“Oasis,” a 13-minute Op-Doc video, is a subtle but powerful film about the bonds between twin brothers — one with developmental disabilities — as they come of age. At the dawn of their teenage years, the connection between the twins Raphaël and Rémi begins to weaken. But for one last summer, perhaps, time seems to stand still.
Do you see your sibling relationships in theirs? What can we learn about growing up from the two boys — the power of familial bonds and the need for independence?
Students
1. Watch the short film above. While you watch, you might take notes using our Film Club Double-Entry Journal (PDF) to help you remember specific moments.
2. After watching, think about these questions:
What questions do you still have?
What connections can you make between this film and your own life or experience? Why? Does this film remind you of anything else you’ve read or seen? If so, how and why?
3. An additional challenge | Respond to the essential question at the top of this post: How does coming-of-age test the bonds between twin brothers?
4. Next, join the conversation by clicking on the comment button and posting in the box that opens on the right. (Students 13 and older are invited to comment, although teachers of younger students are welcome to post what their students have to say.)
5. After you have posted, try reading back to see what others have said, then respond to someone else by posting another comment. Use the “Reply” button or the @ symbol to address that student directly.
6. To learn more, read “‘We Can’t Be Together Forever.’ But We Can Try.” Justine Martin, the filmmaker, writes:
When I was younger, I used to babysit the twin brothers Raphaël and Rémi. They were inseparable best friends, but as the years passed I noticed that a distance was slowly starting to form between them. As they entered their teenage years, Rémi was feeling guilty about growing up “faster” than his brother, who has developmental disabilities. Raphaël struggled to follow Rémi and adapt to this new reality.
Witnessing this changing dynamic, I wanted to capture the essence of their relationship as it was, before life pulls them in different directions. In this short documentary, the brothers spend the summer swimming and playing together, echoing the togetherness of their childhood. In small moments, however, we see how Rémi is pulling away, and we sense that this might be the last summer of their shared memories. As a director, I was inspired by how the subtle changes in their relationship expose the fine line between childhood and adulthood.
Want more student-friendly videos? Visit our Film Club column.
Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public.
