The Giver - an Intense Film About the

Effects of Accepting the Good and

Bad Memories of Life

Based on Lois Lowry's book, this highly anticipated film tells the story of a
perfect world where everyone is happy. Film Critic Willie J comments, "This film
is really quite an achievement. To bring such a loved and popular book, with
tons of deep ideas and themes, and execute as wonderfully as Director Philip
Noyce and company do, is great." Samantha A adds, "This movie is very
captivating. I had my eyes glued to the screen the whole time, not wanting to
miss a second of the story."

Release Date: 2014 Duration: 100 min

Cast: Odeya Rush, Meryl Streep, Brenton Thwaites, Alexander Skarsgrd, Jeff
Bridges, Cameron Monaghan, Taylor Swift, Katie Holmes, Emma Tremblay

Categories: Movies, Action, Drama, Fantasy, Sci-Fi

The Giver is a 2014 American social science fiction film directed by Phillip
Noyce and written by Michael Mitnick and Robert B. Weide based on the 1993 novel
of same name by Lois Lowry. The film stars Jeff Bridges, Meryl Streep, Brenton
Thwaites, Cameron Monaghan, Odeya Rush, Alexander Skarsgrd,Katie Holmes,
and Taylor Swift. It was released in the United States on August 15, 2014.
 Episode 1 (0 12.46)

Before you watch

Study the following vocabulary from the episode

boundary the real or imaginary line that marks the

edge
erase delete, destroy
equality a situation in which people have the same
rights, advantages etc
precise exact, clear, and correct
assign to give someone a particular job or make
them responsible for a particular person or
thing
curfew a law that forces people to stay indoors after
a particular time at night, or the time people
must be indoors
eliminate destroy
nurture to feed and take care of a child or a plant
while it is growing
release here: kill by giving a lethal injection (the
elsewhere members of the community do not realize
that release actually means death)
anxious extremely worried
remote the opposite of attendance in person,
attendance attendance with the help of a computer,
television or some other device of that kind
in person actually present
disorder a situation in which a lot of people behave in
an uncontrolled, noisy, or violent way in
public
chaos a situation in which everything is happening
in a confused way and nothing is organized
or arranged in order
suffering serious physical or mental pain
envy jealousy, the feeling of wanting something
that someone else has
hatred an angry feeling of extreme dislike for
someone or something
solution a way of solving a problem or dealing with a
difficult situation
serene very calm or peaceful
reckless not caring or worrying about the possible
bad or dangerous results of your actions
careless not paying enough attention to what you are
doing, so that you make mistakes, damage
things etc
echo a sound that you hear again after a loud
noise, because it was made near something
such as a wall

While you watch

1. Complete the following sentences with the actual words you hear in the
film.

1) ______, ______, ______, ______ - they were not words so much as sounds. Their
______ were gone to the other side of history.

2) Beginnings: from ______ and ______, from great ________, great ______, from
_______ and ______ and ______ came a ________ - communities, ________, beautiful
places, where ________ became ________.

3) Today we honor your ________, for they have ________ your future.

4) Jonas has not been ________ a position, Jonas has been ________.

2. Say whether the following statements are true or false.

1) Rules are the building blocks of the equality in the community.

2) All the members of the community have last names.

3) All the members of the community are assigned their jobs and their purpose at
16.

4) Jonas has always wanted to be different.

5) Differences are allowed in the community.

6) Fiona has been assigned the position of a birthmother.

After you watch

Answer the following questions about the episode

1. What are the communities? What are they protected by?

2. What happened to the memories of the past?

3. What kind of society was created after the Ruin? Why is the film shot in black and
white?

4. What were the rules obeyed by all the members of the community?

5. How did Jonas feel the day before the graduation? Why?

6. Why did the Elders eliminate all inequality?

7. What is wrong with the baby in the nurturing centre? Why cant he be assigned to
a family unit?

8. Jonass father did something with the baby which was against the rules. What
was it? Why did he do it?

9. What do Jonas, Fiona and Asher decide about themselves before the day of the
ceremony?

10. What happened to Lilys teacher?

11. Why does Jonas feel terrified and anxious before the ceremony of growth? Why
does his mother disapprove of him using the word terrified?

12. How do his father and mother try to reassure him?

13. What is meant by transmission?

14. Why did the Chief Elder admit that she called every community her favourite
one?

15. What ceremonies take place annually?

16. What happens to newborn children after they are given names?

17. How are teenagers assigned jobs and their purpose in life? What is
observation?

18. What do children receive at the age of 9? What does it symbolize?

19. Why does the Chief Elder speak about the positive role of the differences at the
ceremony of growth?

20. What job has been assigned to Asher? Is he happy about it?

21. Why has the Chief Elder skipped Jonas? What 4 attributes does Jonas possess?

22. What has Jonas been selected as? What does his training involve?