Lesson 2: Cortometraje: Sin palabras

In what ways do technology and modern habits contribute to the generation gap seen in the film?

If the characters are "without words," how do they express their feelings of love, frustration, or uncertainty?

When you try to tell the family story behind this film, what do you imagine happened to the middle generation (the parents)?

How does the portrayal of the grandfather in this film align with or differ from the "abuelo" archetype in the Central American cultures you have researched?

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.

"" Video, Script & Translation

Description
The film portrays the relationship between a grandfather and his grandson who live together but are separated by a massive "silence." They represent two different worlds: the traditional, manual world of the elder and the digital, fast-paced world of the youth. As the story progresses, a shared project or memory begins to bridge this generation gap, often using non-verbal communication to tell a family story.

Purpose
The purpose of this film is to explore familial intimacy without the crutch of heavy dialogue. It aims to:
Provide a context for talking about families and the emotional distance that can occur between different ages.

DOK 1: Recall Identify the physical objects in the house that represent the "old" generation vs. the "new" generation.
DOK 2: Skill/Concept Summarize the main conflict and explain how the title Sin palabras (Without Words) reflects the relationship between the characters.
DOK 3: Strategic Thinking Analyze the turning point of the film; use the Subjunctive of Doubt to discuss why the grandson finally decides to "connect" with his grandfather.
DOK 4: Extended Thinking Create a prequel or sequel to the film in the form of a script that tells the family story leading up to this silence, incorporating the Past Subjunctive.

The "Mood" Meter: Since there is little dialogue, provide a list of emotional adjectives (triste, alejado, nostálgico, unido). Students must point to the word that describes the mood of specific scenes.

Predictive Storyboard: Give students 3 images from the film and 3 "uncertainty" captions (e.g., "Dudo que se hablen", "Es posible que estén enojados"). Students match the caption to the image.

Teacher selection of activities from the Imagina Vista supersite.

Cortometraje: Sin palabras Video, Script & Translation