Transcript File

Film Theory and Analysis
Lesson 11
Film Theory and Analysis
Manu Scansani
Niko Brauer
E-mail
[email protected]
E-mail
[email protected]
Office Hours: (Room 1#511)
Monday 11.45/12.45;
Wednesday 16.00/17.00
Office Hours: (Room 1#519)
Thursday 12.30/14.00
QQ: 1417650393
QQ: 1265906802
h t t p : / / f i l m a n a l y s i s . w e e b l y. c o m
Film Screening (next week)
War Films II – Monday 17.30/20
1.The Hurt Locker [拆弹部队] (Katherine Bigelow)
(Cinema)
• Film Corner – Monday 20.00 (3♯102-1/102-2)
This Week
• One last time... the Essay!
• Film Directors
- A little bit more Quentin Tarantino
- Lars von Trier
- David Lynch
Your Essay
DO NOT COPY
Copying
• If you write your essay about The Matrix and talk
about the film’s symbolism, such as doors,
telephones and mirrors, you are copying ideas
from the book! REFERENCE!
• If you are writing your essay about a comedy and
mention that the film’s protagonist is a fool, it
talks about normal everyday situations and the
actions conclude happily, you are copying ideas
from the book and PPT! REFERENCE!
What is referencing?
• Just after you have written about an idea that
is not your own, place a small comment that
says where you took the idea from.
• For example: Se7en is a classic example of
neo-noir film. (Andrew Lynn, Appreciating
Cinema)
• If possible, give page numbers and if you talk
about scenes from the film, give minute
references
Your Essay
DO NOT TRANSLATE
Translating Your Essay
如果您翻译您的杂文与一个在线程序或在其
他方式，即使您的想法也许是清楚的，您的
拼写和语法将是非常混乱的，并且我们将不
知道什么您说。 在最佳的案件，您将丢失标
记由于坏语言(您的词将是混乱的。 您可以
认为您的语言用中文美好-，当翻译，它将看
起来笨拙和误置) -在最坏，我们不会了解您
内容和分析和您将得到零的标记。 不要翻译
您的从汉语的杂文成英语; 首先写杂文用英
语!
Translating Your Essay
• If you translate your essay with an online program or
in other ways, even though your ideas may be clear,
your spelling and grammar will be very confusing and
we will have no idea what you are going to say.
• In the best case, you will lose marks because of bad
language (your words will be confusing. You may think
your language in Chinese is beautiful - when translated,
it will look awkward and misplaced)
• In the worst case, we will not understand your content
and analysis and you will get zero marks.
• DO NOT TRANSLATE YOUR ESSAY FROM CHINESE INTO
ENGLISH; WRITE THE ESSAY IN ENGLISH FIRST!
Handing in Your Essay
Essays are due this
Friday, May 14th, 5pm!
• Hand in your essay before 5pm into the essay
box in Niko‘s (1#519) or Manu‘s (1#511) office
• Submit your electronic copy before 5pm to
the following address:
[email protected]
Questions? Need more help?
• Come to my additional office hours – every
day this week, 12.15 – 13.15, and if you send
me a message, we can meet any other time as
well.
• Send me an email. I am always happy to read
drafts and comment on them.
• I have saved a few people from getting zero
because they showed me their essay – if in
doubt, check your essay with me!
Lars von Trier
“a film should be like a stone in your shoe”
Lars von Trier
• Born April 30, 1956 in Copenhagen, Denmark
• Won two Best Film awards at the Munich Film
Festival while still attending film school in
Denmark
• Often explores social topics in his films, often
quite controversial
• Closely associated with the Dogme 95
collective
Dogme 95
• Started in 1995 by Lars von Trier and another
Danish director, Thomas Vinterberg
• Dogme = Danish for Dogma (教条)
• Returning to an idea of minimalism about film
• Has appeal for its easy criteria and more
naturalistic filmmaking
• Initially had harsh inclusion criteria, now more
relaxed
• Films have to follow ten rules
Dogme 95: 10 Rules
1.
Filming must be done on location. Props and sets must not be brought
in. If a particular prop is necessary for the story, a location must be
chosen where this prop is to be found.
2. Only diegetic sound.
3. The camera must be a hand-held camera. Filming must take place where
the action takes place.
4. The film must be in colour. Special lighting is not acceptable.
5. Optical work and filters are forbidden.
6. The film must not contain superficial action (murders, weapons, etc.
must not occur.)
7. The film must take place in the present, in the real world.
8. Genre movies are not acceptable.
9. The final picture must be transferred to the Academy 35mm film, with
an aspect ratio of 4:3, that is, not widescreen.
10. The director must not be credited.
Clips: Beginnings of Idioterne, Festen
Lars von Trier: Themes
Often works in trilogies
• Europa Trilogy, 1984-1991, exploring European history
and future
Partially produced while still attending film school
• Golden Heart Trilogy, 1996-2000, explores naïve
protagonists who will maintain a ‘golden heart’
Breaking the Waves, The Idiots and Dancer in the Dark
• USA – Land of Opportunities, 2003 – Present, explores
a fictional American history and is critical of American
society. ‘Evil can happen everywhere.’
Dogville, Manderlay and Wasington
Lars von Trier: Style
• Likes to use contrast in his films
Clips: Antichrist, short clip from beginning (00:02:00
– 00:04:00) and short clip from middle of film
(00:42:00 – 00:44:45);
Dancer in the Dark musical scene vs normal style
(00:52:00 – 00:58:30)
• Sometimes has actors stay in character for many
hours in one go and keeps the camera rolling – very
straining for actors
• Often explores arthouse cinema ideas and
techniques – the films generally have a high artistic
appeal (Clip: Beginning of Dogville)
David Lynch
“The concept of absurdity is something I'm
attracted to”
David Lynch
• Film director David Lynch was born in the USA in
1946.
• He is an eclectic artist, realizing paintings, visual arts
and, obviously, films. Many of his works have
appeared in international art galleries.
• He has produced a limited amount of films and TV
series (most famous: Twin Peaks).
• Among his best films figure: “Mulholland Drive”
(2001), “Lost Highways” (1997).
• Beginning with experimental films [“Eraserhead” (1977)],
he has maintained a large group of fans despite
inconsistent commercial success.
David Lynch
• David Lynch employs a distinctive and original
approach to narrative (also called Lynchian),
which has become instantly recognizable to many
audiences and critics around the world.
• Lynch's films are known for nightmarish and
dream-like images and atmospheres, and
carefully prepared sound design.
• In Lynch’s films reality and dream are often
confused, and many of his films are famous for
not offering logical explanations, or for confusing
the plot.
David Lynch
• One of the key themes is the usage of dreams and
dreamlike imagery within his works, something
reminiscent of "surrealist art” (relying on the
subconscious to create art).
• Lynch also tends to feature his leading actors in
multiple or "split" roles, so that many of his characters
have multiple, fractured identities.
• In “Lost Highways” and “Mulholland Drive” the identity
of the protagonists changes during the film, and it is
impossible for the audience to explain the plot clearly
and rationally. [Watch the film, enjoy it, admire it, but
don’t ask yourself why]
David Lynch
• Clips
- “Blue Velvet” (1986) Clips: Beginning
- “Lost Highways” (1997) – Non-linear noir film
Clips: 00:27:45 – 00:32:10
- “Mulholland Drive” (2001) - A non-linear
narrative surrealist tale of the dark side of
Hollywood.
Clips: Beginning; 00:10:50 – 00:16:00,
00:26:35 – 00:33:00