Manifesting an A: Film Final

*Who was the "hyphenate" who directed, starred in, and co-wrote the film?

Orson Welles.

*What do you think the meaning(s) are of the final revelation about what "Rosebud" is?

"Rosebud" is revealed to be the name of Charles Foster Kane's childhood sled. It represents the lost innocence and happiness of his childhood, a time before wealth and power complicated his life. 

*Are there strengths to reading the lead character in terms of what "Rosebud" meant to him?

Reading Kane in terms of "Rosebud" allows us to see his actions as a lifelong attempt to recapture that lost feeling of love and security.  

*Is there more to say about the character of Charles Foster Kane than "Rosebud" can explain?

Yes, "Rosebud" is a key to understanding Kane, but his ambition, pride, and the complexities of his relationships go beyond this single symbol.  

Can you recall some sequences that we analyzed that used deep focus, the long take and various creative images, sounds and editing? What is notable about "breakfast table" montage between Kane & his first wife Emily?

The long take where Kane's mother signs the papers is significant for its use of deep focus, showing all characters in sharp focus and emphasizing the gravity of the moment. The breakfast table montage is notable for showing the deterioration of Kane's marriage over time through editing.

*Recall the short scene where Mr. Bernstein is discussing two possible front-page headlines for the Kane-owned newspaper the day after Kane has lost the election. What does it say to us?

This scene reveals Kane's immense ego and his inability to accept defeat, as well as the power of the media to shape public perception.  

*How is this film about the mass media?

Citizen Kane explores the power and influence of the mass media, its ability to both inform and manipulate, and its impact on public opinion and the lives of individuals.  

*What does the film say about the "American Dream"?

The film offers a critical perspective on the American Dream, suggesting that the pursuit of wealth and power can lead to isolation and loss of personal values.  

*What does the film say about the acquisition of money and power? I touched on these two in class!

Citizen Kane suggests that the acquisition of money and power does not necessarily lead to happiness and can corrupt individuals.  

El Norte

Gregory Nava 1983

*How does this qualify as "art cinema"?

El Norte qualifies as art cinema due to its focus on social realism, its exploration of complex themes, and its stylistic departures from mainstream commercial filmmaking.  

*How is El Norte different from a mainstream commercial film?

El Norte is different from a mainstream commercial film in its emphasis on character development, its slower pace, and its willingness to address difficult social and political issues.  

*Which art film movements, genres and styles do you see as having influenced this film the most?

El Norte is influenced by Italian neorealism (realism, social focus), documentary (style), and potentially magic realism.  

Clearly not all of them have influenced this film, but clearly some of them have.

The film exemplifies transnational cinema through its cross-border themes and multilingualism.  

*Why do you think the film is in three parts and in several languages?

The film is in three parts to show the journey through different regions and stages, and it uses multiple languages to reflect the cultural and linguistic diversity of the story.  

*What are some of the film's themes and messages?

The film's themes include the struggles of immigrants, the search for the American Dream, and the impact of political violence.  

What political points is it making?

El Norte makes political points about immigration policy, economic inequality, and human rights.  

*Many films we watched are still socially relevant; how is El Norte relevant today?

El Norte remains relevant today due to the ongoing debates about immigration and the struggles faced by those seeking a better life in a new country.  

*While most of the film is very realistic, El Norte has scenes that seem set in a "different" zone of life, thought, logic...an "alternate reality" that might connect with surrealism, magic realism etc.

The film uses elements of magic realism to convey the characters' emotional and spiritual experiences. The circle motif may symbolize the cyclical nature of their journey or the closed-off nature of their circumstances.  

Where does this appear, and why?

*What is significant about the ending of El Norte?

The ending of El Norte is significant because it is tragic and realistic, highlighting the difficulties and dangers faced by immigrants, and challenging the idea of a guaranteed happy ending.  

Un Chien Andalou

France, 1929

Do you remember Luis Bunuel and Salvador Dali?

Yes, Luis Buñuel and Salvador Dalí were key figures in the surrealist movement and co-created Un Chien Andalou.  

*How did the study of dreams that became so prominent early in the 20th century influence surrealism?

The study of dreams, particularly the work of Sigmund Freud, heavily influenced surrealism by providing a framework for exploring the unconscious mind and irrational thought.  

What were some of the goals of surrealism in cinema and other arts?

The goals of surrealism included challenging traditional artistic and social norms, liberating the unconscious, and creating art that was irrational and dreamlike.  

*How can the film be read as a shocking assault on conventional, "safe" and genteel bourgeois society?

The film's shocking imagery and disregard for narrative logic are intended to disrupt and provoke the bourgeois audience.  

