This document provides an overview and comparison of the themes and styles in Tarantino's films Django Unchained and Inglorious Basterds. Both films incorporate high levels of violence and are set in historical periods of slavery and Nazi Germany, though the events are not entirely historically accurate. The films explore themes of violence, racism, and oppression of minority groups, with the oppressed minorities ultimately overcoming their oppressors.
2. What will I be discussing?
I shall be looking at the themes and styles that
Tarantino uses in both of the two films; Django
Unchained and Inglorious Basterds.
Both of the films incorporate a high level of
violence and are based on real context; Slavery
and Nazi Germany.
3. Brief Overview
Django Unchained
The film follows a slave named Django
who is freed with the help of a German
Bounty hunter, who sets out to free his
Wife from a Mississippi plantation
owner.
Although both films are based in a
Historical period, it is not based on
Actual historical events, therefore one
of styles of Tarantino’s films is unrealistic
Inglorious Basterds
The film is set in Nazi Germany, whilst it
was under the rule of Hitler. Although both
films are based in a historical period, it is
not based on actual historical events.
The film explores the Basterds, who are
American, who set out to kill every Nazi
they come across, including Hitler himself.
The film is filled with revenge, Hitler is
killed by Shoshanna, who’s family was
murdered when she was younger.
4. Themes
Violence: There Is a clear sense of violence in each of the films, that actually
drives the narrative. Inglorious Basterds opens with a scene of a Jewish
family being murdered. Django Unchained is also driven by violence. In the
opening scene we see the slaves backs with scars and cuts.
The violence that Tarantino portrays in both scenes is gruesome and
stylistic. The majority of the fight scenes are westernised. It is also extremely
violent, for example cutting of the scalps of Nazis or the white people being
blown up in Django.
Usually, the violence becomes more extreme towards the end of the film and
is inflicted on the opposition.
5. Themes
Racism: This occurs throughout both of the films.
Nazis vs. Jewish population
White vs. black
Oppression: The oppression of the minority groups.
Oppression of women
Oppression of blacks (slaves) inflicted by the white men in power
Jews vs. Nazis
However, in both films, the oppressed minority overcomes their oppression
and kills/oppresses their original oppressors.
