Appearance and Reality

Film commentary: Appearance and Reality

A very funny short film about appearances, a short story about the feelings we show or hide.
An opportunity to introduce expressions about deceptive appearances.
"Clothes don't make the man. "

"Demissos animo et tacitos- vitare memento,
Quod flumen tacitum est forsan latet altius unda."
"Avoid sly and taciturn people, for the quieter a river is, the deeper the water in it."
From Book IV of Cato's Disticts, 8th century.

Questioning the film: Appearance and Reality

To understand the story, the theme, to express one's sensibility and to exercise one's critical mind.

"One is often deceived by appearance."
Le Tartuffe de mœurs, Louis-Claude Chéron de La Bruyère (1789)

"The blows of a friend are better than the deceitful kisses of an enemy."
La logique ou L'art de penser, Antoine Arnauld (1683)

"Demissos animo et tacitos- vitare memento,
Quod flumen tacitum est forsan latet altius unda."
"Avoid sly and taciturn people, for the quieter a river is, the deeper the water in it."
Excerpt from Book IV of Cato's Disticts, 8th century

At the beginning of the film, the main character can be seen walking around the city. It is noticeable that the screen is separated into two parts, the upper one in black and white and the lower one in colour. It seems to be the same character at the same time. How do you explain this? The bottom part represents what we see in reality and the top part represents the character's true feelings.
So, he is a rather good-humoured man, but in the end he does not let his good mood show.

1 From second 32 onwards, we see a dog on the screen.Why is it the same above and below?
Because the dog does not hide his feelings, he clearly shows us his state of mind.
2 Ataround second 0: 52, a child is playing with a butterfly; he too does not seem to be hiding his feelings, he is drawn in the same way in black and white and in colour.Why do you think this is?
We can imagine that the child is very young and does not mask his emotions.
3 Can you think of an example where children can mask their emotions?
For example, sometimes when a child falls down, even though he is in pain, he can pretend not to be in pain out of pride.
4 Can you think of an example where children, however, can mask their emotions?
For example, sometimes when a child falls down, even though it hurts, they may pretend it doesn't hurt out of pride.
5 Around the second 55, the main character meets another adult.What do you notice about him?
He seems to be the opposite of our protagonist, this new character shows joy while looking very unhappy.
6 Then there is a long discussion between the two men; what does this evoke for you?
A discussion in which people hide their emotions too much prevents good communication between people (The Rooster and the Fox, fifteenth fable of book II by Jean de La Fontaine).
7 Do you sometimes hide your true feelings?
Open question / debate

Download PDF of the film's educational activities

Created with the support of the Ministry of Education and the CNC.
Family viewing of the film, educational activities with parents at home and with teachers in class.
Debates on appearance (EMC) (Cycle 2 and 3)
Educational activities proposed by Christophe Defaye based on the film Appearance and Reality.
Réseau Canopé course (Appearance)
Thematic course created by Patrice Rocas based on 4 films including Appearance and Reality.

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