First, make a choice about how to watch the film. It is about 7 minutes. You have a few options.
- Watch the film before the lesson as pre-study homework.
- Watch part of the film in the lesson.
- Watch the whole film in the lesson.
- If you choose to watch the film, please do your best to describe and discuss it as you watch. There's almost no dialog, so you can easily talk while watching.
This discussion topic is based on a short film by Pixar, called "Float". It uses metaphor to express a complex truth in simple terms.
What is a metaphor? It's saying one thing is another thing, but it's not literally true. Here are some examples:
- Time is money.
- My colleague is a lion.
- That meeting was a killer.
- The train station was so busy. There was a sea of people.
Metaphors explain something by comparing it to something else that has similar qualities. The words or images represent something else.
This short film, "Float", uses the metaphor of a child who floats in the air. It represents any child who is different from others, either in the way they look or act, or both. Think of a child with disabilities. How do people feel when they meet a child like that? What is it like for the parents? How does the child feel about themselves?
Floating represents difference here, not literal superpowers. Watch the film with that in mind.
