Explicit Ills

Javaflix 9.12.09                            EXPLICIT ILLS Discussion Guide

Opening Statement:

Watching this film for the first time was a very emotional experience for me. Part of it was the content but mainly it was the way I could feel a heart and compassion underlying and within the story. It snuck up on me as it slowly builds more and more. And to me, that was an important base to serve as a foundation for the righteous anger necessarily for the injustices and oppression against poor people. Without compassion, its just a baseless anger that can lead to violence.

I’m excited to have Cheri Honkala join us tonight. Emily will introduce Cheri and then we can start the discussion on the film.     

•  Did you like it?    

• Did certain scenes stand out to you? What do you think of the ending?   

• What characters stood out to you? Who did you connect with the most?

• What are all the characters attempting to achieve?

• What are things that are working against people in poverty? How is that shown in the film?

• What can be done to help people out of poverty?

• In what ways did the ending show what unites people?

• What would the films take be on the current health care debate?

• How is prayer used in the film?

• Did the tragedy in the third act of the film feel authentic or manipulative?

• What was the purpose in having the characters from different backgrounds? Was it effective?

• How are children presented in the film?

• “I wanted to write about love. I wanted to write about addiction. I wanted to write about poverty and I wanted to write about hope.” – Mark Webber

• Was it communicated through the film? (the above quote)