An Object at Rest

Film commentary: An Object at Rest

A very nice film about geology and geography. The idea of personifying a mountain and following its evolution over time allows us to tackle with children the theme of time on a geological scale.

It is also the story of human activities and their impact on nature and children can have fun listing all the stages of transformation of this mountain character.

Watch other films by the director on this site

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Abduckted

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Questioning the film: An Object at Rest

To understand the story, the theme, to express their sensibility and to exercise their critical thinking skills.

After an initial viewing, ask the students to describe the periods and the different environments that the mountain character goes through.
At the beginning, seconds 22, 28, 31, 34 and 40 and at the end, 5 min 18 s.
Print the material for this activity ...

1 Who is the main character in the film?
A mountain.
2 How did the director of the film personify the mountain?
With eyes, a nose, a mouth .
The mountain expresses feelings like surprise, boredom... It walks on two legs.
To go further, print out the file on personification (French literature) ...
3 Note with the pupils the changes and different states of the mountain.
Old mountain, young mountain, desert, glacier, rock, millstone, pebble, cannonball, pebble, fossil, debris, gravel, grain of sand, glass lens.
4 Note the different uses that people make of the mountain.
A millstone in a mill, a cannonball during the war, a fossil in a museum, a lens in space.
5 What happens to the mountain at the end of the film?
It begins a new life.

Some dates :
Formation of the Earth: 4.55 billion years ago.
Appearance of life: 3.85 billion years ago.
Appearance of dinosaurs: 250 million years ago and disappearance 65 million years ago.
Appearance of hominids (Toumaï): 7 million years ago.
Appearance of homo sapiens: 200,000 years ago.
Lascaux cave: 18,000 years ago.
End of prehistory and beginning of history (first written documents): 5,300 years ago.

- Extensions on the exploitation of mountains and gold diggers in the 19th century:
"The Gold Rush", Charlie Chaplin (1925).

Download the PDF of the film's educational activities

Created with the support of the French Ministry of Education and the CNC.
Viewing of the film with the family, educational activities with parents at home and with teachers in class.
Creating topographic profiles (Mathematics) (Cycle 3)
Educational activities proposed by Christophe Defaye based on the film An object at rest.
Representing mountains (Plastic arts) (Cycle 2 and 3)
Educational activities proposed by Christophe Defaye based on the film An object at rest.
Réseau Canopé course (Ecology in solidarity)
Thematic course created by Marie-Jo Lantam Ninsao based on 4 films including An object at rest.

Discover other educational sheets created with the support of the Ministry of Education and the CNC...