Values & Messages: (Links for Exam)
Historical
Theme
Representation
Narrative
Genre (Magical Realism
Wednesday, 26 February 2014
Wednesday, 29 January 2014
Pedro Almodovar
Pedro Almodovar, the Spanish director who's first feature film was Pepi, Luci, Bom and Other Girls Like Mom (1980) documented the life in Madrid at the time dealing with drugs, violence and female machoism. From this the theme of machoism and has carried its way into a number of his films he has made. A common actress in his film is Carmen Maura.
Many of Almodovar's films feature sex, often alternative sexuality and controversial sexuality, like Dark Habits which features a gay nun.He often deals with serious subject matter by using comedy to express his ideologies, an example is the film Labyrinth of Passion (1982) which involves an emperor, gay Islamic terrorist and nymphomaniac.
A modern film of his is Volver (2006) starring Penelope Cruz, which deals more with death and is more of a drama, but also is a comedy.
Almodovar can be seen as an example of auteur theory. With him being such a driving force in terms of creativity when it comes to making his films. Although, he does often work with the same cinematographer Jose' Luis Alcaine.
References:
Friday, 18 October 2013
City of Lost Children & Delicatessen Sweded
City of Lost Children and Delicatessen are two films directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet and links in with authorship in regards to the similar MACRO areas he applies to his film that link in with Amelie. This also helps establish to which extent is Amelie is a Jeunet film, rather than just being something intended for a Hollywood audience.
Sunday, 6 October 2013
Coursework Intro, Research & Hypothesis
Introduction:
Film noir is described as ‘… an atmosphere of disillusion and sense of foreboding, a dark quality that derived as much from the characters depicted as from the cinematographer’s art.’[1] Drive is very much a film that I believe embeds various forms of film noir rooted into it but also it’s not fully a noir film. The cinematography ‘plays more like an exercise in turn-of-the-Eighties nostalgia.’[2] Although, various times in the film it has a brightly lit visual style, which very much goes against film noir – which is darkly lit. The term used to best describe Drive is ‘neo-noir’[3] with its overall display as an updated version of the noir films of the 1950s and 60s.
Film noir is described as ‘… an atmosphere of disillusion and sense of foreboding, a dark quality that derived as much from the characters depicted as from the cinematographer’s art.’[1] Drive is very much a film that I believe embeds various forms of film noir rooted into it but also it’s not fully a noir film. The cinematography ‘plays more like an exercise in turn-of-the-Eighties nostalgia.’[2] Although, various times in the film it has a brightly lit visual style, which very much goes against film noir – which is darkly lit. The term used to best describe Drive is ‘neo-noir’[3] with its overall display as an updated version of the noir films of the 1950s and 60s.
Key
primary & secondary texts:
The primary text used will be the film Drive with me getting most of my research from the film. Cinematography, mis-en-scene and the role of women are all things I will be looking for in the film. For secondary texts I will look at past noir films and compare them to Drive along with using interviews, critics reviews and books from the BFI and other libraries that are relevant to my study.
Hypothesis:
The film Drive ‘With its hyper-stylized blend of violence, music, and striking imagery, Drive represents a fully realized vision of arthouse action.’ [4] Though how much of an influence does film noir have on Drive? It is definitive that film noir as a genre has significance to the film, but I do not believe the film situates itself fully into being a complete noir film, but rather a combination of noir, thriller and a small amount of action. I will be exploring the comparisons and differences between Drive and film noir in regards to: cinematography, the role of women and mis-en-scene.
The primary text used will be the film Drive with me getting most of my research from the film. Cinematography, mis-en-scene and the role of women are all things I will be looking for in the film. For secondary texts I will look at past noir films and compare them to Drive along with using interviews, critics reviews and books from the BFI and other libraries that are relevant to my study.
