INVERGORDON ACADEMY

Languages Department

Extended viewing and writing

 

 

In the course of S3 and S4 we will study some films. You will receive notes (in the form of questions to be answered) on these films, vocabulary to allow you to discuss them in French, and guidance on how to go about writing a response to them in French.

 

This will not be part of your Standard Grade exam, but it should help develop writing skills and provide background information for your studies.

 

The first film we will look at is “Le Dîner de Cons”, a French comedy made in 1998 starring Thierry Lhermitte and Jacques Villeret. This is the story of a group of men who seek out “idiots” and invite them to a meal so they can have a laugh at their expense. However, things don’t go according to plan when Monsieur Brochant invites Monsieur Pignon to his flat …

 

“Le Dîner de Cons” is a tale which is at times hilarious and at other times quite sad and touching.

Monsieur Brochant, a successful publisher, is in the habit of seeking out “idiots” and inviting them as guests to regular dinner parties, which he attends with several friends. The purpose of these evenings is quite simply to have a laugh at the expense of their guests as they discuss their hobbies and passions – such as boomerang throwing or building intricate models out of matchsticks.

Monsieur Brochant makes a grave error, however, when he invites Monsieur Pignon as his arrival triggers a series of events and misunderstandings which will eventually cause M. Brochant to review the whole direction of his life …..

 

While wonderfully entertaining, “Le Dîner de Cons” also provides for reflection on the ways in which we look on and judge people, and emphasises the importance of tolerance and respect for others in our everyday dealings with them.

 

Nobody is perfect, but perhaps we should make more effort to see beyond the surface, and to consider the fairness of our own attitudes toward others.

 

The Writing Task

 

 

You should aim to produce 150 – 200 words. To help structure your writing, you should use the following bullet points:

 

·                    Give a brief outline of the story

·                    Describe the main character(s) in some detail

·                    Say what happened in your favourite scene

·                    Choose a theme from the film and discuss it

·                    Give your general opinion of the film

 

 

When you come to write about “Le Dîner de Cons”, apart from making use of the vocabulary lists provided, you should pay attention to the structures and vocabulary contained in the questions, and use some of them in your answers.

 

 

In giving an outline of the story it might be a good idea to use the present tense. This is often used in French to describe events in a book or film.

 

 

When describing characters, you should be aware of a variety of possible responses to them, and use a selection of adjectives to describe them. Avoid simple lists and you might want to provide a brief account of some events.

 

 

The description of your favourite scene could be written in the perfect tense.

 

Discussing themes and your general response to the film provides the opportunity to develop your own ideas and your own language to communicate these ideas. Remember to express yourself as clearly as possible.

 

Questions

 

 

1)      Pourquoi est-ce que Monsieur Brochant et ses amis invitent des “idiots” à dîner?

 

Se moquer de

Un passe-temps

Une passion

Discuter de

 

 

2)      Comment est-ce que les choses se compliquent?

 

Avoir mal à                                               Un malentendu

Finir par                                                     Se tromper de

Quitter                                                       Un numéro de téléphone

Essayer de                                                 Une série de               

Aider                                                         Devoir

Considérer comme                                    Voir

 

 

3)      Comment est-ce qu’on peut décrire les personnages principaux?

 

J’ai trouvé                                                 intelligent

À mon avis                                                rusé

Il faut avouer/dire que                              séduisant

Idiot                                                          sûr de lui

Bête                                                           prospère

Enfantin                                                    insensible

Altruiste                                                    égoiste

Honnête                                                    cruel

Obsessionnel                                             méchant

Sensible                                                     spirituel

Compatissant                                            superficiel

Anxieux

Ouvert

Peu intéressant

Peu attrayant

Pas méchant

 

 

 

 

4)      Quelle était votre scène préférée?

 

Ma scène préférée était celle où …

Person + avoir/être + past participle

 

 

5)      Choisissez un thème et discutez-en.

 

Plusieurs                                                    tenir compte de

Il ne faut pas                                             la personne en entier

On ne doit pas                                           regarder au-dessous de la surface

Juger                                                          comment on traite les gens

Se moquer de                                            faire réfléchir à

 

 

 

6)      Comment avez-vous trouvé ce film en général?

 

J’ai trouvé ce film ….

 

(peu) intéressant                                        ridicule

(peu) amusant                                            décevant

rigolo                                                         touchant

hilarant                                                      émouvant

divertissant                                                exagéré

dans certaines scènes … dans d’autres ..

c’était                                                        à la fois

 

ce film m’a            amusé

                              déçu

                              diverti

                              touché

                              fait rire

                              fait réfléchir

 

c’était trop …        simple

compliqué

 

Je ne peux pas dire que

 

Je le recommanderais à mes copains

 

Je crois qu’ils le trouveraient ….