French and Francophone Cinema

What is your response to this screenshot from the film? What are some dreams you have, or some that you've had, that were disrupted by challenges?

Creative meme time:
Post a meme relating to any of the themes in "Neka (Mommy)"

Creative challenge time:
Create a sketch that either shows something your own mom persevered through, or something that makes her unique.

Creative challenge time!
The task is to write a haiku poem about the film "Neka (Mommy)"

What other connections can be formed to "Neka (Mommy)"? How can this art piece be connected to others? Are there any specific comparisons that can be drawn?

In "Neka (Mommy)", the narrator says, “Mom, how can you still believe in it now? Mom, do you remember when we talked the other day...You told me that you too had dreams. You wanted to teach. You always wanted a car and a house.”

What is the significance of the narrator’s switch to talking about her mom to directly talking to her?

There is a scene in "Neka (Mommy)" where the little girl is drawn sitting, knees bunched up to her chest as she cries into her palms, hints of tears colored orange streaking across her face. The little girl is drawn with black hair and a pink shirt. At this point the drawing is slowly covered by black ink that consumes the scene in a circular pattern until the little girl has disappeared and the whole page is scribbled black. As this occurs the woman says, “I would have liked to been there, close to you.”

What is the purpose of the color used in this specific drawing? Why is color not used in the other drawings?

"Neka (Mommy)" opens by portraying a piece of paper with the following line displayed: “The goal of residential schools was to force native children to talk, dress, think and act like non-native”. What is the point in abruptly beginning in this way? How does this quote function in regards to the film as a whole?

What are the long term effects of these residential schools that are described in "Neka (Mommy)"? How is that explained through the film?

How is the idea of womanhood explored in "Neka (Mommy)"?

In "Neka (Mommy)", the daughter says, "Today, I am achieving your dreams. I am proud of you Mom. You are a survivor. I will survive as well.”

The woman describes her mom as a “survivor”. How can this apply to other women?

It is clear from "Neka (Mommy)" that the daughter and mother have an interesting relationship. How does the film approach the relationship between a mother and daughter? How is that depicted through the film?

How did the drawings in "Neka (Mommy)" contribute to the voice over's of the narrator? Also, how did any background noise in the film add to the film?

What is your favorite scene from "Neka (Mommy)? What did this scene add to the film?

How does the format of paper drawings add meaning to "Neka (Mommy)"? Why was this approach chosen and to what extent was it successful?

What is the main purpose of in "Neka (Mommy)"? What were the major themes expressed? Comment below why these themes are important.

To get the conversation rolling about "Neka (Mommy)", I have included a brief summary of the plot:

This documentary explores the treatment of children put through residential schools through the perspective of a woman who's mom, Neka, was put through the challenges of this system. The film is depicted through drawings on paper by pencil, with voice overs of Neka's daughter. Neka explains how her mom suffered at this school, blaming her mom's damaged psyche on the Church and Priests that lead the school. The film shifts to Neka directly acknowledging her mom, giving her acknowledgment for the awful treatment she received from a school that stripped her of her culture, and therefore ties to her family and identity.

What is your first reaction to the film?

Please comment other main points I may have forgotten to include below!

Hello French and Francophone Cinema enthusiasts! The first film we will be discussing on the page is "Neka (Mommy)"

-The film is linked below for all of you to check out!
http://www.wapikoni.ca/movies/neka

Neka (Mommy) | Wapikoni mobile On a paper, crumpled with time, a young woman pays tribute to her mother.

Bonjour! This page is a place where we can all comment our insights, reviews, and discussions of Francophone films from Quebec with a focus on female strength and feminism. Feel free to present questions, or comment responses, so that we can share our interest on this subject and form a community on this page! The film we will be discussing on this page is "Neka (Mommy)".