What skills do you need to demonstrate?
How do the films comparable & how do they contrast Narrative Techniques, Structure, Theories - use of these to create meaning?
How does the context (history, cultural myths, beliefs, identity) of Spain and France create meaning through the Narrative?
What other MACRO can you apply to the above?
Why are audiences important, why is this plural and what concept of foreign cinema are we linking this to?
How are we positioned in the narrative as a spectator that creates meaning?
Why are cultural myths so important to this question?
How do we prepare for a exam that requires argument, comparison and critical thinking backed up with relevant points and references to examples?
A written debate
How are the message, myths & ideas explored in the Narrative of Amelie & Pans Labrynth different?
How do the 2 films differ in their approach to Genre to express the culture's ideas, myths and history?
How do the 2 films differ in their Themes and in expressing the culture's ideas and history?
How do the 2 films differ in their use of Style to express the culture's ideas, myths and history?
How does the Narrative position the viewer in the 2 films and how is this used to create contrasting messages/ideas?
What Narrative techniques/theories are used, how are they used differently to tell the country's story?
How important is Narrative of the films in expressing the messages, myths and ideas of the country?
To what extent are the Narratives expressing National Cinema?
Checklist:
Debate need to include:
Argument/Opinion that is justified/explained
Overlaps with other Macro
Comparing the differences between the films use of narrative or:
Differences in messages & values
Linked to Context of Country (myths, culture etc)
Now:
Thinking time
Argue against theirs or justify their argument
Comparing the differences between the films use of narrative or:
Differences in messages & values
Linked to Context of Country (myths, culture etc)
Next:
Synthesis (Snickers)
5 min: read both
5 min: list of points (use checklist - what is missing?)
5 min: thinking how to 'Synthesis': reshape/review your argument reconciling strongest of both
Apply to demonstrate your critical thinking & application of context & macro
Write up your Thesis - not a trained exam response to a expected question but application of understanding.
Class activity: Create the essay (Narrative)
Using the 3 paragraph from each question
Video Essay critical comparison of the films with image examples to back up points
Narrative plays a significant role in the construction of message and values. To what extent is this evident in Amelie & Pans Labrynth?
Rewrite the question. What is it asking? Why will the films differ?
Martin's response on Style
How do the 2 films differ in their use of Style to express the culture's ideas, myths and history?
The two films express the aspects of their culture very differently through their use of style. I feel that they differ as one uses style to create an accurate representation of the country whilst the other does its best to romanticise its country and present it in a positive somewhat untruthful way. Pans Labrinth gives a gritty, truthful representation of 1940s Spain through the dark lighting and sombre themes of death and facism within the film. The film follows Spanish beliefs closely as through Ofelias sacrifice led to her being reunited with her father once she was dead, therefore strongly reinforcing the countries catholic and christian beliefs. 3,3Amelie however does not give such an accurate representation of its country, all areas shot in the film are clean and look as if they would be pleasant to visit. This as well as the happy almost cartoon colour grading gives a surreal and overly positive feel to the film. (2)This follows with what the condition of france actually was in the time surrounding the films production as Paris had recently had many issues such as the riots and frequent problems with racism. None of these issues are addressed in the film especially the racial aspect as not a single black character is included within the film. This shows that one of the films uses style to try and get across a truthful dark view of the country at the time and accurately represent its history and struggles whilst one uses it simply as an "auteurs touch" or to market Paris as an attractive, clean and friendly place.
Martin Stewart
The setting in Amelie is not portrayed in a truthful way, which adds to the message that the country didn't feel comfortable with their true identity and wanted people to believe it was a positive place to visit in order to gain a good reputation. The film director of Amelie is misleading the viewers into believing an untrue representation of France. On the other hand, in Pans Labyrinth the audience is seeing a young child being psychologically beaten by the Spanish Civil war, which is truthfully sticking to the history of Spain, reinforcing the idea that war shouldn't exist.
