Genre
Documentary

Synopsis
This film follows the life and work of Cynthia Hunt, director of Health, Environment and Literacy in the Himalayas (HEALTH). We follow her through her tireless and gruelling days in the small villages of Ladakh, in Northern India, her spirited campaign to raise health awareness and her writing and illustrating books for the Ladakhi children. Through the Hunt we see the not only the Himalaya’s beauty, but the beauty of their people, and witness how much difference one person’s efforts can make.

Key Themes
Global Responsibility
Education
Humanitarianism
Purpose
Disadvantage
Industrialization

Questions/Discussion Before the Film
• What do you think the title The Magic Mountain reveals about the film? Why do you think the makers of the film chose to call the mountain magic?
• How would you feel growing up in the Himalayas? List five good things and five bad things you think growing up in the Himalayas would provide.
• Cynthia Hunt is a Canadian who was born and raised in a comfortable and stable country. Why might she forego the luxuries of Canada or a different job for the job she has with the Ladakhi people?
[Intro to different kinds of shots and framing vocabulary relevant to the film… I'm lacking in this.]

Things to Think About When Watching the Film
• The filmmaker used different shots and angles to give different feelings parts of the film. Did you notice any repetition? Some of the shots were very breathtaking (i.e. landscapes), whilst others depicted Cynthia’s everyday work (i.e. writing reports in the city). Did you find the mix of shots complimentary and realistic? Why or why not?
• The Ladakhi people depend greatly on the environment for their survival. The effects of global warming have had a serious and unavoidable effect on their lifestyles. What would it be like if your livelihood and transportation depended so directly on the environment? What efforts would you make if this were the case?
• Can you think of any other adventures similar to those of Cynthia Hunt’s? If you were to work in a foreign country helping local people where would you go and what would you do?

Questions/Discussion After Screening
• What were the main themes of the film? Use examples from the film to demonstrate at least three major themes. Did you find any of these themes particularly important to you personally? Why or why not.
• What do you think the most important scene of the film was? What made it so powerful? Describe why you think it was important as well as what techniques were used to create and emphasize its importance: narrative, action, music, sound, lighting, camera work, framing and editing should be considered.
• If you had to eliminate one scene from the film, which would it be? Why would you choose that scene? What do you think would be lost from or change in the film by eliminating that theme?
• What scene was your particular favourite? Briefly describe what you thought the funniest, scariest and saddest scenes in the film were, and what made them this way.
• If you were to recommend The Magic Mountain to a friend, why would you recommend it and what would you tell them?

Exercises/Activities
• Write a review of the film, 300-400 words long.
• Create a storyboard to the next scene after the film ended. What happened to the characters? Pick at least three characters and describe what happens to them afterward.
• Write a letter from the point of view of one character to that of another.
• Think of another film (or book) with similar themes and compare how the two films examined the issue and dealt with the issue. Were they similar or did they treat the issue very differently? Which film did you think better represented the theme/issue?
• Write about the film as if it were an event in a newspaper, a fairy tale or myth, or a personal diary of events that had happened to you!
• Draw a map of what you think the location might have looked like.
• Make a character sketch explaining how their appearance represents their character.
• Create a scene broken down into a sequence of six (6) pictures