Wow — I watched this for the first time a while back and have not been able to get it out of my head. Ramin Bahrani, an independent filmmaker, created this gorgeous short film about the life of a plastic bag. Let me emphasize: this is not just another green screed, or tale of doom, or tongue-in-cheek production. "Plastic Bag" is one of the most beautiful and lovingly made films I’ve ever seen. Its 18 minutes start as a life-cycle story, beginning with the birth of a plastic bag. From there, the tale weaves and soars, ultimately leading you to a transcendent meditation on immortality.

All this would probably be enough. But what takes this film to the next level is the narration. None other than Werner Herzog, the gravely-voiced German director famous for his own many gorgeous films, tells the story of the plastic bag. There’s nothing like his stilted phrases and earnest insights delivered in that inimitable voice.

So, go watch it already!

Part A. Vocabulary. Connect the vocabulary with the meaning. Draw a line.

1) get it out of my head i) not serious, joking

2) gorgeous (adj) ii) stop thinking about it

3) screed (n) iii) beautiful

4) doom (n) iv) a long article, esp. a long attack or criticism

5) tongue-in-cheek (adj) v) serious, solemn, weighty

6) weave (v) vi) formal

7) soar (v) vii) matchless, unable to be copied

8) transcendent meditation (n) viii) serious, sincere

9) grave (adj) ix) go in and out

10) stilted (adj) x) deep thoughts

11) earnest (adj) xi) fly

12) inimitable (adj) xii) bad future

Part B. Ask and answer the questions...

2. What is the title of the article?

3. Did the writer like the film?

4. Was the writer able to forget the film?

5. What is the main character in the film?

6. How long is the film?

7. How does the film end?

8. What are three adjectives that can describe the film and its parts?

9. Would you like to see the film? Why / why not?

10. What was the last film you watched? What happened?

11. When was the last time you used a plastic bag? What happened to the bag?

Part C. Write the missing words onto the lines. Be careful. You might need to change the form of the word. Check with other classmates and then ask and answer the questions.

1. When was the last time you felt like you were _____________ above the clouds? What happened?

2. Have you ever been in a taxi that was dangerously __________ in and out of traffic? What did you do?

3. Is there anything that you cannot __________ out of your head these days? Please explain.