Study Guide
Grades 2-12, College, Adult
Directed by Janet Perlman
Produced by The National Film Board of Canada
DVD Purchase $79, Rent $45
US Release Date: 1997
Copyright Date: 1997
DVD ISBN: 0-7722-1154-X
VHS ISBN: 0-7722-0690-2
Subjects
Animation
Children's Films
Children's Stories: Animation
Conflict Resolution
Environment
Guidance
Humor
Language Arts
Life Skills
Non-Verbal
Psychology
Social Psychology
Social Studies
Awards and Festivals
UNICEF Prize for Best Short Film, Berlin Children's Film Festival
Gold Award, New York Exposition of Short Film/Video
Best Short Film, Montreal World Film Festival
Best Animated Eye Award, Aspen ShortsFest
Best Film Award, International Family Film Festival, Seoul
Best Animated Film, San Diego Film Festival
Bronze Apple, National Educational Media Competition
Bronze Plaque, Columbus International Film & Video Festival
Women in the Director's Chair International Film & Video Festival
Cornell Environmental Film Festival
Conscientious Projector Film Festival
Common Ground Film Festival
Black Bear Film Festival
Dinner for Two
A funny, animated object lesson in conflict resolution.
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"A delightful fable about conflict." MC Journal |
From the imagination of an Academy Award-nominated animator comes this whimsical and humorous look at conflict resolution.
A simple dispute between two small animals grows into a violent struggle that disrupts everyone around them. As they battle over "territory," these two small animals realize that their conflict affects not just them, but their whole environment.
An excellent resource to teach conflict resolution for children and adults alike, and a fundamental lesson about ecology.
Other titles in the series are:
When the Dust Settles - Gophers provide lesson about conflict resolution.
Bully Dance - Insight on dealing with bullies.
Elbow Room - Office workers deal with a dispute in this amusing and enlightening animated short.
Tête à Tête à Tête - A playful animated film that provides a thought-provoking commentary on how beings interact.
Dominoes - Lively cut-out animation illustrates the tensions when a newcomer enters a pre-established group.
Reviews
"From teaching toddlers to share toys to encouraging national leaders to peacefully settle border disputes, this award-winning program has messages for a wide range of audiences...The bright and humorous animation is aptly supported by a breezily jazzy musical soundtrack with appropriate ambient sound effects."
"A delightful fable about conflict suitable for audiences in the nursery and in the workplace...A must-have for business and corporate libraries; highly recommended."
"By using the metaphor of the animals' conflicts, discussions can become as basic or sophisticated as the audience dictates...should be seen in both boardrooms and elementary schools."
"Wise and very funny."
"Dinner for Two presents a fundamental issue in conflict resolution and bullying prevention - the idea that sometimes conflicts begin over unimportant issues, and that we can step back from meaningless conflicts before someone gets hurt. I have seen young people from 6 to 15 spellbound, laughing, and getting the point of this video. The graphics, music, and dramatic flow of the video takes people from awareness of the problem to laughter to realization of the danger the characters put themselves in - and then the children feel relief when the characters work together for safety. Discussions later show me that the lesson has been learned. Highly recommended!"