Kramer, S. (Producer & Director). (1967). Guess who's coming to

dinner[Film]. Hollywood: Columbia.

This film follows two young people madly in love. Joanna is the daughter
of two successful parents--a publisher and a patrician. John, her fiance,
is an up and coming doctor, and the son of a homemaker and a mailman. The
happy couple has one issue (possibly) standing in their way: they have yet
to tell their parents about each other. Joanna is convinced that the fact
that she is White and John is Black won't matter to anyone, but John is
more skeptical about the situation.

Though this movie is over 30 years old, it is timeless. It addresses how
families deal with racism when it hits home, and that it is easy to say
one thing and feel another. We see the inner struggle of each of the
characters in reaching their decision on what they would like to happen
vs. what is best for the couple. I chose this movie because it could
happen to anyone; we can all picture ourselves in this situation. What
would you do? How will you treat diverse students in the classroom? It is
entirely one thing to make a statement, but to mean what you say and say
what you mean is another. Will you really act on how you feel or just what
you "should" do?

Questions for the Director
(Screenplay by William Rose)

1. This film is addressing society's prejudices in the 1960's. How would
   you feel about making this film today? Would you do anything
   differently?
2. If you yourself were to be Joanna's father in this situation, how would
   you react? What would you say to your own children?
3. This is an important film--did you expect to encounter much opposition
   while shooting and after its release?
4. What do you think our society assumes about interracial unions--how
   much acceptance is there?
5. This is a film I would show to a classroom. I believe it has a lasting
   message about love and acceptance. If were to address my class, what
   you say to them about this movie?

Submitted by Melissa Stromme.


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