New Points
Myths - City of Love (Paris)
Pans Labrinth relies heavily on narrative rather than simply style to present ideas, myths and history
Pans Labrinth shows war ruins lives, war is bad, consequences of facism
Amelie shows the importance of helping each other, the joys of innocence, the importance of love and not being alone/isolated
Synthesised Answer
The two films express the aspects of their culture very differently through their use of style. I feel that they differ as one uses style to create an accurate representation of the country whilst the other does its best to romanticise its country and present it in a positive somewhat untruthful way. Pans Labrinth gives a gritty, truthful representation of 1940s Spain through the dark lighting and sombre themes of death and facism within the film. The film follows Spanish beliefs closely as Ofelias sacrifice led to her being reunited with her father once she was dead, therefore strongly reinforcing the countries catholic and christian beliefs. the film also shows the impact of war on young children, and reinforces the idea that children cannot deal with adult themes. Amelie however does not give such an accurate representation of its country, all areas shot in the film are clean and look as if they would be pleasant to visit. This as well as the happy almost cartoon colour grading gives a surreal and overly positive feel to the film. This overly happy representation of france ties in perfectly with the idea that Paris is the city of love, this is reinforced also through the narrative as the film has Amelie playing cupid. Through this an untrue representation of France is given to the audience of the film. During the time surrounding the films production Paris had recently had many issues such as the riots and frequent problems with racism. None of these issues are addressed in the film especially the racial aspect as not a single black character is included within the film. I feel that this unrealistic view is given as the country didn't feel comfortable with their true identity and therefore didn't want the whole world to see the true issues that they face. This shows that one of the films uses style to try and get across a truthful dark view of the country at the time and accurately represent its history and struggles whilst one uses it simply as an "auteurs touch" or to market Paris as an attractive, clean and friendly place to the rest of the world.
Rebecca's Post on genre
Argument: Genre plays an important role in the success of a foreign film as it is key to how the different audiences are drawn into watching the films, for example its horror genre that will use predicted horror conventions which certain audiences know and love, who will therefore have an attraction to the film.
Genre appeals to certain audiences as it allows us to pick the aspects that we like to watch. e.g. someone may prefer the conventions of a Romance film and therefore be more likely to see future romance films with an expectation as to what they will be like. We can recognise the genre through our previous experiences.
Horror / Fantasy - conform with aspects of Pan's Labyrinth. The film was successful as Lord of The Rings was also of the fantasy genre and had a large audience that went to see the films which brought in a vast amount of money.
Genre also contributes to success on the basis it is easy to understand because it is the same all over the world; genre breaks films into different categories, providing us with the ability to sift through the films and select the ones we would most like to watch.
Genre is similar to Narrative e.g. Fairytale characters (Propp).
It is not about showing the culture of the country, it is about being successful to audiences and making money. This is part of the reasoning as to why both Pan's Labyrinth and Amelie have a strong use of style to appeal to different audiences. For example, in Pan's Labyrinth, fantasy conventions are conveyed through the use of magical realism. Romantic conventions and the myth of Paris being the city of love is demonstrated through Amelie in the form of French New Wave and Cinema Du Look, linking to the phrase "style over substance".
Amelie – Romantic Comedy
- Amelie uses the genre of romantic comedy to appeal worldwide to any audiences, it is a stereotype of the genre of romantic comedy that the film will follow the classic Hollywood narrative making it a presumption of any going to see it in other films that they will easily be able to follow the narrative as it is a convention of the genre
- Uses a heterosexual relationship within the romance to make it acceptable worldwide
Pans Labyrinth – Fantasy
- Pans Labyrinth uses the fantasy genre as it is one that is accepted worldwide and can be viewed and understood by all audiences
- Offers an opportunity for people to watch the film as a serious contextually strong piece of national cinema or as simply a fantasy from Ofelia’s point of view allowing it to be an international bestseller
- The use of fantasy allows the messages of the film to be portrayed through the innocent eyes of a child, without the use of fantasy Ofelia would be facing up to real people rather than the monsters that she and we as the viewer sees
- Allows us through the use of a fantasy genre to see how the war scars the children of Spain at the time
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