Captain Fantastic ideology notes (A Level Film)

1. MES- location, colour, props, hair, makeup, costumes, staging, performance.
Cinematography- framing, positioning, movement, shot size, focus, depth of field,
lighting.
Other- editing and sound.
FAMILY DYNAMICS + AMERICANPOLITICS
Montage in the end sequence mirrors that of the beginning. Use of editing,
cutting and sequencing are almost identical. The content of the montage shows
the growth of the family and completes their character arc (or Ben’s character
arc). They are still running through fields (use of setting portrays a similar but not
identical place) and producing their own food, the only difference being that they
are also doing things like homework and Ben is packing lunches. Use of green
colour shows that their environments aren’t so different after all- and it remains
just as bright and hippie ish as the beginning sequence. The use of the van being
used as a chicken coop not only shows they still live and unwasteful, nature
centred life but also that they have moved past the incident with the funeral and
the days when they would have to drive to get to civilisation. Shows that they
have shifted from radical environmentalism and found a relatively happy middle
ground between the two sides of America we see portrayed in the film. This
shows that the family have found balance between their extreme
environmentalist lifestyle and the capitalist comfort they had reserved their lives
to hating. The montage shows that the kids are still happy (performance, facial
expressions ect) and appear to have adjusted well to going to school and living
more normally (something Bo complains about- link back). Ideological message
thus far has been very anticapitalist but also self-aware about the downsides to
their lifestyle (ben can be a very conflicting character who makes bad decisions,
putting his lifestyle before his kids). The ending is the filmmaker’s way of saying
that there will be no perfect way of life, so compromises must be made in order to
be happy. Staging- the family at the table are still sat in a circle which shows
despite the drastic change in scenery and all they have been through, they are
still family and united under Ben. The look out the window can be seen two ways-
Ben misses his old life but is dealing with it for the sake of his children (ideological
message being that no matter how strong your ideals, loved ones come first) or it
was a look of content (Ben is just grateful that all his kids are safe and is willing to
change his lifestyle). Editing and sound link well together at the end of the
closing scene, the scene drags on just showing the family sat around together,
showing normality but also giving the feeling that life goes on. The title card is
timed for when the drums kick up, giving a feeling of finality and solidifying the
idea that compromises can still be happy ones. Found their balance and continue
to live somewhat away from capitalism.