Discussion Guide for ‘The Bridge’
1. Discuss the title. Why is the film called ‘The Bridge’? In what scenes do you see the metaphorical meanings the bridge most prominently in the film?
2. What challenges do you see in the film about being both a refugee and a worker?
3. What do you learn about the labor of interpreting from this film? What obstacles are faced by doing interpreting work? And what obstacles are more generally related to being a worker within a refugee camp?
4. What do you learn about language use within the camp? How many languages do you hear? What does this say more generally about life in the camp?
5. What does the scene with Emmanuel at the mirror tell us about the work of interpreting? How does this scene relate to the filmmaking process?
6. Why do the interpreters decide to strike towards the end of the film? What effects does this strike have on the organization?
7. The film is based on research, but it is a fictional film. Can you tell this from the film itself? If so, how? If not, is this fact important for understanding the film?
8. Discuss the ending of the film. How do Muna and Emmanuel react to their boss Andrew’s questions differently? Why do you think the filmmakers chose to end the film in this way?
9. What do you think is the main message of the film? Why do you think the filmmakers decided to make this film?
10. What questions does this film raise for you? What questions would you like to ask the filmmakers?