In the past or near future, the heroes of this story live on a train city that is constantly traveling.
This is one of the few dystopian science-fiction worlds in our selection of films for young children.
The opportunity to explain to students utopia, an imaginary construction of an ideal society in which the inhabitants would be free and happy, and its opposite dystopia, an imaginary construction of a society in which the inhabitants would be neither free nor happy.
In this growing frenzy, the wanderer seems spared and manages to forge strong bonds of affection with his dog. The film will also be an opportunity to address the theme of the disappearance of nature in urban environments but also the strength of the bonds that can unite man and animal.
The short film “Vagabond” was selected at the Takorama 2020 festival organized by the Films pour enfants association.
Understand the story and themes, express your feelings and develop critical thinking.
1Where does the film take place?
In a city with many people, a city without trees and without sky. We understand at the end of the film that this city is inside a giant train.
2Where do the main character of the film and his dog live?
They live under a bridge. This may make you think of homeless people. Note that the title of the film is Vagabond.
3A bell rings at 1:15 in the film. Why? What is happening?
The crowd runs for shelter because the city will be covered in immense black smoke. Dio and Loppe protect their faces.
4What is the event at 2 min 25 s of the film that will turn the lives of the man and his dog upside down?
The dog is taken away with a pile of rubbish in a wagon.
5What is Dio doing?
Dio goes looking for his dog but the crowd is too dense; he falls behind; black smoke covers the city again and Dio loses sight of his dog.
6What does he decide to do?
He decides to get into a wagon to find his dog.
7Where are the wagons going?
We understand, at 4 min 20 of the film, that the wagons are transporting the city's waste to an incineration center. The black smoke is certainly the result of burning trash.
8The wagon carrying the dog will soon spill its waste. What is Dio doing?
He decides to stop the machinery: the train stops suddenly.
9What do we discover then (6 min 5 s)?
We discover that the city is on a gigantic train which crosses natural landscapes.
10How is the city progressing? With what energy?
Thanks to the burning of city waste.
11What is the end of the film?
The man saves his dog, gets out of the train and discovers the landscape outside. He seems to breathe pure air for the first time in his life and discovers birds in the sky.
12What do you think of this city? Would you like to live there?
Open question/debate.
13How do you explain that humans live in the train city and not outside?
Open question/debate. The film does not give an answer and the students will offer their own interpretation.
14Why do people increasingly gather in large cities and abandon the countryside?
Open question/debate.
Created with the support of the French Ministry of Education and the French National Center for Cinema and Animated Images (CNC).
Watching the film with the family, educational activities with parents at home and with teachers in class.
