World Cinema
Global Film is only covering:
Ophelia is a filter through which audience can understand the inhumane and destructive nature of the adult world.
The film is a comment about how a political conflict can suck the life blood out of a country.
Literal death and figurative death (death of hope and innocence) is a consequence o f the political situation
The flower being impossible to get is a symbol of how far away peace was at the time. The flower is in the last shot showing how hope will carry on.
In the 'real' diegetic world, political turmoil is only halted by the sacrifice of Ofelia. A statement about what is necessary in the face of a relentless political monster, such as Fascism. The film mentions that if vidal dies another will take his place, so is there any victory in the film? Similar to how when one party was overthrown in mexico, the next one to follow was equally corrupt.
Uses fantasy and the supernatural to confront the malevolence and violence in the real world.
The monsters are representations of monstrosities in the real world - Pale man and vidal sit at the end of a dinner table, pale man eats babies while Vidal would've brought up his boy to destroy his innocence.
More tension is felt in stepfather/daughter conflicts.
Juxtaposition of light and dark both in terms of mise-en-scene and ideology.
The mill should be for food production, but becomes a place where they hide away food, a place of summary judgement, torture and death.
The grim reality of the Mill has a counterpoint in the fantasy world in which the court of Ofelia's father is a stunning place of light, sumptuous clothing and exaggerated iconography.
Ofelia is menaced on all levels : physically , emotionally, psychologically and , as representative of the innocence crushed by Fascism, ideologically.
The fantasy world is an anitdote to the political repression of Fascism.
The iconography of the lock and key, under which Vidal holds provisions that should belong to the people, also reflects the enforced rule of the Fascists.
Vidal's key is used to control, hide and oppress, Ofelia's props allow her to liberate the knife from the Pale man's lair.
Ofelia''s props act to counterbalance Vidal's and present her lack of conformity
The destruction of her dress right after she got it
City Of God
religion - catholic
gang violence in favelas
football
corruption
overpopulation issues
trend of moving in from countryside to city to the favelas, often linked with unsanitary conditions, poor nutrition pollution disease high infant mortality.
Directed by Fernando Meirelles and Katia Lund
in brazil 20% live in absolute poverty
top 10% receive 50% of GDP
head of workers party in 02 won the election and promised economic prosperty fairly distributed
- Film Form
- Meaning and response
- Contexts
No narrative ideology, spectatorship, auteur, critical debates.
Links between two films: representation (lack thereof) of wamen, violence, corruption, death of childhood innocence , cyclical violence (one takes over the other), partriarchy
Pan's Labyrinth
Spanish Film
Writer, director, producer : Guillermo Del Toro
Won Cinematograohy, Makeup, Production design Academy Awards
Nominated: Foreign language film, original screenplay, original score
Part of nueve cine mexicano
Context:
Up till 2001 PRI governed Mexico, and were responsible for corruption, electoral fraud and authoritarianism (a way of governing that values order and control over personal freedom). PAN took over in 2001 and promised change but to no avail, social inequality persists. Due to overpopulation poor and rich live side by side.
Prior to PAN, films were strictly controlled by the PRI, so there was no freedom of creativity. TIcket prices were also so expensive that the main focus was on home television soaps.
Characteristics of Nueve Cine Mexicano (influenced by French new wave and Italian Neo-Realism):
-Use of actual locations rather than sets
Links between two films: representation (lack thereof) of wamen, violence, corruption, death of childhood innocence , cyclical violence (one takes over the other), partriarchy
Pan's Labyrinth
Spanish Film
Writer, director, producer : Guillermo Del Toro
Won Cinematograohy, Makeup, Production design Academy Awards
Nominated: Foreign language film, original screenplay, original score
Part of nueve cine mexicano
Context:
Up till 2001 PRI governed Mexico, and were responsible for corruption, electoral fraud and authoritarianism (a way of governing that values order and control over personal freedom). PAN took over in 2001 and promised change but to no avail, social inequality persists. Due to overpopulation poor and rich live side by side.