*How can the film be read as a parody of mainstream storytelling and entertainment?

The film defies traditional narrative structure and cinematic conventions, parodying the expectations of mainstream storytelling.  

Meshes of the Afternoon

USA, 1943

Meshes of the Afternoon Do you recall the artists who co-directed and acted in the film?

Maya Deren

*This film kicked off a vogue in the U.S. avant-garde for "trance" films?

Meshes of the Afternoon is considered a key example of the "trance film" genre, which explores subjective psychological states.  

Why that name?

The name "trance film" comes from the dreamlike, hypnotic quality of these films, often featuring characters in a state of altered consciousness.  

*Do you see any connections with surrealism (such as in Un Chien Andalou)?

Yes, both films share a focus on dream logic, symbolism, and the exploration of the unconscious.  

*What kinds of filmic techniques (e.g., jump cuts) and storytelling norms separate this film from mainstream Hollywood?

Meshes of the Afternoon uses techniques like jump cuts, repetition, and distorted perspectives, which deviate from mainstream Hollywood's emphasis on linear narrative and seamless editing.  

*What are some possible interpretations of what occurs and what happens to the lead character?

Interpretations of the film vary, but it is often seen as an exploration of female psychology, anxiety, and the cyclical nature of time and fate.  

*RECALL, too, the clip from 2001: A Space Odyssey where I illustrated the graphic match!!

2001: A Space Odyssey is famous for its use of the graphic match, a technique where two shots are linked by visual similarities.  

I hope you also remember Len Lye's three-minute film, A Colour Box (Great Britain, 1935) Lye made various films in different ways, but with similarities in that he did things directly to the filmstrip.

Len Lye's A Colour Box is an example of direct animation, where images are created directly on the filmstrip without the use of a camera.  

He did not always photograph things, just sometimes. (Imagine making a film without a camera!) How do his films differ from traditional animated films?

Lye's films differ from traditional animation by foregoing frame-by-frame photography of drawings or models, instead using abstract designs and patterns painted or scratched onto the film.  

*What kinds of things does Lye emphasize?

Lye emphasizes rhythm, color, and movement in his films.  

What interests him most as a filmmaker?

He is most interested in the kinetic and visual possibilities of film as a medium.  

*The clip from Battleship Potemkin: Why did Sergei Eisenstein make this 1924 USSR film?

Sergei Eisenstein made Battleship Potemkin to depict the 1905 revolt of sailors and the subsequent massacre of civilians, glorifying the revolution and the Soviet Ideology  

*What famous social, political and economic revolution took place in 1917-1918, and why?

The Russian Revolution took place in 1917-1918 due to social, political, and economic factors such as discontent with the Tsarist regime, World War I, and economic hardship.  

*Why did he choose to recreate the famous mutiny on board the battleship and the subsequent massacre of the people of Odessa on the main steps of this port city (an incident that really occurred in 1905)?

Eisenstein chose to recreate these events to celebrate revolutionary action and to create a powerful emotional impact on the audience.  

*What is so unusual about the shots where the angry sailor breaks the dish that reads "Give us this day our daily bread"? 

It's unusual because when he throws it down we get 10 shots or more of just that scene where he throws it down we don't get one singular shot we get more jump cuts. 

*What is unusual about the Odessa Steps massacre sequence?

The Odessa Steps sequence is famous for its dynamic montage editing, which uses techniques like crosscutting and overlapping action to create a sense of chaos and violence.  

*Can you recall examples from this sequence that illustrate the historical and theoretical ideas (from historians, Marxists and others) of dialectics (that is, the conflict between two opposing forces)?

The sequence illustrates dialectics through the clash between the Tsarist soldiers and the civilians, representing the conflict between oppression and the people.  

*How does the montage in this sequence differ from a Hollywood films like Imitation of Life where we see the evolution of Lora Meredith's onstage starring career in the theater over the course of ten years?

The montage in Potemkin is used for emotional and political impact, while in a Hollywood film like Imitation of Life, montage would likely be used to condense time or provide background information.  

*How does the clip from The Untouchables (USA, 1987) pay tribute to Eisenstein's film?

The Untouchables pays tribute to Potemkin by recreating the Odessa Steps sequence.  

*That said, how do the two films differ—in both style and in political orientation/message?

While The Untouchables borrows the style, it lacks Potemkin's overt political message.  

The evolution of "classical" Hollywood film, from shorts to feature-length films

1915

from silent to sound films

1927-1929

 Production Code

(1930-1968)

*What was the Production Code and why was it not too strongly enforced from 1930-34?

The Production Code was a set of moral guidelines for Hollywood films. It wasn't strongly enforced early on due to studios pushing boundaries to increase profits.