ACTOR RHYS IFANS ON THE POWER OF LITERATURE AND FILM IN OUR SCHOOLS
HOLLYWOOD actor Rhys Ifans has added his voice to calls for more literature to be taught in schools, saying that denying access to great writers is “tantamount to a crime”.
Speaking on a visit to a Cardiff school to promote film as an educational tool, the Haverford-westborn star said literature and film are vital to learning.
His comments at the Into Film Cymru school event come as the number of pupils taking Welsh or English literature GCSEs in Wales has plummeted.
Some teachers and parents warn literature is not being taught to all high school pupils because it is no longer a GCSE core subject.
The Twin Town star said he is opposed to any compulsory exam subject but literature, and the arts should be taught to all students.
“We have a body of work in the Welsh language which is up there with the oldest and the incredible literature in Europe. And in both languages in Wales, not just in Welsh. We should be learning about the great writers of Russia and of the great American novel.
“Denying access to these vast seams of learning, to deny these to a young person, is not just neglectful, but tantamount to a crime.
“When I was at school it was through literature that I grew to love language. Grammar in no way made me love the Welsh or English languages. It actually put me off, but literature, when someone starts painting with words and structure, it becomes something very valuable and powerful.”
Recalling his school days the actor, who has starred in blockbusters from Harry Potter to The Amazing Spider-Man, said he loved reading but his classmate did not, a gap that could be bridged by film.
He told hundreds of pupils from schools across south Wales, gathered at Ysgol Plasmawr, that film can help people understand one another, as well as big issues.
“The impact of film on a group of people is priceless. You can analyse and discuss – that’s where the power of film lies.
“Films are different to novels, which are just as important, but people read novels in isolation. If you see a film it’s for a community audience or a family watching together. It’s something you can share and with that we create empathy with each other.
“Film teaches us ‘it’s not just about me’.”
The event was organised by Into Film Cymru, a UK-wide education charity which works to promote film in learning.
Two hundred students from Plasmawr, Coleg Sir Gâr in Llanelli, St Albans in Newport, Ysgol Llangynwyd, Maesteg, Ysgol Cwm Rhymni and Lewis School Pengam, listened to a questionand-answer session with Ifans led by Welsh presenter Daniel Glyn.
Offering tips on how to get into the industry, the bilingual star said it was hard work but there were many routes in.
Re-launching Plasmawr’s Into Film Club, Ifans said he was jealous of the opportunities to learn about film which was denied his generation at school.
“The greatest investment any society can make is to encourage the arts in general among young people.”
Telling pupils about his career, he recalled “the honour” of playing the part of his close friend and drug smuggler Howard Marks in Mr. Nice, and how he hired a minibus from Cardiff to take friends and their children to meet Daniel Radcliffe on the set of Harry Potter when he played Xenophillius Lovegood in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1.
“It was like entering another world on that set.”
But, he said: “You can be getting up at 4.30am and be on set up to 16-17 hours and there’s a lot of hanging around.”
Ysgol Plasmawr head teacher John Hayes said: “I am struggling to recall a time when pupils have responded so well to an event. This has truly inspired, informed and motivated them.”
Non Stevens, head of Into Film Cymru, said film has a proven track record in improving literacy, numeracy and digital standards.
The Into Film Festival from November 8 to 24, offers five- to 19-year-olds a free trip to their local cinema. Visit: www.intofilm.org/festival