The Storytelling Class

Gr 9 Up—As the film opens, Ishmael Beah, author of A Long Way Gone (Farrar, Straus, 2007), an extraordinary memoir about a boy growing up during Sierra Leone's civil war in the 1990s and the plight of child soldiers, shares his humanitarian outlook before a spellbound audience. His autobiography is the inspiring text for a group of students who will delve into their own difficult realities. At Gordon Bell High School in Winnipeg, Canada, language arts teacher Marc Kuly embarks on a courageous journey with about two dozen students who join his after-school storytelling class. The urban school houses many ethnic groups which self-segregate for comfort, friendship, and protection. Many are caucasian Canadians, and some are refugees from war-torn countries like Sierra Leone, Sudan, and Afghanistan. Their stories will describe their own suffering, loss, and anguish. First, however, they must overcome the sense of being strangers to one another. Beginning with the understanding that no grade or extrinsic reward will be given for this class, Kuly has the youths bow to each other and begin sharing their personal experiences. Young men from African nations share their horrific memories of war and carnage, and young Afghani women regret their isolation in Canada after being saved from terrorism. Kuly masterfully orchestrates the group to appreciate the dignity of each person's pain, including a trip to a theatrical storyteller and a visit from Ishmael Beah and his adoptive American mother. The intensity of each participant's emotions is palpable as the camera records both prepared and spontaneous moments. The edited version omits two minor scenes and there are a few omissions in the personal interview footage of the students, but this doesn't lessen the film's impact or flow. An excellent choice for classes reading A Long Way Gone and those exploring the collective responsibility to overcome prejudice.—Robin Levin, Fort Washakie School/Community Library, WY