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Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Date: Nov 05 2008

Themes: Pop Culture, Romance

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

There’s a saying in English, “Two is company, three’s a crowd.” It can be hard for three people to hang out or work together because one tends to get left out. So imagine if three people all tried to date each other!

Well-respected American oddball director Woody Allen’s new movie is a simple romantic comedy. There’s only one strange thing about it. The romance is a menage a trois.

Javier Bardem plays an artist who gets involved with an American tourist after taking her sight seeing…in a private plane. When his emotionally unstable ex-wife returns, the three become romantically involved together. Unlike Bardem’s character, Devan only likes one of the two women. Strangely, it’s not the who reminds her of herself.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Devan

Devan

Amanda

Amanda

Devan:  I went and saw that new Woody Allen movie.

Amanda:  Which one?

Devan:  Vicky Cristina Barcelona.

Amanda:  Let me guess, Scarlett Johansson was in it?

Devan:  She was and I must say, I absolutely hated her character so much. The whole time I was watching it I couldn’t stand her character and then about three-quarters of the way through the film I realized, “Oh my God, her character is me!” And that was very upsetting.

Amanda:  That’s very self-reflective.

Devan:  I was like, “I hate this character!” And then I realized it was because she reminded me so much of myself.

Amanda:  Yikes.

Devan:  She’s like this like…kind of like indie, hipster-y girl who goes to Spain and she’s kind of like the kind of person who feeds off of like artists and really talented people but she doesn’t have any talent herself and that reminded me of me and that was very upsetting.

Amanda:  I don’t think that’s a bad thing, hun. What was her relationship to Woody Allen in the film? Daughter? Love interest? Protege?

Devan:  Woody Allen is not in the film, actually.

Amanda:  So he wrote, directed, produced?

Devan:  Right. But was not in the film.

Amanda:  OK. So then, who was the other leading actor?

Devan:  Penelope Cruz was in it and she was so funny.

Amanda:  And it was a location piece, right?

Devan:  Yeah, it took place in Barcelona, which was very beautiful and it made me really want to go there.

Amanda:  So pretty visually appealing…

Devan:  Yeah. And Penelope Cruz just stole the show by being so funny.

Amanda:  I don’t really see her as being a comedic actress at all.

Devan:  Well, you should really see this film because she’ll blow you away by how funny she was.

Amanda:  Oh, I look forward to it!

 

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Discussion

In Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Scarlett Johansson plays a woman who surrounds herself with creative people. Devan dislikes her until she realizes she is a lot like her!

Amanda thinks there’s nothing wrong with being someone who hangs out with artists, and she wants to talk about the movie. Devan tells her that the best part is Penelope Cruz because she is very funny.

What do you think of the idea of a relationship with three people?

 

Comments

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seagull2010

Russian Federation

I used to watch Allen's movies with great pleasure. But this time I was disappointed at his film. It's really boring, it's not fun  to look at.

11:49 PM Mar 23 2010 |

lena)

lena)

Ukraine

I loved this movie. It even inspired me to learn spanish). Beautiful Barcelona, handsome Javier Bardem, passionate Penelope Cruz and brilliant Woody Allen as director – these are components of the great movie.

12:42 PM Feb 17 2010 |

miffoo

miffoo

Slovakia

I haven't see this movie yet, but this is not bed idea relationship between three people LOL. I think in the romantic movie.Laughing

I don't like Woody Allan movies it's boring.

01:11 PM Jan 17 2009 |

tyfuu

China

en

06:04 AM Nov 11 2008 |

allen duan

China

show your reasons

01:41 PM Nov 08 2008 |

Marcelolic

Marcelolic

Brazil

It have to be very opened mind for this hehe…The people not yet are evolved sufficient one for this :)

12:30 PM Nov 08 2008 |

Marcelolic

Marcelolic

Brazil

I think that could give certain,since that if the three people were so much friends and opened minds…at last,everything is possible :)

12:21 PM Nov 08 2008 |

f7aisal

Saudi Arabia

I love romantic comady movies its just fuuuuuuunyLaughing

09:27 AM Nov 08 2008 |

丹子

丹子

China

if i loved a guy who have a lover, i will leave , as far as possible ~

03:00 AM Nov 08 2008 |

Dani J.

Dani J.

Taiwan

it’s realle a disaster and a struggle situation….

04:44 AM Nov 07 2008 |

sallysjd

sallysjd

China

I have no idea.

09:47 AM Nov 06 2008 |

xinsihai

xinsihai

China

three persons is awful

02:30 AM Nov 06 2008 |

EstebanM

EstebanM

Colombia

Nice movie, nice director, nice women… Nice Devan

08:44 PM Nov 05 2008 |

Totto

Totto

Sudan

If it is not girlfriend/boyfriendrelationship between the three people, it is okay. But if it is, that is nasty and dishonest.

06:37 PM Nov 05 2008 |

roxana_alavi

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

one is enough for meSmile

04:24 PM Nov 05 2008 |

zelenkina

zelenkina

Russian Federation

I am sorry but i don`t understand the main sense of this film and where is the romantic story there are no words about love in this dialog

03:52 PM Nov 05 2008 |

Totto

Totto

Sudan

I think a relationship with three people is possible, and they will get along just fine.

03:04 PM Nov 05 2008 |

long.c.young

China

maybe

everyone just to be evryone

02:54 PM Nov 05 2008 |

Sinever

Sinever

China

gmat~!

01:47 PM Nov 05 2008 |

guobingyou

guobingyou

China

I don't think much of it

12:18 PM Nov 05 2008 |

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