Lesson 2: Cortometraje: Desconexión

How does the director, Yecid Benavides, describe the role of communication in the film?
In what ways do the characters demonstrate "opportunism over ethics" throughout the story?
How does the "web of life and death" illustrate the real-world consequences of viveza criolla?

WL2. Interpretive Communication Understand and interpret written and/or spoken language on a variety of topics.
WL.2A - 2A. Understand main ideas, topics and specific information on a variety of authentic auditory or written materials.

Description
In the short film Disconnection, Bolivian director Yecid Benavides presents an intense and vibrant story where the invisible threads of communication weave a web of life and death.

Purpose
The main purpose of the film is to denounce the so-called viveza criolla. This idea relates to the belief that opportunism, rather than ethics, is the right way to get by and make progress in society.


DOK 1: Recall Define viveza criolla and identify the film's director.
DOK 2: Skill/Concept Summarize how "invisible threads" connect the characters' fates.
DOK 3: Strategic Thinking Analyze if the characters' actions are driven by survival or a lack of ethics.
DOK 4: Extended Thinking Design a campaign to replace viveza criolla with ethical social standards.

Provide a word bank or a "shortcut vs. ethics" matching worksheet.
Use a flowchart to map out the cause-and-effect of specific opportunistic acts.

Teacher selection of activities from the Imagina Vista supersite.

Cortometraje: "Desconexión" Video, Script & Translation