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__**A. "CHARLOTTE GRAY" PROJECT**__ ** 1. a. It all starts with the film __"Charlotte Gray"__. So, why don't you just watch it, do some research about it and then share your opinion with us? ** media type="youtube" key="ZLBepvteMpM" width="271" height="224" **Refresh your memory, by going through the following worksheet.** **and** **the possible key** **b. Peter said "War makes us into people we didn’t know we were." Do you also believe that war changes people?** **2. Now, share your comments. Edit the page and write here. The page will be open till next Sunday, the 27th November.**

** :)) YOUR PERSONAL COMMENTS ON THE FILM: **
==I liked the movie "Charlotte Gray". It represents very well the conflicts in France during World War II and the clashes between the allies and the germans. But, for me the greatest thing in this movie is Cate Blanchett's excelent performance. She's brilliant.== ==In relation to Peter's quote, I think that during war the "survival instinct" rises to his highest. During bad times we try to survive no matter what and protect our family and friends. That's what happens in war: if we have to do something bad to protect someone or ouselves, we do it.==

Gonçalo Henriques, nº13, 12ºF
**My first opinion and a very good one. I agree that Kate Blanchett's performance is brilliant, but I also believe that there's much more to it than the conflicts and clashes, isn't there? As for your comment on the quote, "the survival, protection instinct" is really at its highest. Excellent point:)) ANA** **This was one of the best movies we have ever seen. I really enjoyed the film because it tells one of the hidden stories behind the war, the stories that no one paid atention. I have to agree with both of you about Cate Blachett's performance, it was AWESOME!** **About Peter's quote, in my opinion the war can chance our personalities, our way of thinking, our way of living principally make deep changes on people who go through dramatic and traumatic experiences. Such experiences leave their marks on people, I believe it increases a survival and protection instinct.** **Rita Pinto** Ok, Rita, you did get to the point when you mentioned "one of the hidden stories", the so-called untold tales. My congratulations! :)) As for your comment on the quote, I've never experienced a war situation, but I've got along with people who did and who can never get over some of their terrible wounds. ANA Firstly, I enjoyed the film a lot, it shows how common citizens tried to survive facing World War II. There were scenes that impressed me, such as when Francoise is arrested or when Mr Levade and the children are taken away. However, "Charlotte Gray" can transmit the feelings of the woman behind the fiction. And of course, I would recomend it to my friends who haven't seen it yet .Secondly, about the quote and quoting my friends Gonçalo it is unquestionable that "if we have to do something bad to protect someone or ourselves, we do it". People try to be rational but there are some situations in life which oblige us to make snap decisions, these decisions might interfere with people we really care about or even with us. As Charlotte did, in order to rescue her boyfriend she sacrifised her own life and, even uninvoluntaraly, Francoise's... sometimes the worst scenario can make you act differently from the normal, but it can also define yourself. Mariana Ferreira Excellent, Mariana:)) those scenes also impressed me a lot because they made me think of how ordinary citizens were affected. There was some kind of identification and transfer process as if I could relive the scene myself. We do forget ourselves when our beloved obnes are at stake, don't we? ANA Yeah. I really liked K. Blanchett's preformance. The whole movie was extremely good.The beggining grapples you to the history, especially when she says: «The Nazis were the enemy. And because good must triumph over evil, so we would triumph over them. How could we have know that war ever trades in such certainty? That we are nothing is unthinkable. Anything could be true. Even a lie.» **Al-medina 12th F** Extremely good, Al-medina:)) That quote is also the one I like the best. But, what do you think she's really talking about? What's the "lie", that "anything that could be true"? Please, humour me, will you? ANA I guess that it is impossible for someone to be involved in a war and not change. First, it means that that person will be away from its family, friends and maybe the person that he loves. Not only a war is traumatizing but it also leaves scars, very deep scars, in a person that faced that kind of tragedy. Here in Portugal we have the example of those men who were sent to the Portuguese Colonial War, some of them were only boys at the time. The ones who survived and their families have been facing the consequences until nowadays. ====So, as I said today in class, Charlotte was looking for a way of being brave. She wanted to make the difference in others lives because she had been impotent until then. She didn't know how "extraordinary" she was, but when she finally got the strenght to make the decision to go to France, she took the most important step of her life. Emilia Mota ====

