GET A LIFE

Portugal, 2001, 115 minutes, Colour.

Get a Life is a portrait of a Portuguese community in a French city. While they seem to be settled, they feel alienated from society. The young members of the families get involved with gangs - and get killed

The mother of a young boy who is killed, allegedly by the police, begins a campaign against the police. The other members of the apartment block are reluctant and when trouble starts, they blame her. She is alienated also from her husband, who wants things to be quiet. As the demonstrations go on and television gives a coverage, their apartment is fire-bombed. This is too much for the father and he wants to take his son back to Portugal, or for his wife to go there for a break. However, she is also alienated, attracted by the young man downstairs (who eventually confesses that it was he who killed her son because of his disrespect in the gang). She becomes more and more bewildered, imagining seeing her son. However, she is given a video of what actually happened, only to find that her husband and son have returned to Portugal. She stands on a bridge over the river - vehicles pass by and she is no longer seen. The film ends with her absence or death.

1. Portuguese production? French locations? Hand-held camera, video camera, editing and pace? Musical score?

2. The title and its reference to the woman and her admitting that she needed to get a life after the trauma she had experienced?

3. The Portuguese settlement in the French city? Speaking Portuguese, their customs, religious devotions? Not speaking French - although the young boy of the family speaking only French? The alienation in the French setting, the attacks of the French? The treatment by the police?

4. The setting of the killing, the video camera, the gaudy colours, the violence? The phone call to the mother and her grief?

5. The beginning of the campaign, knocking on doors, refusals? The procession and her beating the drum, the reaction of the police? The difficulties - even riots? The fire bomb? The violent repercussions for the group?

6. The character of the mother, her strength, her collapse with the death of her son, alienation from her husband, her sister? Her campaign, obsessed, at work, at home? Alienation from her husband and her looking after Orlando, telling her husband that she had been with him? Her sister's desperation? Lying on the ground, imagining her son? Orlando's confession and its repercussions? Going to the airport? Did she kill herself?

7. The husband, a good man, quiet, not wanting trouble? Alienation by his wife, not wanting her to leave, his love for his son and holding him close? Wanting his wife to go on a holiday? Exasperation in the apartment, his hurt when she told him she'd been with Orlando? His final decision, the airport?

8. The sister, her religious devotion, helping her sister? The final exasperation and going to the parish priest, slapping her sister?

9. The young people in the apartment blocks, playing basketball, gangs? Respect? Violence?

10. The themes of refugees, alien cultures, antagonisms, violence and prejudice?