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Way We Played, The [Kako smo se igrali]

Samir Mehanovic, 2005

On the eve of war in Bosnia, two boys play, unaware of what is going on in their country. As they venture into an abandoned fort searching for treasure, they find a buried rifle, oblivious to the fact that this discovery is going to change everything forever.

In Serbo-Croat with English subtitles.

Clip Details

Genre: Drama

Country of Origin: UK

Clip Length: 13:20

Age Group: S4-S6

Classroom Activities

  • Watch and listen to the first 30 seconds of the film before the title appears. What is the mise-en-scène (costume, lighting, blocking, shot selection…) revealing to us about the setting (place, time, atmosphere)?
  • Watch to 00:39 seconds. What do you think is happening here? What are the hints we get from what you can hear? (Muslims at prayer) This scene has been included to help us understand an important difference between the two boys – what is this?
  • Play from 01:05 – 02:02 without the picture, sound only. What do you think is happening here? Can you describe what you are hearing? What sort of mood is there in this scene?
  • Watch up to 02:21. Can you tell what seems strange about the teacher’s announcement about school closing? (This is the first hint we get about the impending trouble)
  • Freeze frame at 03:43. Why does the camera move behind the boys? What is the camera shot telling the audience?
  • After the boys decide to go up to the fort and look for the treasure, what techniques are used to make this seem like an exciting adventure?
  • Freeze frame at 04:42. What camera angle is this? Why do you think they have chosen to use this shot here?
  • At 05:16, we get a visual clue that there is potential trouble – what is this?
  • “Maybe it’s a grave”: how does this line of dialogue make the audience feel? When they then start to bring something wrapped up out of the ground, what do you think the director wants us to think?
  • There is real tension when Stevo and Ramiz fight over the rifle. What techniques are used to make this scene feel so tense?
  • Watch from 07:36 – 07:56. How can you tell that this sequence is a dream?
  • When Stevo wakes up, what does he see happening outside his bedroom window? Why do we see this from over his shoulder and not a close-up of what is happening?
  • What is the atmosphere when Stevo’s father is sitting at the table? How is this atmosphere achieved?
  • When Stevo and his parents are sitting at the table together and his father takes out the list of names, what is his mother’s response to this? What are we supposed to figure out from this scene?
  • What two shocking things does Stevo see on the way to Ramiz’s house? Why are we shown these things?
  • As an audience, how do you feel at the end of the film? Why do you feel this way?
  • Watch the scene in which the boys go to the fort from (04:20 -07:27). Using play doh or plasticine, make a short stop motion animation.
  • Write a film review and present it in the form of a vlog.
  • Design a poster for the film. Remember to include the name of the film, the director and some eye-catching images/typography to attract audiences to watch the film.

Clip Details

Genre: Drama

Country of Origin: UK

Clip Length: 13:20

Education Level: Senior Phase