The Rundown

After watching a movie with your children or students, we encourage parents and teachers to look for education opportunities to teach with movies. Here are a few discussion topics that can help with lesson plans or teaching in the home.

Although the story takes place is a small Brazilian village, the locals, aside from Marianna, appear to be little more than visual background for the film. Why do the townspeople have no voice while the outsiders are the ones making all the decisions? How are visible minorities often depicted in movies, particularly when shown in third world countries?

Despite the fact that the town has just been virtually destroyed and dead bodies are littering the street, what does the movie do to try and create a ?warm fuzzy? ending? In reality, what challenges will the natives face? Should movies always try to have a happy ending?