Hypothesis:
The film Drive ‘With its hyper-stylized blend of violence, music, and striking imagery, Drive represents a fully realized vision of arthouse action.’ [4] Though how much of an influence does film noir have on Drive? It is definitive that film noir as a genre has significance to the film, but I do not believe the film situates itself fully into being a complete noir film, but rather a combination of noir, thriller and a small amount of action. I will be exploring the comparisons and differences between Drive and film noir in regards to: cinematography, the role of women and mis-en-scene.
Wednesday, 2 October 2013
Thesis Statement
How important is narrative of the films in expressing the messages, myths and ideas of the country?
Pans Labyrinth and Amelie both use aspects of narrative in conveying the myths, messages and ideas of the countries they are based on, being Spain and France. Although, Pans Labyrinth uses narrative more compared to Amelie when expressing the countries idealogy. Amelie is more of a stereotypical look at France through its narrative of romance and Amelie's journey through life. As Pans Labyrinth is focussed on the narrative involving the Spanish Civil War this then expresses more ideas of Spain, than Amelie does with France. Additionally, through using a factual storyline for its narrative Pans Labyrinth is able to convey more about Spain. Similarly both films narratives are followed through not neccessarily reliable narrators - Ofelia and Amelie and with the films following both their points of view - the messages of both films
Not Answered Question
- Didn't Address "How Important is" (No use of scale)
- No thoughts on myths
I feel that although you made some points you did not address the key aspects of the question within your response. In my opinion narrative is incredibly important in expressing the messages, myths and ideas of their respective countries in both films. the narrative in Pans Labrinth allows for many symbolic references to be placed frequently throughout the film. For example through Ofelia sacrificing herself and through this being reunited with her father shows a strong symbolic reference to Catholicism and Jesus Christ. This is a key belief of Spain and is only able to be portrayed through the narrative. Amelie also uses the narrative of the film to express strong ideas about the country of France, through Amelies actions couples including herself are united and gives the film a strong theme of love. This idea of love is often tied in with Paris as the city can be referred to as "The City of Love" this shows that through narrative key ideas about France and Paris are being reinforced to a worldwide audience. Narrative is however not such a key aspect in terms of myths within the films as despite Pans Labrinth having characters such as the Faun and its title referring to "Pan" the only Greek god to not be immortal i feel that myths do not play a heavy role in the film, and any reference to them is conveyed more strongly through the films style. This same idea does not apply to Amelie however as the myth of Paris being the city of love that i mentioned earlier is reinforced and presented strongly through the narrative but also through the style of the films colour grading and presentation§
Checklist:
Debate need to include:
Argument/Opinion that is justified/explained
Overlaps with other Macro
Comparing the differences between the films use of narrative or:
Differences in messages & values
Linked to Context of Country (myths, culture etc)
Pans Labyrinth uses narrative more compared to Amelie when expressing the countries ideology. Through the use of discussing the Spanish Civil war and this being significant in shaping Spanish culture and ideology; in comparison to Amelie where no real narrative aspects can really express French ideology. The belief of love in Paris is more a foreign belief from people outside France.
Additionally, through using a factual storyline for its narrative Pans Labyrinth is able to convey more about Spain. This is shown through the hardship of the war and fascism.
Amelie's actions couples including herself are united and gives the film a strong theme of love.
Narrative is however not such a key aspect in terms of myths within the films.
