Napoleon Dynamite (2004 – rated PG)
Depicting the high school experience through the eyes of an over-the-top outsider, the film shows some of the coping techniques used by bullied students. Napoleon is a high school student who lives with his 32-year-old, unemployed brother and his outrageous grandmother. He is supremely awkward in his appearance and daydreams his way through school, doodling ligers (lion-tiger hybrids) and fantasy creatures while reluctantly dealing with the assorted bullies who frequently torment him.
To make himself appear more interesting and dangerous, Napoleon frequently makes up fantastic stories about himself and responds to being questioned with unprovoked anger.
Napoleon becomes friends with two students at his school: Deb, a shy girl who runs various small businesses to finance her college career; and Pedro, a transfer student from Mexico. The three quickly develop a close bond strengthened by their shared outcast status. After a series of dubious decisions and misunderstandings, the three end up happy, with Pedro being elected class president and Napoleon and Deb forming a relationship.
- See more at: http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/booster/movie-messages-about-bullying.shtml#sthash.zfJvHuKK.dpuf
Let’s start with a couple questions form the official Napoleon Dynamite Web page.
o If you could have any mythical beast as a pet, what would it be?
o If you could take any food (other than potatoes) and make it into a tot, what food would you choose?
Do you think the movie is a comedy? Do you think some people will say it wasn’t?
What did you think of Napoleon the first time you saw him?
How do you think Napoleon saw himself?
o Did he think he was a dork or a nerd?
o Did he care?
Do you think Napoleon had any nun chuck skills?
o How about poison dart skills?
o Did he have skills as an artist?
o What were his best skills?
What is the “social order” in your high school?
o Who’s at the top? (no names)
o Where do you think Napoleon would fit in?
o Where is your place?
What was Napoleon’s biggest problem?
o Kip?
o Uncle Rico?
Would you vote for Pedro or Summer? Why?
o Where do you think Napoleon will be in twenty years?
o Pedro?
o Deb?
o Kip?
o Uncle Rico?
