In
the course of S3 and S4 we will study some films. You will receive notes (in the
form of questions to be answered) on these films, vocabulary to allow you to
discuss them in French, and guidance on how to go about writing a response to
them in French.
This will not be part of your Standard Grade exam,
but it should help develop writing skills and provide background information for
your studies.
The first film we will look at is “Le Dîner de
Cons”, a French comedy made in 1998 starring Thierry Lhermitte and Jacques
Villeret. This is the story of a group of men who seek out “idiots” and
invite them to a meal so they can have a laugh at their expense. However, things
don’t go according to plan when Monsieur Brochant invites Monsieur Pignon to
his flat …
“Le Dîner de Cons” is a tale which is at times
hilarious and at other times quite sad and touching.
Monsieur Brochant, a successful publisher, is in the habit of seeking out “idiots” and inviting them as guests to regular dinner parties, which he attends with several friends. The purpose of these evenings is quite simply to have a laugh at the expense of their guests as they discuss their hobbies and passions – such as boomerang throwing or building intricate models out of matchsticks.
Monsieur Brochant makes a grave error, however, when he invites Monsieur Pignon as his arrival triggers a series of events and misunderstandings which will eventually cause M. Brochant to review the whole direction of his life …..
While wonderfully entertaining, “Le Dîner de Cons” also provides for reflection on the ways in which we look on and judge people, and emphasises the importance of tolerance and respect for others in our everyday dealings with them.
Nobody is perfect, but perhaps we should make more effort to see beyond the surface, and to consider the fairness of our own attitudes toward others.
The Writing Task
You should aim to produce 150 – 200 words. To help structure your writing, you should use the following bullet points:
· Give a brief outline of the story
· Describe the main character(s) in some detail
· Say what happened in your favourite scene
· Choose a theme from the film and discuss it
· Give your general opinion of the film
When you come to write about “Le Dîner de Cons”, apart from making use of the vocabulary lists provided, you should pay attention to the structures and vocabulary contained in the questions, and use some of them in your answers.
In giving an outline of the story it might be a good idea to use the present tense. This is often used in French to describe events in a book or film.
When describing characters, you should be aware of a variety of possible responses to them, and use a selection of adjectives to describe them. Avoid simple lists and you might want to provide a brief account of some events.
The description of your favourite scene could be written in the perfect tense.
Discussing themes and your general response to the film provides the opportunity to develop your own ideas and your own language to communicate these ideas. Remember to express yourself as clearly as possible.
Questions
1)
Pourquoi est-ce que Monsieur Brochant et ses amis invitent des
“idiots” à dîner?
Se
moquer de
Un
passe-temps
Une
passion
Discuter
de
2)
Comment est-ce que les choses se compliquent?
Avoir
mal à
Un malentendu
Finir
par
Se tromper de
Quitter
Un numéro de téléphone
Essayer
de
Une série de
Aider
Devoir
Considérer
comme
Voir
3)
Comment est-ce qu’on peut décrire les personnages principaux?
J’ai
trouvé
intelligent
À
mon avis
rusé
Il
faut avouer/dire que
séduisant
Idiot
sûr de lui
Bête
prospère
Enfantin
insensible
Altruiste
égoiste
Honnête
cruel
Obsessionnel
méchant
Sensible
spirituel
Compatissant
superficiel
Anxieux
Ouvert
Peu
intéressant
Peu
attrayant
Pas
méchant
4)
Quelle était votre scène préférée?
Ma
scène préférée était celle où …
Person
+ avoir/être + past participle
5)
Choisissez un thème et discutez-en.
Plusieurs
tenir compte de
Il
ne faut pas
la personne en entier
On
ne doit pas
regarder au-dessous de la surface
Juger
comment on traite les gens
Se
moquer de
faire réfléchir à
6)
Comment avez-vous trouvé ce film en général?
J’ai
trouvé ce film ….
(peu)
intéressant
ridicule
(peu)
amusant
décevant
rigolo
touchant
hilarant
émouvant
divertissant
exagéré
dans
certaines scènes … dans d’autres ..
c’était
à la fois
ce
film m’a amusé
déçu
diverti
touché
fait rire
fait réfléchir
c’était
trop …
simple
compliqué
Je
ne peux pas dire que
Je
le recommanderais à mes copains
Je
crois qu’ils le trouveraient ….
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