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Box of Delights: The '?' Motorist (1906)
 
Focus Questions

These questions can be used to focus students' thinking while watching the film and/or to develop their understanding of film language.

STORY

  • Whose story is The '?' Motorist? Do we take the motorist's side?
  • Can you sum up the beginning of the story in one sentence?
  • Can you sum up the end of the story in one sentence?
  • Try to write a voice-over to go with the action.

CHARACTER

  • How many people appear in the film?
  • How many characters do you think there are in the film?
  • How would you describe the behaviour of the motorist and his passenger? What does this tell us about the couple?
  • Is the car a character?
  • Is it difficult to get a sense of what different characters are like in this film? If so, why?

CAMERA

  • What do you notice about the position and movement of the camera?

SEQUENCES

  • Can you break down the film into separate sequences - is there a clear beginning, middle and end to this film?

SETTING

  • What different settings are there?
  • How important are the different settings in the film?