Dark shadowy figures stand at a tram stop, snow falls and fog rolls across the picture.
This is the opening scene. Take a closer look and you will see that no faces can be seen, apart from one. She becomes the hero of our story.
Look at the characters stood at the tram stop. There are some overtones of WWII Jews stood waiting for the train, a drab scene punctuated by stars on their clothes.
The tram finally arrives and the faceless figures are on their way. Listen to the lyrics of the song and you will hear that 'every stop looks the same,' 'faces without names...drift away.' The people get off the tram one by one until the girl is left alone.
Travelling through strange landscapes populated by huge songbirds in cages, massive clocks, but the dreary weather stays a constant. It is not long until the tram reaches the end of the line. But oh no it does not stop. The tram goes flying off into the abyss. When we think all is lost we see our heroine gliding through the clouds landing beside a mysterious creature, who she seems to know. Who is she? An angel perhaps?
Teaching Ideas
- Describe the opening scenes.
- Describe the journey, what the girl could see as they went along, perhaps one of the other passengers.
- Write a newspaper report detailing what happened, maybe the driver thought everyone was off, the tram went over and they found the girl the next day amongst the wreckage.
- Write a conversation between the girl and the person she meets at the end.
- Write a first person account of the accident from the girls point of view,she could be sending a message from heaven.