphanie Mucharet
A blind boy mistakes thorn bush for a monster. His grandfather comes to his rescue and together they make a flute of the thorn bush demonstrating that good can come of difficulty.

Tour the World
Various countries and years (English or no dialogue) 50 mins.

This collection of animated shorts from across the globe provides a variety of perspectives and uses traditional and 3D techniques to tell their story. An audience Q&A with Izabela Bzymek follows each screening. Suggested for children aged 6 + (grades 3 to 8).

Oma ’s Quilt
Canada 2007 English) 2 min.
Director: Izabela Bzymek film study guide
A young child finds a charming solution to preserve her grandmother’s treasures then she must move to a small apartment. An audience Q&A with Izabela Bzymek will follow the screening.

Maq and the Spirit of the Woods
Canada 2007 English) : 8 min. 30 sec Director: Phyllis Grant
A young Mi’gmaq boy learns valuable lesson about spirituality and sharing. From the National Film Board of Canada Talespinners Collection.

Memory Loss
Taiwan 007 (Taiwanese with English subtitles) 5 min.
Director: Gloria Ao
A young girl is angry with her mother and tries to forget her. In a 3D dreamscape of scary trees and monsters she discovers the importance of memory.

Aboriginality
Canada 2007 English and Cree) 5 min.
Director: Dominique Keller
Dance and animation with English and Cree spoken word rap.

A Giraffe in the Rain / une giraffe sous a pluie
Belgium France 2007 French with English subtitles, live narration 2 min. Director: Pascale Hecquet
A giraffe, tired of serving a wealthy and ungrateful boss, seeks a better life in a strange country with odd customs. He soon finds friends to welcome him. Modern tale of immigration and acceptance.

Shorts for shorts
Various countries (without words, English or French) 45 mins. A collection of animated shorts selected for the youngest movie-lovers.in the audience Q&A with Izabela Bzymek follows the screening on March 21, 11:00 am at Cinematheque. Suggested for children aged 3+.

Oma ’s Quilt
Canada 2007 English) 2 min. Director: Izabela Bzymek film study guide
A young child finds a charming solution to preserve her grandmother’s treasures then she must move to a small apartment. An audience Q&A with Izabela Bzymek will follow the screening.

The Sand Castle
Canada 1977 without words) 13:112 min.
Director: Co Hoedeman
This award-winning classic is lyrical adventure in and play.

Maq and the Spirit of the Woods
Canada 2007 English) :8 min. 30 secDirector: Phyllis Grant
A young Mi’gmaq boy learns valuable lesson about spirituality and sharing. From the National Film Board of Canada Talespinners Collection.

The Whistler
Belgium 002 (without words) :440 min.
Director: Jean-Luc Slock
An exploration of communication amongst different cultures.

Banjo Frogs
Australia 998 (without words) min.
Director: Nick Hilligoss
A past favourite at Freeze Frame, this film chronicles a musical friendship.

 

Pipi Pupu and Rosemary
France 2007 English) min. Director: Anzo Allo
A pilot for a new series featuring three friends that try to save a fish frozen in a lake.

 

Suggested for ages 3 to 6 years

Documentaries

Hannah’s Story
Canada 2007 (English) 29 mins. Director: Juanita Peters
film study guide

We are used to stories where children benefit from the wisdom and care of their elders. But, this is a story of a young girl whose selfless work has been an inspiration to adults all over the world. Hannah Taylor of Winnipeg is well recognized for her work to bring awareness to the plight of the homeless and the hungry through the establishment of the Ladybug Foundation. Under Hannah’s leadership, the charity has raised over a million dollars for those lacking life’s basic essentials. Filmmaker Juanita Peters will present the Manitoban premiere of this engaging documentary that will inspire young and old to examine their own contributions to those in need. A two-hour workshop is being offered in conjunction with this screening (space will be limited). Suggested for grades 4 to 8

Fair Trade / Vers un commerce équitable
France 1999 (English, French and Spanish with English sub titles) 47 min Directors: Martine Bouquin & Jean Lefaux film study guide

As the planet gets richer, the Southern countries remain stuck in a vicious circle of poverty and exclusion from the global market. In this neoliberal economy with its random market ups and downs, some people have decided to right the balance between producers and consumers. This documentary gives cocoa producers an opportunity to speak out and asks us to consider “fair trade” as an alternative direction for the global economy, based on more people-friendly rules and values. Includes post-screening speakers. Suggested for grades 9 to 12

The Manitoba Council for International Cooperation (MCIC) is a coalition of 36 organizations involved in international development.An independent non-profit organization, MCIC distributes Government of Manitoba funds designated for international development and relief and rehabilitation and works within Manitoba to build understanding and engagement on international issues.

Fair Trade Manitoba, an MCIC program, is a coalition of individuals, organizations and businesses that promotes public awareness and sales of fair trade products. Each year, Fair Trade Manitoba produces a consumer guide listing fair trade products and retailers in Manitoba, and promotes fair trade through events like the One-Month Challenge.

Post-screening speakers will be: Vivian Gosselin, a volunteer with Fair Trade Manitoba.
Misty Belcourt, Youth Engagement Coordinator for the Manitoba Council for International Cooperation.

Freeze Frame
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