From Fılms to realıtıes
The Turkish center was in charge of looking for films, articles and documentaries about the giftedness and prepared the film forum sessions throughout the project.
Movie Sessions of Dealing with Gifted Education Project
"Cinema is the greatest mirror of humanity's struggle. You see this alternative world. But you are part of it. Everybody is part of it. This is our world."
Lav Diaz
When we started the project we decided to add a movie session to the each meeting. As famous director Lav Diaz had said we watched many alternative worlds about giftedness all together. We had been a part of their lives. We witnessed their challenges and we shared their emotions. We cried ,we laughed and we learned.
H.Sefa Akseki
Film sessions Coordinator
20.07.2021. İzmir
1. Film forum in ALCALA DE HENARES
Movie: "BILLY ELIOT"
At the first meeting of project we watched the story of Billy Eliot, a boy who wants to be a ballet. After we watched the film we dissussed the film with the questions below
*What is the real nature of the prejudice against ballet shown by Billy's father and brother? What other examples of prejudice are there? To what extent are these prejudices still alive and well in our society? Which are we guilty of?
*How does Billy's struggle parallel, or contrast with, the struggle of the strikingminers?
*In the scene after the row between Billy's father and Mrs Wilkinson, we see Billy dancing in the outside WC and along the streets before crashing into a fence. *How is Billy's dancing here a metaphor for his situation
* What has Billy gained through making it to the Royal Ballet School? Has he lost anything along the way? Do you think he has really discovered who he is?
- What feelings do the sequences of Billy dancing evoke?
- Billy is trying to 'be himself' or discover who he really is. How far does your cultures encourage this ?
2. Film forum in VOLOS. GREECE
Movie: "GIFTED"
At the second meeting in Volos Greece we watched the touching story of a girl who has got a superior math skill...We discussed some questions evaluating the recognition of gifted students, the difficulties they face in life, and how to deal with these difficulties. The questions below were discussed by the five groups and that the results were shared by each group..
*What you have observed in the child about being gifted ?
*What problems has the child got as a gifted child and just as a child
*What are the factors that support and hinder the child?
*What are your observations about the school principal and t the acher?
*What would you do if you were the teacher of a child like in the movie?
3. Film forum inİZMİR MEETING-TURKEY
Movie: "WHIPLASH"
Wednesday 5th May 2019
"Our morning was dedicated to a film session and further debate about it. To create some atmosphere, the school band played a few songs. It was an amazing performance. The film was "Whiplash" about a young drummer at a prestigious conservatory, his dream-obsession to be the best and the odd relation with his teacher and his peculiar methods.
We worked in teams to discuss the movie from different points of view"
The Romanian Team published the film session at our Project Diaries with the words above. These were the questions of each subgroup..
- Interpret Andrew Neiman according to his talents. What are his talents that can be identified as giftedness?
- Fletcher (the teacher) says "People misunderstand me. My main goal is to challenge people to go beyond their boundaries and let them to do do more." Evaluate what Fletcher is doing to his students to challange them?
- In order to stand out a potential, is it necessary to have driving outer forces like Fletcher?
- If you would be the teacher, how would you treat such a student?
- Can you interpret parent attitudes in the movie?
- How do the competiton among the students (all talented) affect them? Is it something positive to experience?
4. Film forum in TALLINN MEETING-ESTONIA
Movie: "LA FAMILIE BELIER"
In our fourth meeting we watched a French Film named "La familie Belier" We joined the challenging life experience of Belier family and their young daughter. Paula Belier, the young girl who lives with her deaf parents, discovers that she has the gift of singing. But ıt is not easy to pursue her dreams leaving her deaf parents .After we watched the film we expanded our vision on movie discussing the questions below.
*Do you think Paula is a Gifted students? Make a discussion with your group?
* a)How do you define the basic characteristics of the Music Teacher character in the film ?
b)What should be the qualifications of teachers with gifted students in their classroom
*What does Paula's boyfriend and close friend represent in the film? Discuss and evaluate their effects to Paula?
*The family is deaf and dumb in the film, so it is impossible for them to understand their daughters musical talents. Do other families similarly have difficulty understanding the talents of their children?
*Paula begins to realize the beauty and quality of her voice by joining a choir club because of the boy she likes. How do you think people can discover their areas of passion and their talents?
5. Film forum in BUZAU VIRTUAL MEETİNG ROMANIA
Movie: "THE KINDERGARTEN TEACHER"
In our first virtual meeting in Buzau we watched a very interesting film again named "The kindergarten teacher" Disappointed by her own teenage kids (one wants to join the marines, the other is glued to her mobile phone) and disconnected from her husband (a rare moment of intimacy is all too easily interrupted by a call from Jimmy), A kindergarten teacher, Lisa, has become a shadow searching for the light for one of her student talented at Poem...
We discussed the film with the questions below;
* In the film after the kid read his poem at party teacher feels so sad and starts to cry... Why does the teacher cry at that scene? What are the main feelings you had about the teacher while you were watching the film?
*What do you think about the boundaries the teacher has in her communication with her students? What sort of dynamics are there affecting the teacher's boundaries?
*In the film, we witness the teacher using and abusing the student for her own ambitions. How do you think the situation of an educator with this behavior should be handled?
*What does the teacher experience in the role of mother and in her relationships with her own children? What do you think about the effects of these experiences on her professional life and her relationships with the students?
*Based on the teacher in the film, according to you how successful are teachers in evaluating themselves in their relationships with their students? What kind of system should a school has in terms of teacher attitudes and behaviors?
* In the film, we see the effect of the TEACHER's own reality on her communication with her student. If you had to draw a portrait of teachers in your country, what would you like to say? What are the main issues that teachers faced in your country...
6. Film forum inSOFIA VIRTUAL MEETING-BULGARIA
Movie: "I RAGAZZI DELLO ZECCHINO D'ORO"
When we met for the virtual meeting organised by our Bulgarian Partner , It was the time to watch our last film.. This time we watched the story of a cute boy, Mimmo... He is a student who has got troubles in his academic life. music teacher touches his life and change his life totally. She discovers his musical talent and also notices the source of his academic troubles..Mimmo is a dyslexic student.. we learned that these students are called as twice exceptional. The questions help us analysing the film were the ones below;
*Having a child like Mimmo what brings the family? How do you describe the strentghs and weaknesses of the family?
*Why do you think that Mimmo Pushes his friend from the stairs? What do you think about the punishment given to Mimmo for his behaviour? Could it be do something different or sth. more in the case?
*What are the main charecteristic of Music Teachers? She also works hard for her student like the teacher at our previous film? How do you compare them?
*The Girl's mother thinks that her daughter has being effected by Mimmo negatively and wants to stop their relation?
*We also observe many cases like this at our Professional life. What can be done if two kids or youngs have strong attachment each other and if we think that it is not good for them?
* Mariela has got many problems at the film? What were the most important 3 of them?
* She solved all the problems very effectivelly? How do you thinkk that she couls solve these problems? Which personal traits helped her?