DISCUSSION GUIDE AND SUGGESTED QUESTONS

If you know someone who needs help concerning verbal or physical abuse in his or her life, where can he or she turn for help?
(School officials like counselors, social workers, psychologists, teen help-lines...etc)

Describe some coping methods for dealing with stress that you believe are healthy or unhealthy and explain how these methods are safe or unsafe for combating stress.
HEALTHY:
( Exercise, reaching out and talking to trustworthy people about issues, calling hot lines for support, getting involved in extra-curricular activities, removing oneself from dangerous situations, not making assumptions about the behavior of others before reacting, speaking in a calm way, reporting unsafe or abusive behavior, eating a healthy diet, getting sufficient rest....etc)
UNHEALTHY:
( Resorting to violence and or drugs or alcohol, engaging in binge eating or unsafe dieting, sleeping abnormal hours, screaming at others,  etc)

Do you think people can overcome trauma in their lives? Explain how you believe people could find ways to use difficult experiences to serve them in their present lives.

Questions like the above may help set up the film for better understanding.

Other specific questions relating to the film could be used to help students and teens interact during viewing and then discuss afterwards like:

-- How do you know that Lou's boxing manager did not have Lou's best interest in mind?  Can you think of other examples when people you know were manipulated for someone else's ulterior motives or agendas?

--Why did Lou wind up in an acting seminar and what do you think he expected he would accomplish there? (Consider what the advertisement expressed).

--How did the actor from the seminar attempt to help Lou even after he was kicked out of the seminar?

--What does the catsup packet symbolize to Lou?

--Name another symbol in the film and what you believe it represented.

--When Lou tries to express himself to others, what typically happens? Have you ever felt unheard or misunderstood like Lou? What did you do about it?

--What reason does Lou's girlfriend have for leaving him? Why do you think she feels that way?

--How does Lou "reach" the people on the street?  

-- What is the epiphany (revelation or understanding) that Lou reaches? In other words, what does Lou realize that helps him begin to express himself more clearly?

--How does his life change after that? What new boundaries or demands does he make of himself or others? (Who does he confront?)

--Is there anything in the film that confused you or that you found upsetting?

--Explain something in the film that you found hopeful or helpful.