Alternate "Reads" of the Film
DIRECTIONS: These four articles explore "alternate" ways to "read" the film LARS AND THE REAL GIRL. One isn't more or less accurate the the other; they are multiple ways to look at and think about the ideas and themes of the film. Scan through each to get a general idea; then settle on ONE article to explore more fully. Then, follow the directions on your sheet. Enjoy!
Community and Seasonal Affective DisorderLars and the Real Girl is a movie about a lot of things. The movie evolves from the lonely life of Lars into the life of an entire community. The first scene was a beautiful portrait of loneliness. Lars looks out the window from his kitchen onto a neighboring house in the mid of winter . . .
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Lars and Lifelike Positive TranscendenceThe 2007 film Lars and the Real Girl challenged viewer’s expectations, not simply through its unusual premise (a man having a relationship with a doll), but through its consistent refusal to resolve the plot’s various conflicts through verbal or physical violence. The plot resolves in a way consistent with what peace researcher Johan Galtung has termed positive transcendence . . . (scroll down to subheading "Lars and Real Positive Transcendance")
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A Psychoanalytic Look at Lars and the Real GirlI’d like to begin our discussion of this evening’s film by asking, “What do we know about Lars?”, and then we’ll move on to “Why is he like this?” and “What made it possible for him to get better?” I’ll propose some answers to these questions with a little help from psychoanalysis . . .
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Roger Ebert's Review of Lars and the Real GirlHow do you make a film about a life-sized love doll, ordered through the Internet, into a life-affirming statement of hope? In "Lars and the Real Girl," you do it with faith in human nature, and with a performance by Ryan Gosling that says things that cannot be said. And you surround him with actors who express the instinctive kindness we show to those we love. . . .
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Socratic Seminar Questions
Socratic Semnar questions are meant to challenge your thinking of something. There is no absolute right or wrong answer, but each response does require an explanation. Choose three questions from this list of Socratic Questions to discuss and ultimately type your ideas in a formal response. You should use one class period for the THREE questions, so develop your ideas with ample examples from the film. Also be sure to use characters' names in you discussion.
For Fun:
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