Racer, The — Brad Day, 2019
This award-winning short follows the life of one man and his passion for motor racing all the way from when he was a young boy.
Classroom Activities
Print All- Critical
- Cultural
- Creative
- Clip Details
Critical
- Why might the filmmaker have chosen to open the film with a shot of a stormy sky?
- Watch the first 30 seconds of the film. What changes can you notice when we shift from the present to the past?
- Watch the sequence from 00:23 to 00:35. How does the filmmaker’s use of camera convey the boy’s energy and passion for motor racing?
- Watch the sequence from 01:09 to 01:58. What different narrative threads do we cut between here? Why are they edited together in the way they are?
- What do you notice about the lighting in the shots of the racer and his girlfriend? What mood does it create?
- The final part of the film (from 02:02 to 02:38) is entirely devoted to watching the racer in his car. Why do you think the filmmaker chose to do that?
Cultural
- Do you enjoy motor racing? Why (not)? Does this film make you more interested in it? Why (not)?
- What impact does motor racing have on the environment? Do you think motor racing can still be justified given its impact on climate change? Why (not)?
- Motor racing is still seen as a sport for men rather than women. Why do you think this is the case? Do you think shows like ‘Top Gear’ have a part to play in this attitude?
- The racer’s girlfriend seems to object to his pursuit of motor racing: why do you think this might be the case? Is she right to have these objections? Why (not)?
Creative
WRITE
- Write a descriptive piece or a poem conveying the excitement of driving a super car in a big race.
DRAMA
- In a group, become a car and the driver. Practise moving in unison in appropriate ways.
CDT
- Draw or make a model of your own super car.
PSHE
- The racer clearly knows from a young age that this is what he wants to do with his life. What did you want to do as a job when you were younger? Do you still want to do this? Why (not)?
- What personal skills do you think you need to develop to pursue an ambition or career? Which of these do you already have?
Clip Details
| Year of Production | 2019 |
|---|---|
| Genre | Drama |
| Curriculum Areas | Health and Wellbeing, Literacy and English, Technologies |
| Director | Brad Day |
| Country of Origin | Australia |
| Medium / Content | Live Action, Fiction, Colour, Sound |
| Themes | Feelings, Relationships, Loss / Memories, Work / Ambition, Identity / Self |
| Clip Length | 02:45 |
| Clip Length | 02:45 |
| Age Group | P5-P7, S1-S3, S4-S6 |
