Transcript File - European Cinema

Dan Byrnes
FREN 398
May 2009
SEXUAL AND RELIGIOUS IDENTITIES
IN FILM
WHAT IS SEXUALITY?
There are different levels of sexuality.
 Here are four BASIC levels:

 Personal
 Attraction
 Lust
 Love
WHAT IS SEXUAL IDENTITY?

There are also different TYPES of sexuality:
 Heterosexuality
 Homosexuality
 Bisexuality
 Pansexuality
 Asexuality
WHAT IS RELIGION?
There are many different types of religion in the
world.
 Here are a few of the largest ones:

 Christianity
 Judaism
 Islam
 Hinduism
 Buddhism
WHAT IS RELIGIOUS IDENTITY?

There are different levels of religion that people
can identify with:
 Title
 Practice
 Belief
CINEMA

There are many different genres of film. Some of
these include:
 Documentary
 Drama
 Comedy
 Romance
 Action
 Science
fiction
SEXUALITY IN EUROPEAN CINEMA
General sexuality - The cinema of Europe has
the reputation of being more liberal than
American cinema in terms of nudity and
sexuality but less liberal in terms of depictions
of violence.
 Homosexuality – The Teddy Award – Berlin
International Film Festival

FILMS IN THIS PRESENTATION
1.
A Jihad for Love
- American
- 2007
- Parvez Sharma
http://www.logoonline.com/video/a-jihad-forlove-full-documentary/1607744/playlist.jhtml
2.
La Petite Jérusalem
- French
- 2005
- Karin Albou
A JIHAD FOR LOVE
Islam – Muslims believe that God revealed the
Qur’an to Muhammad, God’s final prophet.
 Sexuality
 Homosexuality
 The film’s mood and intentions

 Serious
 Revealing
and shocking
 Informational

Title – “a religious struggle”
SOUTH AFRICA - MUHSIN
CAIRO, EGYPT - MAZEN
CAIRO, EGYPT - MARYAM
TURKEY – FERDA & KIYMET
OTHER ELEMENTS OF THE FILM
The documentary
 Privacy techniques
 Nondiagetic and diagetic music
 Characterization and emotions

CRITICISM

“Noble in intention but crude in execution, Parvez
Sharma's documentary about gay Muslim men and
women chronicles a handful of outcasts and their
personal "jihads" (in Arabic, the word means "struggle,"
not "holy war"). The accounts are powerful, but so many
of the interviewees' faces are blurred to preserve their
anonymity that it feels like you're watching the film
through a shower curtain. Still, it's hard not to feel
gutted when the daughter of a gay South African man
tells him he should be stoned and thrown off a
mountain, as the Koran instructs.”
– Chris Nashawaty, Entertainment Weekly
LA PETITE JERUSALEM

Judaism is a set of beliefs and practices originated in the Hebrew Bible;
the covenantal relationship between the Children of Israel and God.

2007 - 13.2 million people. 41% Israel, 40% US
Sexuality
 Film’s moods and intentions

Enlightened
 Empowering
 Heroic

Theme - Conflict
 Title – Love vs. Tradition

THE MAIN CONFLICT
LAURA
MATHILDE




Mathilde strictly abides by the
traditions of the Torah, and
believes sexual pleasure is
forbidden.
Ariel does not want to ask his
wife to do things in bed that
only he enjoys, and has an
extramarital affair.
Mathilde seeks advice from
the woman at the mikvah, or
ritual bath, who corrects her
and reassures her that Jewish
law does not forbid pleasure.
Mathilde gains more comfort,
and her marriage is saved.
OTHER ELEMENTS OF THE FILM

Dramatization
 Music
 Characterization
 Use
of cold colors
 Acting
CRITICISM
“In "Little Jerusalem," a young Orthodox Jewish woman puts her faith in the Torah
and the classics of European philosophy until neither suffices in the face of
sexual desire. The film keenly juggles big issues, frank nudity, the specter of
anti-Semitism in contempo France, and more. Scripter-helmer Karin Albou's
assured feature debut, which explores compound emotional disarray, will be a
conversation starter for fests in search of new talent and a given for Jewish
fests.
Juxtaposing the most ancient of rituals with modern concerns, the film sharply
portrays a low-income suburb outside Paris that, for most viewers, will be a visit
to another planet.
Highlights include scenes at the ritual baths where an unnamed woman
wonderfully played by Aurore Clement reminds sexually reserved Mathilde that
God wants women to have a blast in the bedroom, assuring her that Jewish law
is in favor of sexual pleasure -- within the confines of marriage.
In what is arguably her best performance since "Van Gogh," Zylberstein brings
Mathilde to life with grace and fervor. As the smart and beautiful but tortured
Laura, Valette winningly conveys a serious teen's search for answers.”
- Lisa Nesselson, Variety
CREDIT
http://sherryx.wordpress.com/2009/02/18/ca
pitalism-and-love-alternate-voices-onvalentine’s-day/
 http://www.imdb.com/media/rm737513984/t
t0428965
 http://thecia.com.au/reviews/l/little-jerusalempetite-jerusalem.shtml
