Films to watch to help with GCSE English

[Eddermarmay]

DC in Y0 and studying Romeo & Juliet, An Inspector Calls, Jekyll & Hyde and the Power & Conflict poetry. They watch an 'approved' version of some of these in school, but we are looking for alternatives, or more especially related, or vaguely related films for context. eg Shakespeare in Love -mostly nonsense but quite fun, Picture of Dorian Gray, Mary Reilly, etc. Also any films that would help with learning about Buddhist beliefs.

For R&J, there's the Baz Luhrmann version, and West Side Story?

Not sure it's worth doing any of this for gcse except for fun or personal interest. It won't help with grades. Watch the relevant films/TV shows and read the books and revision guides.

Surely education is more than just the grade? What about learning more around a subject to improve the mind or to increase general knowledge???

There is no need to be entirely reductive is there?
We have a film night every week, and although we will continue to watch things that mainly involve blowing up buildings or people falling over, we like to mix-up the offerings and would like to include some things that provide context for the gcse.

Allow not nature more than nature needs, man's life's as cheap as beast's.

Of course it will help!
Great idea. Gives wider context and further understanding of lots of aspects of the text.
Gnomeo and Juliette?!

Gnomeo and Juliette?!
Absolutely, already on the list!

For J&H, you could watch other Gothic stories for an idea of the genre... Frankenstein? Dracula?

Yeah, the bit where I said for fun or personal interest covered that.

I know you've asked for film recommendations and this isn't one! When my DD was doing An Inspector Calls a couple of years ago, a production was on tour at local theatres. We went to see that and it really helped her to see the play performed live in stage. Definitely engaged her interest in the play and gave her a better understanding and perspective on the characters. With a bit of luck you may be able to find something similar locally.

If you want to watch a different Shakespeare play in a film version, I'd highly recommend Much Ado About Nothing, the 1993 version. It's got a stellar cast; Emma Thompson, Kenneth Branagh, Richard Briers, Imelda Staunton as well as Keanu and Denzel thrown in too. It's not an adaptation, it is the proper play so you get the while Shakespearean language experience.
It's a joyful, jolly watch and I'd highly recommend it.

Yes, we've all seen the Stephen Daldry revival of AIC and agree it was very worthwhile.

Haven't seen that for years, but, yes I remember it was an uplifting watch.

Love the Baz Luhrmann, I know it divides opinion.

Titanic is good for AIC because it highlights the class system of that era: the 'new money' (Mr Birling) being needed but also looked down upon by 'old money' (Mrs Birling and the Crofts). Rose's mum is very Mrs Birling-like.

Agree with other Victorian gothic to broaded Jekyll & Hyde . Frankenstein, Dracula etc. Fears about new science, with religion being the ultimate hero of the piece.

P&C poetry - some war films that depict the brutal reality of the battlefield. Charge of the Light Brigade, 1917 etc. For the earlier poems, stuff like Les Miserables explores the revolutionary attitudes and anti establishment feeling. Maybe some Dickens adaptations that focus on miserable poverty and the cold hearted rich.

Thank you.
The P&C is a tricky one. DC really doesn't like watching anything with blood and guts.

@Piggywaspushed would you be able to offer any of your expertise about any of this?

For J&H, how about the Nutty Professor or Hulk?

The Outsiders. The book and film are great and we did them for GCSE when we were young. Read the book first, though.

This was my GCSE line up.

For Shakespeare get them the 'translated version'. It has the original on one page and the modern English on the next.

War Horse might be a bit tamer. Some of the themes are based around the realities of conflict, the effects of war on individuals etc. Battle scenes can show the noise and chaos that is replicated in the meter and sound imagery of the language.

Not as ridiculous as it sounds... Blackadder Goes Forth?

There's a VG documentary by Patrick Kielty on YouTube about The Troubles which gives good background for Storm on the Island. Vanity Fair is set against the backdrop of Waterloo so might be helpful for London? Downtown Abbey good for Inspector Calls.

One of the poems, ‘Remains’, is based on a soldier’s real experiences. There’s a documentary called ‘The Not Dead’ which is powerful and gives excellent contextual knowledge.

Great thread OP! Nothing else to add but this is great for context setting and helping them to visualise the texts.

I'd get them to watch as many versions of R & J as possible and then discuss the interpretations.
This one www.imdb.com/title/tt5943392/ has Derek Jacobi as Mercutio, played very differently from the usual versions.