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Films and Film clips

Film: VS.

VS. is a British film from 2018, directed by Ed Lilly. The film is a rite-of-passage drama. We follow the teenager Adam as he is introduced to the exciting and hostile UK rap battle scene.
Photo of the actor Connor Swindells as the character Adam in the film VS. A teenage boy in a black cap, black t-shirt and a red hoodie.
The main character, Adam from the film VS. Image: Norgesfilm AS, Nonstop Entertainment AB / Restricted right of use

Adam is angry. He has been moved from foster home to foster home since he was five, and he does not want to do it anymore. At the start of the film he is moved to a new foster home in the seaside town where he lived with his mother until the age of five.

Preparation task:

Based on what you have now read about the film, write down a few sentences about what you think the story in the film will be, and what genre you expect the film to belong to.

Make sure you save your notes so that you can easily find them again.

Sum up:

Write a short text where you include the following points:

  1. What you expected the film to be like.
  2. A summary of what happened in the film.
  3. Your opinion of the film.

Discuss:

Work with partners and discuss the following questions.

  1. What are possible meanings of the title VS.?
  2. Did doing rap battles improve Adam's life?
  3. Was Adam's mother right to put him in foster care?
  4. What is the climax/turning point in the film?
  5. Did you find the story believable? Give reasons for your answer.
  6. Music is often important in telling the story in a film: What did you notice about the music used in this film?

Write:

Use the NDLA resource How to Write a Film Analysis and write an analysis of the film. Remember that you do not have to cover all the points described in the resource — you can choose the ones you find most relevant for this film.

Create:

Work with a partner or in a group and create your own examples of battle rap.

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Subject material
How to Analyse a Film

There are many things to take into consideration when analyzing a film. Here are some useful guidelines.