The Neverending Story

FILMCLUB Guide to...
The Neverending Story (1984, U) 7+
Key Stage Target
✓ KS2
✓KS3
Curriculum Links
✓English ✓Citizenship
✓History ✓Art & Design
Why this film?
This much-loved ‘80s fantasy starts with young Bastian, bullied at school and sad
because his mum’s died, having a hard time. But on hiding out in a grumpy old
bookseller’s store, he discovers a strange leather-bound story book. Ignoring warnings,
he begins to read it. It draws him into sharing the experience of another young boy,
Atreyu, who’s tasked with a quest to save the world of Fantasia from The Nothing, a
force that takes over when people lose their hopes and dreams. As Bastian harnesses
all his courage, the book teaches him the transformative power of his own imagination.
What the critics think
“I thought this film was brilliant because it had a mysterious touch to it and really made
you feel like you were a part of the story!”
FILMCLUB member Becky, age 10
“A fairytale of the very best kind, with luscious effects which include a flying dragon, a
rock monster, a fairy princess (mercifully grave and untwee), and a threat in whose
vanquishing lies hope.”
Time Out Film
Before the film
Think of your own imaginary
creature. It can be completely
unique and not like anything you’ve
ever seen before. Briefly describe it.
Is it helpful or frightening?
Are the imaginary creatures in the
pictures helpful or frightening?
The Gruffalo
How To Train
Your Dragon
The Last Unicorn
After the film
Teacher Notes
1. How does Bastian feel at the
start of the film? And at the
end? Why? (KS2, 3)
2. Who are the creatures that
Bastian meets on his
adventure, and what do they
want? (KS2, 3)
3. What is Fantasia made of and
why is it dying? (KS2, 3)
4. What does Bastian learn about
himself on his adventure? Why
is he at first reluctant to believe
in his own power? (KS2, 3)
5. Name some books you’ve read
about someone very different
from yourself (KS3)
1. Bastian is coping with grief and loneliness. The film provides an
opportunity to open up a discussion about sadness and ways of
coping with it. By the end of the film, he feels much better about
himself, as he realises his power to determine his own future.
2. Falkor, a pink, fluffy luckdragon, encourages Atreyu to have faith
in the future. Gmork, a wolf-like beast, has been summoned by
The Nothing to stop Atreyu. The Sphinxes can look inside people
to gauge whether they believe in themselves.
3. Fantasia is made of the hopes and dreams of humankind. It’s
dying because people have begun to lose their hopes and
forget their dreams. “People who have no hopes are easy to
control, and whoever has the control has the power,” Gmork tells
Atreyu. The film, made in Germany, is a parable about the
dangers of political dictatorship, and impresses on children the
importance of standing up for your own beliefs.
4. Bastian learns the power of his imagination to change situations
and mould the future according to his hopes and dreams.
5. The power of literature to act as a window onto the experiences
of others to promote understanding is touched on strongly. Books
such as The Diary of Anne Frank or Goodnight Mister Tom might
be examples.
Next Steps
Get your students’ voices heard by joining FILMCLUB and writing reviews at www.filmclub.org
KS2: Everyone take a piece of paper and fold it into three. On the top third draw the head of
an imaginary creature. Fold it over and pass it to the next person, who draws the body of the
creature. Fold it over and pass it on again. Lastly the legs of the creature are drawn. Unfold
the paper and look at the strange creature you’ve all created.
KS3: Create your own ‘Fantasia’ as a piece of art. What would the landscape look like? Who
are the characters within it? Are you in it? If so, what is your role?