Prior to PAN, films were strictly controlled by the PRI, so there was no freedom of creativity. TIcket prices were also so expensive that the main focus was on home television soaps.
Characteristics of Nueve Cine Mexicano (influenced by French new wave and Italian Neo-Realism):
-Use of actual locations rather than sets
-Documentary visual style
-Avoidance of neatly plotted storylines
-Use of conversational speech, not literary dialogue
-Avoidance of artifice in editing, camerawork, lighting
This is not present in Pan's Labyrinth which catered more to american audiences (trailer is in english
with no dialogue) which is possibly why it was more globally successful.
This is not present in Pan's Labyrinth which catered more to american audiences (trailer is in english
with no dialogue) which is possibly why it was more globally successful.
Key Themes:
-Issues of gender and women’s roles
-Rural vs urban Mexico
-Modernism, religion and the economy
-Political issues (regional, national, international)
-Disintegration of society, values, morals etc.
-Sexual unfulfilment
-Sci-fi and new horror/thriller
Del Toro is known for fairy tales and horror, infusing visual/poetic beauty. Has a fascination with monsters
which he considers to be symbols of great power. Known for use of insectile and religious imagery,
Catholicism and celebrating imperfection, practical effects
The Republicans, who were loyal to the democratic, left-leaning and relatively urban Second Spanish Republic, in an alliance of convenience with the Anarchists, fought against the Nationalists, Catholic, and largely aristocratic conservative group led by General Francisco Franco. Viewed as a struggle between democracy and fascism, more accurately leftist revolution vs right counter-revolution. Nationalists won.
The film is a comment about how a political conflict can suck the life blood out of a country.
Literal death and figurative death (death of hope and innocence) is a consequence o f the political situation
The flower being impossible to get is a symbol of how far away peace was at the time. The flower is in the last shot showing how hope will carry on.
In the 'real' diegetic world, political turmoil is only halted by the sacrifice of Ofelia. A statement about what is necessary in the face of a relentless political monster, such as Fascism. The film mentions that if vidal dies another will take his place, so is there any victory in the film? Similar to how when one party was overthrown in mexico, the next one to follow was equally corrupt.
Uses fantasy and the supernatural to confront the malevolence and violence in the real world.
The monsters are representations of monstrosities in the real world - Pale man and vidal sit at the end of a dinner table, pale man eats babies while Vidal would've brought up his boy to destroy his innocence.
More tension is felt in stepfather/daughter conflicts.
Juxtaposition of light and dark both in terms of mise-en-scene and ideology.
The mill should be for food production, but becomes a place where they hide away food, a place of summary judgement, torture and death.
The grim reality of the Mill has a counterpoint in the fantasy world in which the court of Ofelia's father is a stunning place of light, sumptuous clothing and exaggerated iconography.
Ofelia is menaced on all levels : physically , emotionally, psychologically and , as representative of the innocence crushed by Fascism, ideologically.
The fantasy world is an anitdote to the political repression of Fascism.
The iconography of the lock and key, under which Vidal holds provisions that should belong to the people, also reflects the enforced rule of the Fascists.
Vidal's key is used to control, hide and oppress, Ofelia's props allow her to liberate the knife from the Pale man's lair.
Ofelia''s props act to counterbalance Vidal's and present her lack of conformity
The destruction of her dress right after she got it
City Of God
religion - catholic
gang violence in favelas
football
corruption
overpopulation issues
trend of moving in from countryside to city to the favelas, often linked with unsanitary conditions, poor nutrition pollution disease high infant mortality.
Directed by Fernando Meirelles and Katia Lund
in brazil 20% live in absolute poverty
top 10% receive 50% of GDP
head of workers party in 02 won the election and promised economic prosperty fairly distributed
Very detailed notes, Guy - suggest you take the City of God notes and post under a separate header from Pan's Labyrinth - might make it easier to revise later on. But up to you.
ReplyDeleteMr Boon