Chungking Express

Choose a five-minute scene in Chungking Express and think about the themes that Wong Kar Wai embodies in this work (such as isolation, time, etc.) and analyze the scene through this theme and using 1-2 cinematic elements. Minimum 2 paragraphs.

Beijing Bicycle

Wang Xiaoshuai's film Beijing Bicycle is ultimately a film about the effects of "modernization" in China. I'd like you to read this essay and discuss the film's narrative and what you feel is the implied meaning of the film as a whole. Choose one scene and analyze the scene fully and cinematically and tell me why you chose the scene and what is the scene's relationship to the film as a whole.

The Story of Qiu Ju

Think about the presentation of Qiu Ju and Meizi in the film. In one paragraph, discuss how both of these women are represented cinematically. In your next paragraph discuss how the countryside and the city are represented cinematically. In your last paragraph, tell me what you learned and what you liked best about the film.

Let the Right One In

Think about the mise-en-scene in Let the Right One In. Examine all aspects of mise-en-scene: lighting, composition, set, properties, etc. This would include color as well. Discuss the concept of "monster" through the mise-en-scene of the film. Choose another "vampire" film (including Nosferatu, if you're not a vampire movie lover) and compare and contrast the concept of "monster" through various elements of mise-en-scene.

Choose one five minute scene from each movie to discuss.

Ringu

Remember how to look at a film through a feminist lens? Choose a five-minute scene in Ringu and examine the role of women and how they are portrayed in your selected scene and in the film as a whole. How does the director show us? Be sure to discuss this topic CINEMATICALLY. Back up all of your statements with evidence from the film. Your response should be 3 well-developed paragraphs. You must reference one of the big names (from feminist film criticism) such as Tania Modleski, Laura Mulvey, and Molly Haskell. You must state the title of the essay and use at least one quote. I have plenty of books in the library to help you with this.

Cat People

Read Roger Ebert's Great Movies essay on Cat People, answer his question: Does this movie still work today? Explain your answer with details from the film.

In a second paragraph, what are some techniques Jacques Tourneur uses to develop suspense? Describe with evidence from the film.

The Passion of Joan of Arc

Full movie can be found here.

Please choose one essay prompt and write at least 2-3 well-developed paragraphs.

Essay #1 From Roger Ebert's essay on The Passion of Joan of Arc:

"There is not one single establishing shot in all of 'The Passion of Joan of Arc,' which is filmed entirely in closeups and medium shots, creating fearful intimacy between Joan and her tormentors. Nor are there easily read visual links between shots. In his brilliant shot-by-shot analysis of the film, David Bordwell of the University of Wisconsin concludes: 'Of the film's over 1,500 cuts, fewer than 30 carry a figure or object over from one shot to another, and fewer than 15 constitute genuine matches on action.'"

Many avant garde films also do not have matches on action or carryover shots. Compare The Passion of Joan of Arc to one of the avant garde films we watched in regards to editing and mise-en-scene. Use cinematic evidence to back up whatever you state.

Essay #2 From Ib Monty's essay:

"When the film was released, the close-up technique was regarded as shocking. Dreyer defended his method by stating: 'The records give a shattering impression on the ways in which the trial was a conspiracy of the judges against the solitary Jeanne, bravely defending herself against men who displayed a devilish cunning to trap her in their net. This conspiracy could be conveyed on the screen only through the huge close-ups, that exposed, with merciless realism, the callous cynicism of the judges hidden behind hypocritical compassion--and on the other hand there had to be equally huge close-ups of Jeanne, whose pure features would reveal that she alone found strength in her faith in God.' As in all of Dreyer's major films the style grew out of the theme of the film. In La passion de Jeanne d'Arc Dreyer wanted 'to move the audience so that they would themselves feel the suffering that Jeanne endured.' It was by using close-ups that Dreyer could 'lead the audience all the way into the hearts and guts of Jeanne and the judges.'"

Agree or disagree with this quote. Use cinematic evidence to back up whatever you state.

Avant Garde

Choose 3 of the films we watched in class and answer the following questions. Answer all questions for each film to create at least 3 paragraphs.

Le Retour a la Raison
Entr'acte
Le Ballet Mecanique
Un Chien Andalou
Meshes of the Afternoon 

What do you notice about the film's presentation of cinematic space? What do you see on screen? For example, lots of landscapes or closeups? Moving or static camera? How does the filmmaker use light and shadow? Discuss what you see and what you think it all means.

Which "special effects" would you possibly use in your own film projects?

If you can't get enough of the avant garde cinema, check out this site: http://www.ubu.com/film/.

If you want to look more into Jonas Mekas, go here: http://jonasmekas.com/diary/

Seven Samurai

Choose a cinematic technique that Kurasawa uses that you like and feel you could replicate. Describe it and discuss why he uses this technique (meaning) and give an example of how you would use it in your own work.

400 Blows/Breathless

Choose a 5 minute scene in either The 400 Blows or Breathless and analyze it through a geographical context. How does the geographical location of the film’s origin affect its mise-en-scene? Give detailed and specific examples.

Bicycle Thieves

Choose a five minute scene and discuss the cinematic characteristics of that scene that show neorealism. If you were to analyze this scene for a TA, which 1-2 cultural contexts would you use? Why?

Rules of the Game

Choose a 5-minute scene and choose one cultural context through which to look at it. Use a minimum of 1 cinematic element with which to do an analysis of the scene.

Cultural contexts include:
Economic
Geographical
Historical
Institutional
Political
Social
Technological

Bringing Up Baby

Think about the film's mise-en-scene. Choose one scene in the film and discuss at least two aspects of the mise-en-scene (costumes, set, lighting, props, framing) and its relation to the scene and the film as a whole. 

Choose a cultural context and frame your response through that as a lens. Use at least 2 paragraphs for your discussion. 

And please post your favorite line from the film.

IB Sample Student Assessment Material

Click here for sample student assessment material. You will find samples of Textual Analysis (TA), Comparative Study (CS), Film Reel/Portfolio (FP), and Collaborative Film Project (CP).

Rififi

Choose a 5 minute scene and analyze it through the lens of a cultural context of your choice.  Be sure to cover 2-3 cinematic elements in your analysis.

Double Indemnity

Choose one scene and describe it briefly for me. Then look at it through a feminist lens. How are women depicted cinematically? Be sure to use solid cinematic evidence from the scene as well as quotes from the Mulvey essay. Also, mention the scene's relationship to the film as a whole and why you chose the scene.