Choose a scene from the film.

a) Change characters' race, language skill, wealth, social position, attitude, sex etc. The whole story changes. Make up different versions of the same situation and act them out.

Think

• How did the changes affect the course of events?
• Why did this happen?

b) Change the society: events take place in Finland. How would this change the story? Compare Finnish society and American society from the viewpoint of race, language skill, wealth, social equality and in the light of regulations concerning guns and attitudes.

c) Change characters' skills, expertise and attitude in customer situations.

Examples:

• What if suspicion, indifference and bitterness had not guided Ryan, the cop portrayed by Matt Dillon, as a service producer on the one hand and as a customer in private life on the other?
• What if Farhad, the shopkeeper portrayed by Shaun Toub, had not been unskilled, had spoken English and had known his own rights and obligations in entering contracts?
• Think of other examples and consider what emotions, experiences and skills you want to connect with different characters. How could attitudes and experiences affect situations?