Very good, Emília:)) I do agree that war changes people and leaves some scars. As you very nicely put it, Charlotte was finding her own way to be brave. We often do the same when there's a time in our lives we need to take a stand and do sth different with our lives. ANA I agree with most of what has been said. I also liked the movie very much because it has a powerful message which people can relate to. On one hand it shows the consequences in the lives of those who chose to be in war and to fight for their country’s safety and independence. Charlotte is an example of those people and she had to deal with a lot of feelings, sometimes feelings of guilt for living while her colleagues died. On the other hand, the film shows the lives of those who are caught in the middle of the war and try to survive. Mr. Levade was one of those people, as he was taken away along with two boys he barely knew, while trying to save them. Furthermore, I also believe that the fact that Charlotte writes a letter pretending to be the boys’ mother is an important part of the movie due to the fact that it emphasizes the constant fight and search for hope, the thing Charlotte herself considered essential at the beginning. Finally, I find this quote very intelligent, because I do believe that in war we show another side of ourselves that we didn’t even know to be existent and sometimes we even lose part of who we were, as the influence of it on us is too deep. Núria Paulo Excellent comment, Núria! One of the reasons why I chose this film was that it may relate to our personal life. We may turn into Charlotte any minute now and feel the way she does, be caught in a web, trying desperately to survive and get on with our lives. Sometimes we just lack that second in time when anything can be changed and fear not to have the courage she had to face the reality. ANA The movie was based in a very interesting story but I think it misses a bit of action, but it shows us how war can be awful. Charlotte is a small example of a true person in time of war should be I we must think in that and reach to the conclusion that besides everything we must be true to ourselves untill the end.... **Renato** Ok, Renato, I have to admit it's not an action movie, as you put it, but the idea of being "true to ourselves" is one of the most important in the film, sth we should always strive for. ANA **"Charlotte Gray" is a story founded on hope and love, in which they're both capable of rebuilding and destroying. It's a constant struggle to pretend not to be their real selves so as to keep their lives. However, that is always momentaneous since emotions usually take place. But war is not only a stage to conceal true characters but also to reveal disgusting personalities, which is proved by the teacher's behaviour. On a different side, rises up my favourite character, Monsieur Levade, who is moved by the story of those unfortunate Jewish boys that lost their parents. Consequently, his tenderness comes into surface and we can see his regret of not having guided his son, Julien during his childhood. I also found the moment when the psychiatrist was asking Charlotte to relate a word to another one that he would give her very suggestive. In fact, I believe mental therapy would be able to strike an effect on traumatized people from war, as they would get the chance to get rid off some of their frustrations, inner pains, restlessness. Off course they wouldn't forget those awful images in their minds but they would figure out a way to lock out some ghosts. **Vitória Melo War is definitely a time to "conceal true characters" and also "reveal disgusting personalities". (as you so incredibly put it, Vitória) That involving capacity of making us reveal our innermost self is at the same time soothing and terrifying. As for the mental therapy effect, I'm not that enthusiastic in terms of its good results. However, sth must be done to scare off the ghosts of traumatic experiences. Excellent comment, really :)) ANA The film "Charlotte Gray" show us a story of a young women spy that is willing to leave all behind in order to pursuit her love. This plot also reveals how can a person life and personality change due to the cruelty of the war. In fact even now we can't know how deeply can a person's life be affected by war. This were the main reasons that led me to enjoy this film. Also it give us a perspective of how bad war can be to mankind. It contains a strong message that every single viewer should retain and think about it. Ps: Why is the background pink???? Don't know how to change it.... Filipe Borges 12E ** Filipe, in my personal opinion, what made her leave everything behind was more than love, but her need to prove herself, to be brave. As for your other considerations, I agree with them totally and consider them to be very good points. Congrats:)) ** **War is meant to be an extraordinary period, and so it must change evryone who is a part of it. I don't expect a person that goes trough the devastation of war to have the same personality as it had before, it isn't logical. About the movie: I think it shows us a correct representation of the war effort, it means leaving your country some times, and work with a sense of fear hovering above your head at all times. Also it shows us that war isn't always grabbing a weapon and going " rambo style" towards your enemies, it takes hard work behind enemy lines and it is mostly logistical.** **Telmo 12ºE** A very good analysis of war... I specially liked the "rambo style" ANA
 * Just like all the students from both classes, from what I've seen, my opinion is that it is a great film. I can say that if I found myself on World War II, I would emmigrate to a neutral country, I guess I can say I would chickened up. So, what Charlotte Gray did was pretty brave.. Moreover, going on an unknown trip, an adventure to find herself, after all, is always a bold moove, as we've seen on Into the Wild, last year. So, the film combines two major aspects: bravery and love. The second part as you know has got to be present on a moovie so I can call it, at least, a good moovie. To sum up, as the film has not only a really deep side on war related themes and a FEMALE bravery example (I liked the fact that it was a woman, it's always a man being brave and saving the day), but also an exciting part in what concerns to the love aspect: two real loves, but only one possible. Regarding your question, teacher, I can't really say what are the consequences of being part of a war, as everyone standed, but besides feeling of traumas envolving nightmares, the person in case should emphazise his/her p **** atriotism and be proud of the act he/she accomplished. You gotta take some balls to go on field and participate in the real war ! Mariana Marques **


 * "Charlotte Gray" is a movie in which a different perspective of Second World War is shown. Usually, Second World War movies' spread a message of how difficult was life in concentration camps, how women waited for their men and so on. Here, we have the important role that some women had in this war, as they were able to participate directly on it. Despite the fact that Charlotte Gray was too emotional, it's true that we are also able to see her courage and intelligence on the movie. By these last reasons, I believe all the women who were spies, should be seen as an example, as they struggled not only to survive but also to fight for all their beloved ones who were killed. Teresa Silva **

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