Do you love talking about Films?
Are you trying to watch more films in English?
Join Peter’s English Film Club!
Saturday 27th June at 13:00 UK Time
We will discuss One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)
You can find more details on how to participate on Zoom via Patreon and Discord!
What is Film Club? – One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest
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 Themes, and Vocabulary Items specific to the film. It also contains the Conversation Questions we will discuss in the meeting!)
You can find the Film Language Document (and more) below…
One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)
Here is a simple description of the film
One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest (1975) is set i a psychiatric hospital and follows Randle McMurphy, played by legendary American actor Jack Nicholson. McMurphy is an energetic, rebellious, charming, yet violent convict who has been transferred from to the hospital from Prison. He believes it is a smart way to avoid more serious punishment for his crimes.
He discovers a group of men struggling with diverse psychological conditions and living under the calm but quietly formidable Nurse Ratched. McMurphy’s rebellious nature clashes with her authority as he encourages the men to express themselves and defy her rule. This battle leads to an array of ethically complex situations.
The film is at times funny and uplifting but also moving, at times horrifying. This a widely celebrated film and one of only three films in history to have won all of the five most prestigious awards at the Oscars. Without offering clear ethical answers, it raises unsettling questions about sanity, psychiatric treatment, power, freedom and what it means to live life to the full.
Conversation Questions!
- What was your first reaction to the film? How did you feel when you finished watching it and did your emotions change during the runtime?
- Is there one scene or moment that particularly stays with you from the film? Please describe it and explain why it was memorable.
- In your opinion, is McMurphy sufficiently insane to be committed to a mental hospital?
- Let’s talk about the acting. Was there one performance that really stood out to you? Why?
- Leaving aside lobotomy, which of the hospital’s practices strike you as unethical?
- Would Billy (or some other patients) be better off empowered to live his life to the full as a young man – as McMurphy seems to believe? Or does the ending prove that this idea is a dangerous fantasy?
- What do you think about Chief’s journey, is this the story of his liberation, and what do you make of his final decision? Why did he do it?
- Is McMurphy a hero, liberator, or even a messianic figure? Is Ratched a hard-working, deeply caring professional who does her best to protect her vulnerable patients? Who’s the real villain in your opinion?
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!
Watch A 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!
One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest 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!
