Film as Literature: Exploring Flashbacks with Knives Out (Spring 2025)

Do you know how to "read" a film? It's a lot like reading a book, and it requires careful attention to things like themes, characterization, dialogue, and more!

In this class, you'll gain key academic reading skills by viewing film as literature.

We'll watch Knives Out and discuss the literary device of flashbacks. How does the story change as the perspective shifts back in time? Why would someone tell a story with a flashback instead of telling it in a straightforward linear order? Let's find out!

Gain Key Academic Writing and Reading Foundations

Students will learn foundational academic writing and reading skills including attention to detail, exploration of literary themes, note-taking, and discussion. They will practice these skills through themed writing assignments based on the film and supplemental materials.

Meet Live Weekly

This is a live class, which means we meet weekly to discuss the reading and explore writing tips. Learners can also interact with each other and the instructor between class meetings on our class discussion boards.

Provided materials include reading guides and activities to help with vocabulary and comprehension as well as writing tips to apply to short, informal writing assignments.

Class Details

Age Range: 11-16

Class Size: 3-10 Learners

Schedule:

Class is from April 28-May 25, 2025 with live meetings on Wednesdays from 12-12:45pm Eastern/11-11:45am Central/10-10:45am Mountain/9-9:45am Pacific

Supplies

To participate successfully in class, learners will need the following:

Access to the film Knives Out (2019)
Microphone and camera for in-class participation
PDF Reader
Zoom (free account)
Learners will submit work through Google Drive (a Google (Gmail) account can be acquired for free)

Time Commitment

Class meets for 45 minutes each week for 4 weeks.

Students can expect to spend 3-5 hours outside of meeting time on the class each week.

Final projects are flexible, and learners who choose to do so could spend significantly more time in the last two weeks of class on their final projects.

Choose a Pricing Option

$137

Market Rate + 25%

This class uses a sliding fee scale for pricing options in order to build more equitable access to these educational opportunities. You can read more about the plan and its goals here, but all options give access to the same classroom experience. This option allows us to build a more accessible and equitable community of learners by offering discounted pricing options.

$121

Market Rate + 10%

This class uses a sliding fee scale for pricing options in order to build more equitable access to these educational opportunities. You can read more about the plan and its goals here, but all options give access to the same classroom experience. This option allows us to build a more accessible and equitable community of learners by offering discounted pricing options.

$110

Market Rate

This class uses a sliding fee scale for pricing options in order to build more equitable access to these educational opportunities. You can read more about the plan and its goals here, but all options give access to the same classroom experience.

$88

Market Rate -20%

This class uses a sliding fee scale for pricing options in order to build more equitable access to these educational opportunities. You can read more about the plan and its goals here, but all options give access to the same classroom experience.

$55

Market Rate -50%

This class uses a sliding fee scale for pricing options in order to build more equitable access to these educational opportunities. You can read more about the plan and its goals here, but all options give access to the same classroom experience.

Meet Dr. Michelle Parrinello-Cason

Dr. Michelle Parrinello-Cason is the founder of Dayla Learning. She has a PhD in rhetoric and composition, a passion for helping students find their writing voice, and two homeschooling children of her own.

Michelle has taught in a wide variety of settings including six years as a full-time college professor. She has been teaching virtual and in-person homeschool writing and humanities classes for more than five years.

Michelle believes in meeting students where they are and — as any of her previous students will tell you — believes deeply that there is no such thing as a bad rough draft!

Is this the right fit for your learner?

This class is designed to be accessible to a range of students, and the final project is adaptable to meet a variety of needs in terms of difficulty. To be successful in this class, students should be able to:

Write about 500 words (about 2 pages double spaced) on a single topic
Confidently read texts at or above 800L on the Lexile rating
Participate in group discussions respectfully

This class is a good fit for both middle and high school learners who want to practice literary analysis skills in a fun and engaging environment.

Skills Gained

Students will practice literary analysis skills around a specific theme while watching and discussing a film.

The class will culminate in a final project that allows personal exploration of that theme.

Individual Support

All students will receive individualized video feedback on all rough drafts that specifically addresses their rough draft submissions.

My teaching philosophy very much focuses on starting with students’ strengths to build confidence and using them to work on improvements over time.

Feedback is tailored to each student’s individual needs and goals. I also encourage a lot of self-reflection and provide opportunities for students to directly communicate their challenges so that facing them with strategies becomes a normal part of the writing process.

Content Warning

Knives Out is rated PG-13 and involves murder, some profanity, portrayal of blood, some mention of off-screen sex, and reference to drugs and alcohol.

Families are encouraged to pre-screen the film if they have any concerns.

Choose a Pricing Option

$137

Market Rate + 25%

This class uses a sliding fee scale for pricing options in order to build more equitable access to these educational opportunities. You can read more about the plan and its goals here, but all options give access to the same classroom experience. This option allows us to build a more accessible and equitable community of learners by offering discounted pricing options.

$121

Market Rate + 10%

This class uses a sliding fee scale for pricing options in order to build more equitable access to these educational opportunities. You can read more about the plan and its goals here, but all options give access to the same classroom experience. This option allows us to build a more accessible and equitable community of learners by offering discounted pricing options.

$110

Market Rate

This class uses a sliding fee scale for pricing options in order to build more equitable access to these educational opportunities. You can read more about the plan and its goals here, but all options give access to the same classroom experience.

$88

Market Rate -20%

This class uses a sliding fee scale for pricing options in order to build more equitable access to these educational opportunities. You can read more about the plan and its goals here, but all options give access to the same classroom experience.

$55

Market Rate -50%

This class uses a sliding fee scale for pricing options in order to build more equitable access to these educational opportunities. You can read more about the plan and its goals here, but all options give access to the same classroom experience.