Class Notes and Questions for Homework: Snatch

Here are the class notes. There are questions below. Answer them and I will give you 10/10

Genre is action comedy.

England and America, focusing on two outgroups (minority groups): Jewish, gypsies: pikey (not really polite to call them either): Roma or Romani

They came to Europe overland from India nine hundred years ago. The stereotype is they are poor, live in wagons/caravans and thieves. They are also dark, mysterious, magical, and good-looking.

They are great fighters. Right now, the heavy boxing champion of the world is a gypsy: pikey. There is around 800,000 gypsies in America now.

There is a lot of prejudice against them in Europe. The European societies treat them like garbage. They were also killed by the Nazis along with Jews and gay people.

Director and writer of this movie is Guy Ritchie. He used to be married to Madonna.

I didn’t send any questions, so you don’t have to worry about that. I will send these notes though with questions underneath. I will do that tonight. If you do them, I will give you 10/10 for a grade. We are half-way through Snatch. Snatch means “to steal” or “rob” and run away. Remember they snatched the diamonds in Belgium. A lot of the shenanigans are around getting the diamond. Shenanigans means mischief or do something bad. Brad Pitt was supposed to play Turkish, but he was unable to do a London accent. As an actor, this is his weakness. He can’t do accents. The old gangster is called Brick Top. This is something I don’t really understand. That is slang for “red-head” (hair) or a ginger, but he doesn’t have red hair. There must be a backstory. A backstory is what happened before the start of the movie. It helps actors develop the role or acting more clearly.

Antisemitic is to hate Jewish people.

One of the themes of the movie is prejudice against outgroup people (minorities).

The director had a Brazilian friend who said in Brazil the worst thing you can do is abuse dogs. Irony.

Extras are actors in the background who do not have lines (don’t say anything).

Paying homage to: copy an earlier great film scene to show respect

McGregor’s character is dealing with being sick from heroin. Brad Pitt’s character is really hung over. Alcohol. Constipated.

I will ask you to explain the twist of fate at the end of Snatch.

Coming of age genre. This means teenagers growing up.

The cookie cutter metaphor.

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1. How is the Garden of Eden related to The Last of the Mohicans?

2. What does Hawkeye say about the white man? He is quoting his stepfather. (We will rewatch this scene in next week's class.)

3. Why does the last sequence of The Last of the Mohicans feel like an MTV music video?

4. What is the twist of fate in The Last of the Mohicans?

5. Why are caravans important in Snatch?

6. What is Mickey's (Brad Pitt) occupation?

7. How does Brick Top get rid of corpses?

8. Why does your teacher think the director of Snatch is paying homage to Trainspotting?

9. What is the twist of fate in Snatch? 

10. How is Lucky Star related? 

Mysterious Skin