Below are a number of films that are commonly available at video stores.  Each of these films was selected purposefully because it dealt with one or more of the following issues:  relationships, family functioning, and culture and ethnicity. Your assignment is to select one of these films, view it, and write a film review that is guided by specific questions which are listed below.  The film review is due Feb 10, 2000 during class time.

Questions and Areas to Address in Your Film Review
 
The film review is a 3-4 page paper directed at one of the films listed below.  To guide you in your review, please consider the following questions within the context of your paper.  There are other issues that we have covered in class that might pertain to your particular film as well.  If so, include them in your review.

1.  How do you think this family's/group's culture or ethnicity impacted on the relationships and/or family dynamics in this film?

2.  What are the "stereotypes" presented in this film?  Were some of your stereotypes challenged in this film?  If so, how?

3.  What are the major societal/environmental issues impacting on the main characters in this movie?  How so?

4.  What are the "messages" or "lessons" of this film?

5.  What did you learn about yourself through this film?

List of Films Acceptable for Review

Joy Luck Club (1993) Four acculturated Chinese daughters play out their relationships with their China-born mothers.
The Women of Brewster Place (1989) Black woman trying to raise her son in inner-city environment.
Mother (1996) Forty-some year old son returns home to live with his mother after his divorce while blaming her for his failures.
Home for the Holidays (1995) Adult children return to their parents’ home for the Thanksgiving holiday.
Avalon (1990) Shows three generations of Russian Jewish emigrants across 50 years.
Hannah and Her Sisters (1986) Two years in the lives of three adult sisters and their parents and families.
Ordinary People (1980) North Shore wealthy family struggling to cope with the death of teenage son and his brother’s subsequent suicide attempt.
Only the Lonely (1991) Adult son feel caught between his strong-willed Irish mother and feelings of loyalty to family and his love of a non-Irish woman.
Moonstruck (1987) Depicts a New York Italian family and its various traditions, beliefs and relationships.
Mississippi Masala (1992) African American man marries Asian Indian woman much to the displeasure of both families.
South Central (1992) Father who was once a gang member himself, works hard to keep his son from the gangs.
Menace II Society (1993) Teen gang member struggles with his inner-city life while trying to break away from the gangs.
Straight Out of Brooklyn (1991) An inner city teen works to get his family out of the impoverished and violence-filled neighborhood in which they live.
A Walk In the Clouds (1995) White man pretends to be Latino woman’s boyfriend to help her face her family with pregnancy.
A Family Thing (1996) White man traces his "roots" to find he was the product of his father’s affair with a black servant.
Double Happiness (1995) Daughter of Hong Kong immigrants wants to be an actress and is dating a white man, both of which cause conflict with her parents.
Dim Sum: A Little Bit of Heart (1985) Chinese mother and daughter conflict over mother’s desire for her to marry when she wants a career.
The Great Santini (1980) Southern white family is ruled by a dominating patriarch.
Mia Familia (Mexican-American)
Soul Food (African American)
Eve’s Bayou (Southern)