In my early sophomore year I used to write one film review every week. This habit lasted for 4 months thus at the end of it I produced 16 film reviews and notes in total.
Since I now have a blog, I might as well make a good use of this place and share some of the notes to the public.
But note that this is not meant to be a complete introduction of the subject or anything of that kind. Instead, it should serve as a supplemental material, helping people better understand the subject matter in some way (at leas that's my goal :) ).
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French New Wave
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| Movie poster The 400 Blows. Source link: http://static.rogerebert.com/uploads/movie/movie_poster/the-400-blows-1959/large_yKMjkJP5HXApN8CHLJupeJUZl5s.jpg |
Background: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_New_Wave
Films produced in this period:
1). Technical Characteristics
- Handheld, portable cameras
- Jump cuts; discontinuous editing
- Long takes
- Synchronous sound recording
- Natural locations (and lighting)
- Rapid change between scenes
- Low budget, short production period
- Extensive use of Panning
- Extensive use of Point of view shot
- Less special effects
- Did not dependent on strong narrative to tell the stories
2). Thematic characteristics
- Open ending
- Natural performance–improvised dialogues and plots,
- Main characters are usually lonely individual, feeling stressful and lost, being seen as absurd and looking for understanding and refuge.
- Remain literal adaptation
- Documentary, realistic style
- Many involve social, political issues
- Films tend to show the dark and negative side of the society
- Films focus more on the change of the character's internal feelings/ try to show the internal world of the character.
- Violent love
- Directors are the "authors", "storytellers"; films are shown through the directors' view of the world