This same idea does not apply to Amelie however as the myth of Paris being the city of love that i mentioned earlier is reinforced and presented strongly through the narrative
Pans Labyrinth and Amelie both use aspects of narrative in conveying the myths, messages and ideas of the countries they are based on, being Spain and France. Although, Pans Labyrinth uses narrative more compared to Amelie when expressing the countries idealogy. Amelie is more of a stereotypical look at France through its narrative of romance and Amelie's journey through life. As Pans Labyrinth is focussed on the narrative involving the Spanish Civil War this then expresses more ideas of Spain, than Amelie does with France. Additionally, through using a factual storyline for its narrative Pans Labyrinth is able to convey more about Spain. Similarly both films narratives are followed through not neccessarily reliable narrators - Ofelia and Amelie and with the films following both their points of view - the messages of both films
Not Answered Question
- Didn't Address "How Important is" (No use of scale)
- No thoughts on myths
I feel that although you made some points you did not address the key aspects of the question within your response. In my opinion narrative is incredibly important in expressing the messages, myths and ideas of their respective countries in both films. the narrative in Pans Labrinth allows for many symbolic references to be placed frequently throughout the film. For example through Ofelia sacrificing herself and through this being reunited with her father shows a strong symbolic reference to Catholicism and Jesus Christ. This is a key belief of Spain and is only able to be portrayed through the narrative. Amelie also uses the narrative of the film to express strong ideas about the country of France, through Amelies actions couples including herself are united and gives the film a strong theme of love. This idea of love is often tied in with Paris as the city can be referred to as "The City of Love" this shows that through narrative key ideas about France and Paris are being reinforced to a worldwide audience. Narrative is however not such a key aspect in terms of myths within the films as despite Pans Labrinth having characters such as the Faun and its title referring to "Pan" the only Greek god to not be immortal i feel that myths do not play a heavy role in the film, and any reference to them is conveyed more strongly through the films style. This same idea does not apply to Amelie however as the myth of Paris being the city of love that i mentioned earlier is reinforced and presented strongly through the narrative but also through the style of the films colour grading and presentation§
Checklist:
Debate need to include:
Argument/Opinion that is justified/explained
Overlaps with other Macro
Comparing the differences between the films use of narrative or:
Differences in messages & values
Linked to Context of Country (myths, culture etc)
Pans Labyrinth uses narrative more compared to Amelie when expressing the countries ideology. Through the use of discussing the Spanish Civil war and this being significant in shaping Spanish culture and ideology; in comparison to Amelie where no real narrative aspects can really express French ideology. The belief of love in Paris is more a foreign belief from people outside France.
In my opinion narrative is incredibly important in expressing the messages, myths and ideas of their respective countries in both films. Through narrative comes the ability to show how Amelie uses the stereotype of Paris being a love-filled place. This could not be communicated through any other MACRO area without incorporating narrative into it.
Additionally, through using a factual storyline for its narrative Pans Labyrinth is able to convey more about Spain. This is shown through the hardship of the war and fascism.
Amelie's actions couples including herself are united and gives the film a strong theme of love.
Narrative is however not such a key aspect in terms of myths within the films.
This same idea does not apply to Amelie however as the myth of Paris being the city of love that i mentioned earlier is reinforced and presented strongly through the narrative
Wednesday, 11 September 2013
Pans Labyrinth: Key Scenes
Meets the faun:
The faun gives Ofelia the book which moves the story forward by giving her three quests.
When she goes into the underground kingdom:
She encounters the pale man, she eats two grapes, awakens him. She disobeys the faun who specifically told her not to eat anything, and he refuses to give her the third task.
The death of Dr Ferreiro:
Dr ferreiro aids the rebels, which Vidal finds out, resulting in the death of the doctor.
Last Scene:
General Vidal dies then does Ofelia next to the labyrinth. Ofelia dreams about the underworld and her father is there explaining that the last test was a trick to ensure she never spilled the blood of an innocent.
The faun gives Ofelia the book which moves the story forward by giving her three quests.
When she goes into the underground kingdom:
She encounters the pale man, she eats two grapes, awakens him. She disobeys the faun who specifically told her not to eat anything, and he refuses to give her the third task.
The death of Dr Ferreiro:
Dr ferreiro aids the rebels, which Vidal finds out, resulting in the death of the doctor.
Last Scene:
General Vidal dies then does Ofelia next to the labyrinth. Ofelia dreams about the underworld and her father is there explaining that the last test was a trick to ensure she never spilled the blood of an innocent.
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