Lesson Plans - Changeling

Before the Film

Here are a few things that may be helpful to begin the preparation for this film:

1. First, LOOK UP “CHANGELING” IN THE DICTIONARY.  (What are some other examples of verbs using the word look?  Look after.  Look down.  Look out.  Look for, etc) What is the definition?  (An infant exchanged by stealth (secret) for another child).  Discuss the meaning.
2. This film is a dramatic example of a tragedy.  What are the components that make up a tragedy?  (In this film, a mother gets separated from her son and a “cover-up” by the police impedes her ability to find him.)  Is this a perfect “set-up” for a tragedy?  Why?

The film takes place in the late ‘20’s in Los Angeles.  Observe the scene as the film begins.  What are some of the details to life in the United States in the 19th century?  Be ready to describe the scene.

The situation in LA in this period was a “shady” (dark or dubious) period for the police.  Corruption had taken over and was growing rampantly throughout the force.  What happens when corruption takes over in any organization?  Can you list some other examples, maybe even in Italy?  The Reverend in the film says that “the police did not want to wipe out crime but wanted instead to wipe out the competition.”  Watch what this means in the film.

The protagonist, Christine Collins of a police “cover-up”who finds the strength to fight the system.  Observe the condition for women in this period?  Observe the condition for children.

There is a painful scene in a psychotic hospital, where women are held against their will.  Electric shock is used for treatment and discipline.   Be ready to describe this scene. 

The last part of the film involves a great deal of legal vocabulary and terms.  Here are some terms to look for and to discuss afterwards:

Hearing
Legal Counsel
Charged with three counts of murder
How do you plead?
No bail set
Warrant
Affidavit of Insanity issued by the State of California
Witness
Testimony
Jury
Verdict
Guilty
Defendant
Judgement

The punishment given to the child serial killer at the end was to be put to death.  Given the crimes for which he is guilty, what do you think of death as punishment?

After the Film

What happened in this film?  Explain what transpired.  Did you understand that the LA police received a call from the Canadian police to investigate a juvenile “runaway” case.  This case then resulted in the capture of the child serial killer.  Explain how. 

What happens, then, when the police investigator who questioned the “run away” boy discovers the horror of his captor?  He calls the police captain to report his findings.  What response did he get from the captain?  The investigator says “departmental policy says all allegations of homicide need to be investigated,” and the captain responds “departmental policy is what I say.”  Explain the dynamic within the police force.  Why was corruption taking over? 

What did the police want to “cover-up?” Why were they so concerned about presenting a positive image to the public?

The police would often put articles in the newspaper that were “made up” just to create the image they wanted.  In Mrs. Collins’ case, they said she was psychologically disturbed and an unfit mother.  These allegations were made to “frame” Christine Collins so that it made her look like she’s guilty, not the police.  Explain the use of “frame.”

Explain what happened in the diner scene when a man pretends not to have money and to leave his son at the restaurant while he returns home for money.  What do you think happened to Walter Collins? 

After it was discovered definitively that the boy was NOT Walter Collins, the police “staged” a homecoming between the boy and his mother.  What is the meaning of “staged” in this statement?  Describe the scene.

What is your THEORY about what happened in the film?  Use examples to explain your position.

What do you think of Christine Collins motto:  “don’t start a fight, end it”

What role did the Reverend play in the film?  Why did he say “to be the law means to be above the law?”

How would you describe the position of women in society in the film?  How did the police treat women?  What role did the child psychologist play in “convincing” Mrs. Collins that the boy was her son?  He said she was the mother so was in no position to be objective.  What did that mean?  The captain of the police force said that “the boy’s identity had been confirmed by the best minds in child identification.”  Explain the attitude behind this comment.

What role did the psychotic hospital play for the police?  What kind of women were in the hospital?  How were pills and electric shock used to discipline the women?

During the legal hearing toward the end of the film, the captain tries to defend himself by saying “Mrs. Collins was not THROWN into the psycho ward, she was ESCORTED.”  Why did everyone laugh?

The attorney defending Christine Collins accuses the captain of condemning Mrs. Collins to a psycho ward with an affidavit he himself signed with no warrant.  Discuss the use of both documents.  Why, in the attorney’s opinion, did he say every member of the public is in danger of the same thing happening?

The following were the findings in Mrs. Collins’ civil suit against the City of LA:

1. The captain’s suspension be made permanent
2. The procedures by which a citizen is incarcerated in a mental hospital be changed
3. The restoration of the integrity of the police can only happen by the removal of the chief of police.

Explain why these recommendations were served.

The punishment for the serial killer was 2  years of solitary confinement and then to be hung by the neck.  What is your position on capital punishment?