OSAMA BIN EVERYWHERE: THE MANY FACES OF THE ISLAMIC WORLD

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES

5. Objective: To consider what messages the film contains and how effectively they are conveyed (English, RE)

Introduction

Before showing the film, tell the students that, as well as simply following the story, you want them to think about what the filmmakers are trying to tell their audience. For this activity, the students will need to see the whole film, not just extracts.

Discussion

After they have watched the film, talk about what the students felt the filmmakers were trying to achieve, for example: 'To show that not all Muslims are extremists' or 'To show Muslims in different countries and cultures' or 'To give Muslims a chance to speak for themselves'.

Follow this up by asking some more specific questions about the film's message and how this was conveyed. Two or three of these questions will help students think about how particular techniques were used to make the film interesting and dramatic, and to enlighten the audience:

• Who do you think the film was made for? What makes you think that?
• What do you know about the filmmakers and their intentions?
• Why do you think they wanted to make this type of film?
• What do you think about the way they chose their interviewees?
• Why did they ask their interviewees just one question?
• What did you learn from the film?
• What would you do differently if you were making this film?
• What were the strengths and weaknesses of the film?

Activity

Working individually, write a review of the film.

Talk to students about the purpose of a review: to describe the film and make a fair judgment about it so readers can decide whether or not to watch it.

Start them off with some guidelines to writing reviews:

• Use simple language and short sentences
• Start with a hard-hitting opening sentence – perhaps describing something surprising, shocking or quirky from the film
• Answer the questions who? what? why? where? when? how? (not necessarily in that order). For example: What is the film trying to achieve? How did the film find people to talk to? and so on
• Back up any opinions or assertions with examples from the film
• End with a powerful statement
• Write no more than one page of A4.

Plenary

Read some excerpts from the reviews then discuss whether writing the reviews has made them think differently and understand more about how film can be used to convey a particular message.