A young man picks his girlfriend up at her family home and meets her parents. The normal dialog occurs. However, what everyone it thinking occurs as voice-overs and it is hilarious!
Director: Alan Beattie.
Stars: Dick DeColt, Nada Rowland, Richard Eastham, Diane Burt.
1976 Academy Awards – Nominated for an Oscar for Best Short Film, Live Action.
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Note: Many thanks to Steve for sending me a copy of this short film.
I used to show this film whrn I taught communication classes at Boise State University in the early 1980s. It was a great illustration of the idea that every conversation between two people actually involves six unique personalities: (1) my perception of me; (2) your perception of you; (3) my perception of you; (4) your perception of me; (5) my perception of how you are perceiving me; and (6) your perception of how I am perceiving you. Part of the difficulty in human communication is that you can never be sure which of the six “people” is actually talking.
Students had a hard time grasping this idea until I showed them this film. It was like a light bulb suddenly turning on! I haven’t seen this in years. Thanks for sharing.
I use this film in my Social Psychology class. It’s an excellent example of Goffman’s front stage / backstage performances.
Thanks Dr. Frank Page