Realism in Filmmaking

What is Realism?

Realism in filmmaking is characterized by its style and method aimed at creating a filmic world that audiences can accept as plausible within their own lives. This acceptance hinges on a myriad of techniques designed to present events and characters in a way that resonates with real-world experiences.

Techniques in Realism

Creating Plausibility

Realist films often employ various techniques to encourage audiences to relate to the narrative. These techniques include:

  • Editing: The way scenes are cut and arranged to create a sense of immediacy or reality of the events occurring in the film.

  • Dialogue: Realistic dialogue is crafted and performed to portray characters that audiences can envision as real individuals.

  • Narrative: The structure and storyline of the film must reflect situations and relationships that audiences recognize as truthful or relatable.

  • Mise-en-scène: Everything that appears within the frame of the film must resemble the real world, contributing to the overall authenticity of the film's environment.

Questions for Examination

  1. Does the story align with an audience’s understanding of ‘reality’? This exploration involves analyzing whether the plot reflects actual life experiences.

  2. Does the frame include items that mirror the real world? This is a critical view of the visual aspects presented on-screen.

Subject Matter of Realism

Realism often focuses on tangible issues and themes such as:

  • Relationships

  • Poverty

  • War

  • Romance

While more abstract themes can certainly be explored, realist films typically root their narratives in recognizable human behavior, characterized by realistic circumstances in familiar settings.