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Destiny

Fabien Weibel, 2012

A man who is obsessed with clocks and keeping time is about to have his world turned upside down.

After waking one morning and completing his perfectly timed routine, he steps outside and is hit by a bus. He instantly wakes up, finding that he is back in his own bed and hoping it was all just a bad dream - only to discover that there are now two of him. However, they are operating a few seconds apart. He seizes the opportunity to try and save himself from the same fate, ending up stuck in an endless loop. Will he manage to change his destiny?

Clip Details

Genre: Drama

Country of Origin: France

Medium/Content: 3D Animation, Colour, Sound, Fiction, No Dialogue

Clip Length: 05:25

Age Group: P5-P7

Classroom Activities

  • Play the first few seconds. Ask pupils to consider what they have seen and the film title and discuss what they think they film is about.
  • What is the dominant sound in this film in the first 40 seconds? What does this tell the audience?
  • What do the shots of all the clocks suggest to us about the main character?
  • What do you think of the soundtrack? What impact does it have on the film?
  • How does the music change when he realises there is more than one of him now? What impression does this give?
  • How does the music change as the film goes on? What does this tell us about how the character is feeling?
  • What happens to the camera angles as the film progresses? What does this tell us about the mind-set of the man?
  • Pause the film at 05:17. Ask the pupils what they thought of the film – then ask them what they think happens next.
  • Discuss why they think the creators left the end scene until after the credits.
  • What do you think the moral of this story is?
  • Do you believe in destiny? If yes, does this effect the way you live your life day to day or change how you think?
  • Discuss the ending of this film. Did you expect that ending? What did you like or not like about it?
  • Research claims that people have travelled in time. What evidence do they provide? How realistic do you think this is?
  • If you could go back in history and change any event, what would you change? Pick an event and argue your case to the class. Once everyone has had their say, the class could vote on which persuaded them the most.
  • Discuss: how important is it to keep time? Do you think it okay to sometimes be late?
  • Many people believe in life after death and being reborn. Find a story of someone who believes they have been reborn. What do you think about this? Do you believe them?
  • Discuss films that have had surprise endings that might have left you shocked. What was it that surprised you? Did this help you to enjoy the film more?
  • Write your own screenplay about trying to beat destiny.
  • Create your own animation to bring your story about beating destiny at life.

    • Clip Details

    Genre: Drama

    Country of Origin: France

    Medium/Content: 3D Animation, Colour, Sound, Fiction, No Dialogue

    Clip Length: 05:25

    Education Level: Second Level