THE BUTTERFLY CIRCUS

The Butterfly Circus - HD from The Butterfly Circus on Vimeo.

How about watching this short movie and doing the activities at the end to practise your thinking, writing and conversational skills?

(Spanish subtitles at http://youtu.be/ZF5M_BjLg8w).

Sinopsis: "At the heart of the Great Depression in the United States (1929-1933), the showman of a renowned circus leads his troupe through the devastated American landscape, lifting the spirits of audiences along the way. During their travels they discover Will, a man with no limbs at a carnival sideshow, but after an intriguing encounter with the showman he becomes driven to hope against everything he has ever believed" (http://www.thebutterflycircus.com/)

TASKS

1) Write your own summary of the plot (100-150 words) and add your opinion about the film (50-100 words).

2) Answer the following questions:

a. Why do so many people go to the sideshow to see people like Will?

b. Why does Will spit on Mendez's face? How does Mendez react?

c. Why isn't Will in the show just after joining the circus?

d. Why doesn't anybody give Will the help he asks for in the river?

e. Why does a boy on crutches hug Will at the end of the film?

f. What is Will's real disability?

g. Why are the members of the Butterfly Circus troupe happy people?

h. Why is the circus inspired by the butterfly?

i. Did you find anything touching in the film? If so, what is it?

3) Discuss the following sentences: "What this world needs is a little wonder", "If you could only see the beauty that can come from ashes" (Mendez).

Good luck!