English Language Film Club

Do you like watching films? Do you love talking about, debating, and discussing movies and television shows?
Then the English Language Film Club (ELF) is for you!

ELF is a book-club-style discussion group on English-language films and television shows at the English Department. Whether it be themes, characters, plot, music, costumes or simply what you enjoyed (or didn't...) – we are interested in hearing your thoughts!

During the semester, we will watch a selection of feature films, television shows, and documentaries together. After each showing, we will have a discussion on the movie/show we watched, and how it fits into our general theme.

If you are interested in joining the club or have any questions or suggestions, please write an email to Sophie Bantle at sophie.bantle@anglistik.uni-freiburg.de. You can also find the film club on Instagram (@elfclub.freiburg).

Theme

Every semester, the movies and television shows we discuss fall under a theme.

2023 Summer Semester | Theme: "The Female Gaze"

Please find the dates and times of our meetings below. You can either let yourself be surprised about what movie/TV show will be shown or get in touch via email to receive more information on the program. If you join the first session, you will also be able to participate in the selection of movies/TV shows we will watch during the semester.

We will meet Wednesdays, at 6 pm c.t. (ending around 9 pm c.t. depending on the length of the movie/TV show) in Übungsraum 2 (KG IV) on the following dates:

May 3
May 17
June 14
June 28
July 5
July 19
Final session (date tbd): We will go to the movies together to watch Greta Gerwigs Barbie

Content Warning: Please be aware that some of the movies/TV shows we will watch deal with strong subject matter, including sexual assault. You can contact us anytime to receive more detailed information.

2022/23 Winter Semester | Theme: Coming-of-Age

Once a month we will meet to discuss a movie or television show we will all have watched at home before the sessions (all programs will be widely available via streaming services).

Wednesdays | 6–7.30 pm

	November 16, Übungsraum 2 (KG IV) \| Introduction: The Coming-of-Age Genre Let's get to know each other and speak about our wishes and expectations for the film club! During this first session, we will also discuss the genre of Coming-of-Age stories and share our favorite Coming-of-Age films and television shows. There will be time to decide which movie or television show we want to discuss during our last session on April 5.
	December 14, HS 1234 (KG I) \| Stand by Me (1986) "Imbued with nostalgia and influencing numerous subsequent Coming-of-Age narratives, among them Boyz n the Hood or Stranger Things, Rob Reiner's adaptation of a Stephen King novella retrospectively recounts how four 12 year-old boys go on a journey to find the body of a missing boy in Castlerock, Oregon in 1959. Along the way, they learn about themselves, the meaning of friendship and the need to stand up for what is right."
	January 11, Übungsraum 2 (KG IV) \| Derry Girls, Ep. 1 (2018-2022) "Set against the backdrop of the Northern Ireland Troubles, this comedy series, created by Lisa McGee, follows a group of friends as they navigate their teens in the early 1990s."
	February 1, HS 1234 (KG I) \| Moonlight (2016) "Presented in a triptych form, the winner of the 2017 Best Picture Academy Award tells the story of a young African-American man who grapples with his identity and sexuality while experiencing the everyday struggles of childhood, adolescence, and burgeoning adulthood."
	March 8, Übungsraum 2 (KG IV) \| Clueless (1995) "A 20th-century retelling of Jane Austen's Emma, Clueless, directed by Amy Heckerlin, revolves around Cher, a high school student in Beverly Hills, who must survive the ups and downs of adolescent life. Her external demeanor at first seems superficial, but rather it hides her wit, charm, and intelligence which help her to deal with relationships, friends, family, school, and the all-important teenage social life."
	April 4, Übungsraum 2 (KG IV) \| Booksmart (2019) “On the eve of their high-school graduation, two academic superstars and best friends realize they should have worked less and played more. Determined not to fall short of their peers, the girls try to cram four years of fun into one night."

	November 16, Übungsraum 2 (KG IV) \| Introduction: The Coming-of-Age Genre Let's get to know each other and speak about our wishes and expectations for the film club! During this first session, we will also discuss the genre of Coming-of-Age stories and share our favorite Coming-of-Age films and television shows. There will be time to decide which movie or television show we want to discuss during our last session on April 5.
	December 14, HS 1234 (KG I) \| Stand by Me (1986) "Imbued with nostalgia and influencing numerous subsequent Coming-of-Age narratives, among them Boyz n the Hood or Stranger Things, Rob Reiner's adaptation of a Stephen King novella retrospectively recounts how four 12 year-old boys go on a journey to find the body of a missing boy in Castlerock, Oregon in 1959. Along the way, they learn about themselves, the meaning of friendship and the need to stand up for what is right."
	January 11, Übungsraum 2 (KG IV) \| Derry Girls, Ep. 1 (2018-2022) "Set against the backdrop of the Northern Ireland Troubles, this comedy series, created by Lisa McGee, follows a group of friends as they navigate their teens in the early 1990s."
	February 1, HS 1234 (KG I) \| Moonlight (2016) "Presented in a triptych form, the winner of the 2017 Best Picture Academy Award tells the story of a young African-American man who grapples with his identity and sexuality while experiencing the everyday struggles of childhood, adolescence, and burgeoning adulthood."
	March 8, Übungsraum 2 (KG IV) \| Clueless (1995) "A 20th-century retelling of Jane Austen's Emma, Clueless, directed by Amy Heckerlin, revolves around Cher, a high school student in Beverly Hills, who must survive the ups and downs of adolescent life. Her external demeanor at first seems superficial, but rather it hides her wit, charm, and intelligence which help her to deal with relationships, friends, family, school, and the all-important teenage social life."
	April 4, Übungsraum 2 (KG IV) \| Booksmart (2019) “On the eve of their high-school graduation, two academic superstars and best friends realize they should have worked less and played more. Determined not to fall short of their peers, the girls try to cram four years of fun into one night."