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Finger Trap, The

Julia McLean, 2008

A husband has prepared a romantic surprise as an anniversary present for his wife. He has laid out flowers and champagne and put music on.

Waiting for her return, to pass the time he starts to play around with a mystery object in a box – a finger trap. We have no idea what the seemingly innocent “finger trap” involves but it soon becomes clear that this fun diversion has very serious consequences…

Clip Details

Genre: Comedy, Stop-Motion

Country of Origin: UK

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

Clip Length: 04:31

Age Group: P5-P7

Classroom Activities

  • This short film has no dialogue – does it need any? Why / why not?
  • When do we realise that the finger trap is not as innocent as we had at first thought? What scene reveals the truth of the situation?
  • We can interpret the “finger trap” as symbolic – what could it be symbolic of?
  • How would you describe the relationship the couple have? They’re not young – is there age important? What does this tell us?
  • How is humour used in the film? How successful is it in communicating the message of the film?
  • Do we sympathise with the man as he waits? How do we react as the situation unfolds? Who do we sympathise with at the end? Why?
  • Consider the work of Roald Dahl – can you find any similar stories with a sense of danger and destruction behind something seemingly innocent?
  • Write the conversation the man and woman might have at the end of this film.
  • What other relatively innocent situations could end seriously? Write a screenplay of how something simple and innocent had more serious consequences.

Clip Details

Genre: Comedy, Stop-Motion

Country of Origin: UK

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

Clip Length: 04:31

Education Level: Second Level