Today's Hat--Film Discussion Facilitator

Today I was the guest facilitator for the weekly English-language film club at the US Embassy. This is a public program offered by the Information Resource Center, which also provides computer access during the day for working on resumes and college applications, researching potential places of study in the US, etc. There is a small lending library as well.

The Foreign Service Officer who normally coordinates the film group (they like to watch episodes of West  Wing) is on vacation so I had the good luck of being invited  to fill in for the showing and discussion of the 2005 Best Picture awardee, "Good Night and Good Luck." You may recall this film covers the period of 1953-1958 and the role of the CBS News and Edward R. Murrow and Fred Friendly in fighting the shenanigans of Sen. Joseph McCarthy.

I warmed to my assignment by watching the film yesterday at home and preparing a handout with a summary, background on Murrow, context for the film, some unusual terms ("loyalty oath") and some discussion questions. I love this film, so you could say I was a pig in muck with this assignment (which is based in part on the fact George Clooney plays Fred Friendly). It also happened to be a perfect follow-on for last week's US Department of State visiting journalist, which is why it was selected.

Ten young men presented themselves and had a few minutes to read through the handout before I introduced the film. I realized while previewing it that this was likely going to be a big challenge, even for advanced English-speakers. The film assumes so much knowledge of American popular culture (references to Rin-Tin-Tin and Howdy Doody, a clip of a Liberace interview) and US history and the US Constitution that I warned them at the outset it might be difficult but just to listen and get what they could. In addition, it is almost all dialogue and there is a lot of sarcasm and fast repartee among the characters.

Four of the nine spoke up audibly after the film. They asked questions ranging from "What is scotch?" (an awful lot of it is consumed in the movie) to "How did Murrow  propose to compete with the USSR on ideas, not just bombs?" We talked across freedom of the press, transparency in government, the Cold War, and what else was happening in the US at the same time (Brown V. Board of Education, increasing numbers of women in college--thank goodness it was pre-pill). I offered to let them go on schedule at 4:00 but they had more questions and seemed determined to get answers.

At the end, I turned the tables on them and asked them why they attend the weekly meetings. One young man wearing a blue blazer (everyone else was in tee shirts or polo shirts) explained he has been coming since January because he got an invitation! His English is quite advanced and he sees this as an opportunity to learn more about the US, content issues, language; his dream is to visit and study in the US some day. He also thinks English will help him no matter what in the job market. Three others said something similar--to learn and improve his language. My guess is that they ranged in age from 19 or 20 to maybe 25 at the most. I invited them all to come to English Club at Villa Washington tomorrow at 5:00 for a discussion about traditions that celebrate mothers. Now let'shope I recognize the ones who come!