Movies will be available on Course Reserve (in Uris Library) for individual viewing. You should plan to watch each film in time to post your response by the posting deadline listed below. After responses have been posted, we will make them available for viewing on the course website discussion board.
Your response should be no longer than 250-300 words. You may choose to address any aspect(s) of the films that piques your interest: as the term ‘response’ suggests, I am interested in hearing how you react to the films you watch. Your response should demonstrate careful, critical viewing; you should consider the films’ effectiveness at giving you insight into the history we study, as well as how themes discussed in this course may be reflected in these films. Some issues you might want to think about are:
Grading : each response is worth 1% of your overall course grade; you need only post a thoughtful response to earn this grade. Exceptionally insightful reflections will be rewarded with extra credit (counting towards you participation grade).
You are asked to watch & respond to the following films:
* Week IV: I, Claudius (1976)
Posting deadline: 12:00 noon, 21 September 2014. |
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Week V: Jesus of Montreal (Jésus de Montréal, 1989)
Posting deadline: 12:00 noon, 28 September 2014 |
![]() Lothaire Bluteau (Daniel), Catherine Wilkening (Mireill) and Johanne-Marie Tremblay (Constance) channel the Gospel |
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Week IX: Beowulf & Grendel (2005)
Posting deadline: 12:00 noon, 26 October 2014. |
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Week XI: Sorceress (Le moine et la sorcière, 1987) Based on the records of the 13thC Dominican, Etienne de Bourbon. A friar out to hunt heretics arrives at a sleepy village, where he quickly detects irregularities, some more shocking than others; but his allies and rivals don’t all live up to expectations, nor does he do what’s expected of him. You may be interested in an account of St Guinefort, excerpted from the original document, De Supersticione. Please consider, in addition to the general questions above, the following points:
Posting deadline: 12:00 noon, 9 November 2014. |
![]() Tchéky Karyo (Etienne) and Christine Boisson (Elba), from the movie poster |
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* Week XIII: The Return of Martin Guerre (Le Retour de Martin Guerre, 1982) The original of which Sommersby (1993) was a poor rip-off. In 16thC southern France, a youth abandons his family, only to return after a few years as a mature man; but some begin to suspect he may not be who he claims to be. Also available on Course Reserve is Natalie Zemon Davis’s book, The Return of Martin Guerre, a fascinating monograph by the historian who served as consultant for the film. Please consider, in addition to the general questions above, the following points:
Posting deadline: 12:00 noon, 23 November 2014. |
![]() Gérard Depardieu ("Martin") and Nathalie Baye (Bertrande) |
Go back to the course syllabus