BLUE HIGHLIGHT: STRONGLY RECOMMENDED BUT NOT REQUIRED

DUE TUE  MARCH 17

BLOG  REQUIRED

SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS WILL APPEAR IN THE IN-CLASS QUIZ.
Use these questions to guide you through the screening of the film.

QUESTION 20 (see below) can be the springboard for the following discussion/debate:

African Americans are represented in "stereotypical roles." Do you think it was intentional on the part of the director to show them in those roles?
Or do you think it was unconscious, an expression of typical bias and implicit racism?
More explicitly: Do you remember the cartoon about Mafia thugs working as Amazon agents to intimidate Hachette?
Do you remember the implicit sexist representation of the secretary/receptionist? That probably wasn't intentional, just garden-variety insensitive sexism.
What about African Americans in this film.

Something that definitely escaped your attention is the British accent of the embalmer/hair dresser. An Italian audience would immediately understand that the code points to a gay person. That is "intentional stereotyping" and mocking.
 

1.      Who is Peppino Cavallo?

2.      What is Peppino’s job in Italy?

3.      Why did Peppino decide to go to America?

4.      What trick did he devise to get on the ship?

5.      What does Rosina do for a living?

6.      What is the name of the Mafia boss (old guy) 

7.      Where does he meet the Anarchist the first time?

8.      What is the first real job Peppino gets? How does a bomb end that?

9.      Peppino is told his father died in what kind of accident?

10.  How did Peppino’s father really died?

11.  What is his job when he is all dressed up with top hat and a cigar?

12.  What is the other job that Peppino gets and that infuriates Rosita?

13.  What did the anarchist sell out of desperation to survive?

14.  Was it really “pea soup?”

15.  And how did it taste?

16.  What was the anarchist’s dying wish?

17.  Why is Peppino put in prison? 

18.  How did Peppino managed to escape from prison?

19.  What does Pamela represent, symbolically?

20.  How are African Americans represented in the film? What roles do they have? Why?

21.  What is inside the big bass case that is loaded onto the ship?
 

  FOR your own reflection   You must be prepared to discuss these topics. If you don't think you can 'discuss', be ready to ask questions that can help you understand the issues presented in the film.

• DID you notice the anti-capitalist and anti-American message in the film?

• Are there any idealists in the film? Who are they?

• What is the message about the two transformations in Peppino's personality and goals in life?

• Did you notice the roles of African Americans (very small) in this movie? How are white Americans represented?
  Is this a negative representation of American society?

FOR FUTURE discussions:

Do recent immigrants have the right to demand changes in the political and economic system? Is it OK for them to criticize the system and become politically active in an opposition party, for instance? Do they have the right to demand specific rights for their communities (for example" religious rights, exemptions, time off from work for religious or cultural holidays, dietary restrictions, etc.)