Day 82: A Trip to the Moon (1902)
It is insane that this film is 111 years old! To help kids grasp the exponential growth of cinema, it is important they see the fullness of its beginnings. A Trip to the Moon is the perfect film to showcase the best of early cinema. Based on Jules Verne's From the "Earth to the Moon", this 1902 French film is a must. Only 14 minutes long, A Trip to the Moon can be viewed on multiple levels. From a historical context, this film was made when cinema was blossoming in France, not Hollywood, that would be later. The film was progressive for its development of a narrative. It is considered the first Science Fiction Film. Georges Melies the director is also credited with implementing firsts in editing, framing, animation and special effects. The most iconic special effect, of course, is the image of the spacecraft landing in the eye of the moon.
Themes: Science fiction, Travel, Curiosity, Adventure
Media Literacy Questions for kids: How does this film document a specific era in the growth of Cinema? What scenes stood out for you and why? How would this film be made today? Why was this film so popular during its release? What was the typical kid seeing for entertainment then? What were the alternative mediums of entertainment/information?
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