Film Club
Why is Important to Learn About Film?
We started our Film Club a few years ago, and every month we watch a film that is right for your age and stage. We do this for a few important reasons.
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First, films link really well with our Literacy learning. They help you understand stories, characters, themes, and how ideas are shown in different ways.
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Second, Film Club helps bring us together. Some learners feel lonely when they first leave mainstream school, and watching a film together is a relaxed way to feel part of a group.
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Third, it’s meant to be fun. Learning doesn’t have to be all worksheets. We want learning to feel enjoyable, with a calm atmosphere and sometimes a small home-cooked snack made by members of the Cookery Club.
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Because of the law, we are not allowed to charge money to show films, and we can’t show them in big public places like village halls. Even though we are a home education provider, we don’t have a school building, so the films must be watched in a home setting as a private viewing with friends invited over. We make sure we follow the rules properly.
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We watch each film in two different ways.
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The first time we watch the film, it is watched all the way through in silence. You can talk and ask questions once the film has finished. For many home-educated learners, this is a brand-new experience. Some learners have been to the cinema before, but that experience may have been spoiled by people talking, moving around, or making noise.
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At school, films are often stopped and started because lessons end, days pass in between, or adverts interrupt the story on TV. This can break the flow of the film and make it hard to stay focused. By the time the film starts again, it’s easy to lose interest or forget what’s happening. Watching the whole film in one go helps you enjoy the story properly and stay connected to it.
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The second viewing is different. This time, we pause the film and talk about what’s happening as we go along. This is really helpful for learners who find it hard to concentrate for long periods or who have ADHD and need to ask questions at the moment they think of them. Stopping to talk helps make the story clearer and easier to understand.
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Some learners come to both viewings, and some choose just one. That choice is yours. You decide which way of watching works best for you and when you are able to attend.
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Why Watch a Film as Part of a Club?
Why do we have a Film Club, and why do we watch films as part of our learning? The reason is very similar to why we read books.
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Education is about understanding people, situations, and choices. Films let us explore these things from a safe place. We can experience difficult or dangerous situations without actually being in danger. For example, we can feel the excitement of being on a ship in a storm without risking our lives. We can learn what it might be like to be a prisoner of war without ever being harmed. We can understand what refugees go through without losing our own homes or safety.
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Films are also a powerful way to tell stories, especially for learners who find reading difficult. Watching a film allows you to access strong storytelling without the hard work of decoding every word on a page. This means everyone can take part in learning, even if reading is challenging.
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Stories help us understand who we are, how other people think, and how pressure, influence, and manipulation can affect choices. Talking about characters in films lets us explore these ideas safely. We can discuss their actions without judging ourselves or hurting anyone else. For some learners, including those on the autistic spectrum, this is especially helpful. It allows us to talk through how different people might react in the same situation and why someone might behave differently with a friend, a parent, a child, or an older person.
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We don’t just watch films for fun — they link directly to what we learn. Films like Anne Frank, The Book Thief, and War Horse connect to History. Films based on dystopian novels such as The Hunger Games and Divergent link to English. Films like Inside Out and Wonder support our learning in Health and Wellbeing.
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So Film Club isn’t a shortcut — it’s another powerful tool. It helps deepen your understanding, build empathy, and make learning meaningful, all while enjoying a really good story.
Exercise For Free
Exercise For Free
Becoming a Film Critic!
Once we have watched the film, part of the session is all about becoming a Film Critic. This means talking about the film, sharing your ideas, listening to other people’s opinions, and learning that not everyone will love the same film as you — even if it’s your all-time favourite. This helps build speaking, listening, and respect for different viewpoints.
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When we talk about the film, we are working on our speaking and listening skills. When we write about the film, we are also working in English. We don’t just say whether we liked the film or not — we learn how to explain why.
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As a Film Critic, you might think about questions like these:
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Are the characters believable?
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Do they feel real, or do some feel flat and simple while others feel more detailed and complex? Why does that matter?​
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Do you notice any links to other books, films, or TV shows? Stories often borrow ideas from each other, and spotting these links shows great understanding.​
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How would you change the film? Would you change the ending, a character, the setting, or even the time period? Would the story still work?​
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What actually happened in the film? What made a character behave the way they did at an important moment? Where does the story take an unexpected turn?
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What was your favourite scene and why? What worked well, and what didn’t?
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When is the film set? How do you know? Could the story be set in a different time period? What would change if it was set today?
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Where is the film set? How does the place affect the story and the characters? Could the story happen somewhere else and still make sense?
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Who is the main character and who are the supporting characters? How can you tell?
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Who is the film made for, and why? Who do you connect with most — and is that the same as your favourite character?
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Why was this film made? Is there a message or lesson in the story?
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Why does the mood change at certain points, and how does the film show this? Why might the director choose black and white in one scene and colour in another?
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Film Critic time helps you think deeply, explain your ideas clearly, and see stories in new ways — all while talking about something interesting and enjoyable.
Coming Soon - in a Film Club Near You - Our Own Made Films!
As we spent more time watching and talking about films, it was only natural that we wanted to start making our own. When we talked about where films were set, we also began noticing how they were made. We looked at camera angles, lighting, close-ups and wide shots, how the camera moves, and how special effects are used to tell a story.
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We then used what we’d learned in IT and photography sessions — and the improvement was amazing. Photos became more creative, more thoughtful, and much more professional looking.
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Before long, learners started asking, “Can we make films too?” So we joined the Schools Film Club and began creating our own short stop-motion films. Turning ideas into moving pictures was exciting, fun, and very addictive.
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Once that skill was mastered, everyone wanted to go further. In summer 2023, I went to London to train in film-making using professional, industry-standard equipment. The best part? The tutor running the course had been home educated himself and shared brilliant ideas and insider tips.
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Even better, he offered to come and work with us to help make a short, high-quality film — if enough of us want to take part.
If you love films, enjoy being creative, or want to learn how stories are told through the camera, this is your chance. Join us and go from watching films… to making them.
