Commentary on the film: Les ailes du papillon
A political fable about despotism, tyranny and human exploitation.Selfishness, intolerance and conflicts are always present in our world and the short film allows us to address humanist values such as equality, solidarity and respect for human dignity with students from the fourth grade onwards.
A king claims to want to overthrow the oppressor to save the children and hides his secret dream: to steal the stars.
A particularly original idea to remind us that the absurd and excessive ambitions of adults are synonymous with suffering and that the victims are often the children.
The poetry and the magnificent music of the film composed by the director exacerbate the pain of the children.
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Understand the story, the theme, express your sensibility and exercise your critical mind.Star Wars. Dictatorship and oppression.
A political fable about despotism, tyranny and the exploitation of men.
A king pretends to want to overthrow the oppressor in order to save the children and hides his secret dream: to steal the stars.
A particularly original idea to remind us that the absurd and excessive ambitions of adults are synonymous with suffering and that the victims are often the children. Selfishness, intolerance and conflicts are always present in our world and the short film allows us to address humanist values such as equality, solidarity and respect for human dignity with pupils from the fourth grade onwards.
The director has chosen a simple style with the use of ink and watercolour to draw the eye to the essential. The poetry and the beautiful music of the film composed by the director exacerbate the pain of the children.
1 What do the posters represent at the beginning of the film (20 s)?
Children adoring a king.
2 Why are the children chained?
They are slaves of the king.
3 What does the butterfly represent (56 s)?Why does the child look at it
It represents freedom, the dream of another world.
4 Why does the king ask the violinist to play?
To put the children to sleep and wake up the stars.
5 What does the other king dream about?
He dreams of having more stars on his flag.
6 What does the other king explain to the journalists?
He explains that he has to wage war on the neighbouring king to save the children.
7 Is this what the film is really about?
No, the neighbouring king who oppresses the children is a pretext for waging war and stealing the stars.
8 What is the ending of the film?
It is a symbolic ending. A child has survived the war and starts to play the violin. The music allows the stars to free themselves but also to free all the other children. Music as a message of hope and peace.
Download the 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.
Philosophical debates (EMC) (Cycle 2 and 3)
Educational activities proposed by Séverine Devillers from the blog Le cartable de Séverine based on the film Les ailes du papillon.
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