What is a film guide for? (pdf version)

A film can be screened 'lo lishma – not just for the sake of it'. In this sense, we
understand the film to be a visual text for a subject that the presenter wishes the
audience to encounter. At the other end of the spectrum, a film can also be allowed to
stand alone, 'lishma', operating as a moving aesthetic experience.
We believe that there is value in both of these approaches, and that care should be
taken not to follow one at the expense of the other. At MAKOM we are searching for a
film guide form that enables the facilitator to present an Israeli movie both as an
experience, and as a text that can contribute to the Jewish identity of the viewers.

We are looking to enhance four elements of the film-going experience.

1. People-to-people
An Israeli movie offers the viewer the opportunity to 'meet', albeit fictionally, another
Israeli human being. In particular for the film-viewer who has not yet visited Israel, this
is a crucial hook on which to hang their Israel engagement. How many characters that
we have seen in movies 'live on' in our minds and hearts long after the film has finished?

2. Going deeper
What does this Israeli film have to say about the human condition? How might it
illuminate not just the viewer's relationship with Israel, but also the viewer's
relationship with him or herself? Are there ways we can encourage viewers to see this
piece of Israeli culture as enriching their lives?

3. The Israel Connection
How does the film deepen and broaden the viewers' connection to Israel? Our intention
here is always to draw only on the film itself, making no assumptions about any further
knowledge the viewer may have. The more the discussion is focussed on issues arising
from the film just screened, the more chance we have to raise the dialogue beyond the
'pre-rehearsed' or the 'many-times-repeated'.

4. Binary Opposites
All stories can be seen to be composed of a series of underlying conflicts. Similarly, we
can address our lives, and the lives of our communities as being driven by binary
opposites. We have tried to offer a list of binary opposites that we see resonating
throughout each film. We encourage you to try assess where these conflicts may find an
echo in the lives of your participants or communities. This may offer an alternative
means of connecting this 'foreign film' with their lives in North America.

The Practicalities:

Beforehand:
If you don't have access to a movie theater, invest in a projector and some good
speakers – try not to play the movie on a TV screen. Try to give this event some
excitement, and the feeling of going out to the cinema. Put together some popcorn and
drinks, even. Make sure cell phones are turned off, and make sure the seating is
comfortable.

Afterwards:
The movie packs an emotional punch. Your most important job is to allow the emotions
their space, to allow people to feel the movie, before starting to analyse anything. So
first of all, let people get themselves a coffee, or a glass of wine, go to the bathroom,
breathe - before beginning the discussion.
Don't start with the questions we have prepared. Open things up with general
questions about the emotional experience. Did they enjoy it? Did the movie make them
sad? Happy? How did it make them feel? It is crucial to allow people to debrief on their
emotional experience before we break the film down into its parts.
As for the questions we have provided, feel free to use as many or as few as you deem
appropriate. There are no right answers – we are looking for people to summarise,
clarify, and deepen their own responses to the movie. Every answer is interesting and
valuable.
As facilitator you don't need to have an answer for everything. It's completely okay for
someone to ask a question about Israel, and for you to say 'I don't know – I'll ask around
and get back to you.' Or even better – 'I don't know – do you want to look into it, and tell
us your answer next week?' Remember: If you've managed to get your participants to
express curiosity about Israel beyond the movie – you've done a great job. The movie
isn't there to teach them information – it's there to set fire to their questions about and
their interest in Israel.

Finally
Please let us know how it goes! We are still exploring ideal forms for these film guides.
Tell us what worked, what was amazing, what bombed…