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Lucia

Felix Gönnert, 2004

A sick little girl escapes from her room to explore the dark corridors of the hospital at night. Frightened by some of what she sees, she darts into a room where she discovers several x-rays. The image of a skull sparks her imagination and before long, dream and reality begin to blur...

Clip Details

Genre: Adventure

Country of Origin: Germany

Medium/Content: 3D Animation, Colour, Sound, Fiction

Clip Length: 09:00

Age Group: P5-P7

Classroom Activities

  • Why is Lucia in hospital?
  • What does Lucia see flying?
  • What does the flying creature represent? What does the little ball represent?
  • lLsten to the first two minutes of the film without watching it. Ask pupils to note what sounds they can hear. What do they think are making these sounds? What else do the sounds remind them of?
  • Watch the sequence in the X-ray room (with sound and vision). Discuss what sounds help you to imagine where Lucia is when she watches the flying ‘object’?
  • There is no dialogue in Lucia. How do we understand the story and get pieces of information through use of close-ups on objects, things, people and their reactions? Use freeze frames or printout stills from the film to discuss.
  • Note ways that the camera makes us ‘see’ what it wants us to see in this film (for example the drip, the moon, the fish, the X-ray of the skull).
  • Ask pupils to note any moments where they feel uneasy or worried for Lucia (e.g. when we see the shadows at the bottom of the bed, the shadow of the nurse entering the room, and when we see the person with the syringe). Discuss where the camera is in these shots and why the camera is in this position.
  • Show the sequence from 02:12 to 02:50 (Lucia getting out of bed, opening the door, and walking down the corridor). Discuss where the camera is for this sequence and why the camera is in this position.
  • Why does the fish changes colour and then change again when it swallows Lucia’s ‘ball’? Why are these colours used?
  • What kind of music can you hear in the film? How does it make you feel?
  • How would the film have been different if the characters had been real, not animations?
  • Watch the title sequence. Discuss what is happening to Lucia? What kind of photographs are being taken and why? Encourage children to share their own experiences.
  • Watch to the point where the camera zooms onto the drip (00:57). Discuss what is happening. Where is the film set? What or who are the shadows? What is hanging up above Lucia? Why is it there? Those children with experiences of hospital will be able to add detail and share their own ideas about what is happening.
  • Build up a word bank of words relating to health and hospitals.
  • Ask if any pupils have been ill or been to hospital or visited someone in hospital. How did they feel? Discuss experiences.
  • Investigate how to re-tell Lucia’s story – or tell their own hospital story – using a simple animation program.

Clip Details

Genre: Adventure

Country of Origin: Germany

Medium/Content: 3D Animation, Colour, Sound, Fiction

Clip Length: 09:00

Education Level: Second Level