L'Ile aux fleurs

Questions :

1. Why do you  think  this  film  won  the international  ‘Silver Bear’ prize at the Berlin Film Festival in 1989 ?

I think this film won this award in 1989, because it ends up giving general truths about life. It is devastatingly true at times. It shows the problems and limits of a consumer society, based on money.

Moreover, the final word is "Free" and we know that in 1989 this feeling of freedom is in the minds of many Germans even though the festival took place before the fall of the Berlin Wall.

1. What does this film  try  to  describe?

The three key words in this short film are: people, tomatoes and pigs.

This film highlights the problems of our consumer society. The narrator speaks throughout, telling many general truths. The words and images are very well chosen to shock the viewer and leave him stunned by all the evidence put before his eyes.

1. Which visual and linguistic  techniques were used to  surprise the viewers, attract  their attention and  help  them  to better understand  this subject ?

The techniques used to shock the viewer are very well mastered.

Several times the narrator tells us that "'the human being is distinguished from other animals by his highly developed tele-brain and his prehensile thumb", so that the film ends with an image of a human being eating food that is inedible for pigs.

The images and words are very strong, they make the viewer really aware.

1. Which  animals were shown and  for which reasons ?

The pigs are shown twice, once to be bought by Anette to be eaten. Then the second, at the end, to make the comparison with human beings and shock the audience.

The hen (or chicken) is shown several times to show the evolution of human beings.

1. What are your personal opinions  about  this short  film and  the subjects  it talked about ? My personal opinions on the film and the issues it deals with are that it is well made. It allows the viewer to have a real awareness. It highlights the different problems of our consumer society. Moreover, the neutral voice of the narrator makes it seem as if the whole system is obvious to everyone.

1. How would  you  have  changed this  film to  make it  even  better ? 

I don't think we would need to change this film. It implicitly deals with the limits of our society. It all starts with a tomato grown by Suzuki.

1. Which  4 nations are the  richest and  poorest in  the world(GDP) ?  Why !

The two richest nations are the USA and China, because on the one hand the Americans own the big brands and groups like Nike apple Microsoft and on the other hand, China has so many workers that many companies have relocated to China which increases its GDP. China lends money to many countries. Burundi and South Sudan are the poorest countries in the world

1. Globally, how  many people  earn $10  or less  every  day ?

Almost 46% of the world's population lives on less than €5.50 a day

1. Despite  being rich  in  natural resources, why do  you  think that  there  are so few millionaires  and billionaires in  South America and  Africa ?

Because many people in Africa take advantage of the misfortune of other people. Many heads of state embezzle money. In Africa many countries are affected by corruption.

1. Internationally, how many  people  still don’t have easy access to  clean drinking  water  free health, a  bank  account  and internet ?

4.2 billion people lacked access to safely managed sanitation services in 2017.

1. France is  one of  the wealthiest  nations  with  a  generous social security system ! Why therefore do  we see some poor people asking for money  in the  streets  and 14.1% (INSEE 2017) of french citizens live below the poverty line ? Maybe in 2021, fewer people find themselves in  this category !

Because French people are always asking for more social solutions without wanting to be taxed. If in 40 years people paid at the SMIC cannot become owners, it is because they have spent their money in a wrong way. France is the country where there is the most social aid and the French still ask for more without wanting to pay more taxes.

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