Swing Kids

Movie Reflection Questions

Swing Kids

1.       What is an important message/moral in the movie and how did the director illustrate that message/moral?

The important message in the movie is to never lose sight of your own personal morals, if you feel something is not right with what's happening around you then you shouldn’t let that feeling go. You should stand up for what you believe is right. The director illustrates this in the movie because Peter, despite losing friends due to death or betrayal, sticks to what he believes is correct. He remains a swing kid through and through.

2.       What did you learn from this movie about WWII that you never knew about and was never discussed in class?

I had never known that the Nazi Youth were trained and brainwashed so well that they even spied on their own families and/or people close to them.

3.       Which character did you most associate with and what about his or her actions make you think you would behave similarly?

I think that I mostly identify with Peter out of all the characters. When it comes to his friends, he’s very outspoken and not afraid to do what he wants to do whether or not it goes against what they want to do. And when it comes to his family, he’s fiercely protective of them and his little brother and my family and my little sister mean the world to me. I would say that I’m not personally as outspoken as he is, it depends what company I’m in, but I protect my own morals and don’t listen to ignorant opinions so that my morals don’t get warped.

4.       Which scene did you find the most moving or inspiring and WHY?

The scene I found most inspiring was when Arvid refused to play for the German soldiers and told everyone that just because they’re not a part of the Nazis themselves, doesn’t mean they're not still a part of the problem. I found that the most inspiring moment because he gave everyone a moment of realization, that just because they’re able to turn a blind eye  to what’s going on doesn’t make them any less of the whole.

5.       Identify two themes that are illustrated in this movie and what scenes or situations illustrate those themes.

One theme is individualism, shown in the whole Swing Kids group themselves. They're rebels, going against the norm and not conforming to what people expect them to be. Another theme is avoiding conformity, which is shown in a couple situations. One being when Arvid refused to play for the soldiers, and another with Peter at the very end being hauled away in the truck with the rest of the Swing Kids.

6.       Create a short, realistic alternate ending of the film that would change the whole message of the movie.

An alternate ending, one that could have easily happened if Peter hadn’t used his burning passion to break away from the Nazi’s. is one where Peter actually becomes a German soldier. If this had happened instead, then the whole message of the movie would have been changed. The message would have ended up being how oppression takes away one's individuality, and makes them part of a whole.