Do you love talking about Films?
Are you trying to watch more films in English?
Join Peter’s English Film Club!
Saturday 22nd November at 13:00 UK Time
We will discuss… Mudbound
You can find more details on how to participate on Patreon and Discord!
What is Film Club? – Mudbound
Film Language Document – Conversation Questions – Extra Resources
What is Peter’s Film Club?
The Film Club is a great opportunity to practice English speaking skills by talking about a film.
Peter invites Thinking In English Conversation Club members (Patreon levels: Learner and Master) to join him on Zoom one Saturday per month, for free!
If you are not a Patreon member, you can pay to join the film club on Peter’s website
But it’s not just about improving speaking skills. Every film has a different topic so talking about them is a really effective way to increase your vocabulary.
Also, you can practice your writing. After every meeting, you can write your thoughts about the film and Peter will read it amd give you detailed feedback!
How to Prepare the Film Club:
1. Watch the film!
2. Prepare by studying the Film Language Document.
(The Film Language Document contains 10 Themes, and 30 Vocabulary Items specific to the film. It also contains the 10 conversation questions we will discuss in the meeting!)
You can find the Film Language Document (and more) below…
Mudbound (2017)
Here is a simple description of the film
Mudbound is a Netflix original film that tells the story of two men and their families in the 1940s in rural Mississippi in the South of the USA. The white McAllan family and the black Jackson family both farm on the same land and struggle with weather, poverty and physical injury. However the racism of the culture and of the laws means that their experiences are not exactly the same.
The protagonists, Jamie and Ronsel, go to fight in Europe in World War II. When they come back they are traumatised by what they have experienced and also struggle to re-adapt to the traditions of their homeland. The two men become friends due to their shared experiences but unfortunately this is not the end of the story…
Mdbound explores themes of racism, family conflict, the effects of war and much more. We follow a number of characters, each of which has their own unique perspective. Some are motivated by hatred, some by fear, and some by moral principles and inner strength and resilience. It’s a painful but powerful story about the hard lives people lived in rural America in this period.
Conversation Questions!
- What did you think of Mudbound? Can you give a one sentence review of the film?
- What emotions did the film make you feel?
- Choose one of the main characters, describe who they are and what decisions they made. Can you explain their motivations? Do you sympathise with them?
- Describe one scene that you found particularly memorable. Describe what happened and try to explain what made it powerful.
- Did you know much about this historical period before watching this film? What did you think about the setting of the film?
- Compare Laura & Henry’s marriage with Florence & Hap’s. What does the film suggest about love, duty, and survival in relationships under pressure?
- Let’s talk about racism, violence and the KKK. What are some of the more and less obvious ways that the film depicts racism. Why do you think characters like Pappy have this hatred within them?
- Which character best embodies resilience in the film, and how do they maintain dignity in the face of continual hardship?
- What do you think about the ending of the film. Did you find the resolutions of the different characters’ storylines satisfying? Did they get justice?
- What do you think is the moral message of Mudbound? Perhaps it is something to do with love and war, silence and secrets, resilience and dignity, or community and prejudice. Can you put it into a sentence?
Do you have any more thoughts or questions?
Why not prepare 1 or 2 more of your own questions or opinions about the film?!
Extra Resources
If you want to do even more, you might want to look at the online resources:
IMDb Page
IMDb page where you can find everything about the film including: Videos, Characters, Cast and Crew, Plot Synopsis, Quotes, Reviews and more!
Film Trailer on YouTube
See if you like the look of the film by watching the trailer.
… and it might help you refresh your memory if you saw it a long time ago!
Mudbound Vocabulary
Learn and practice the vocabulary for this film!.
Practice using 5 different study games and activities – including writing, listening, and memorisation techniques!
Flashcards
Matching Game
Learning Game
Test Yourself
Listening and Spelling
General Film Vocabulary
Learn and practice vocabulary for this Thinking in English Conversation Club.
Practice using 5 different study games and activities – including writing, listening, and memorisation techniques!
Flashcards
Matching Game
Learning Game
Test Yourself
Listening and Spelling
See you at the Film Club!
