1. Section A: Urban Stories – Power, Poverty and Conflict
What is the importance of mise-en-scène and/or sound in creating
meaning and generating response in the films you have studied?
The films I have studied all represent life in very challenging urban environments. The portrayal of the
different social contexts and the themes of power, poverty and conflictare enhanced by the powerful and
creative use of sound and mise-en-scene. The films I shall be referring to areLa Haine, City of God and …….
(You need to talk about your third film which you have been researching)
.
Mise-en-Scene and Sound
Give definitions of these mirco features and their significance to the understanding of a film for
the spectator
Select a range of scenes that show excellent use of mise-en scene in City of God
Consider how the slum changes e.g. open environments where there is space to play change
further into the film into crammed and confined narrow streets with graffiti spattered walls.
Everything gets more encroached and darker – why?
Consider the freedom apparent in the newspaper office and Marina’s apartment and Ned’s house
– why is this the case.
Mise-en-Scene – in the motel scene when the violent act is replayed
There are many scenes you could select but whichever you pick you must show you know them
well. I have included some note below for the opening scenes – Openings are always good to
focus on and I have included some notes below
Opening Scene
In all films the opening scenes are particularly powerful (rewatch the scenes and make detailed notes
inorder that you can demonstrate excellent knowledge of the film). Use the points below to help
City of God:
We anticipate violence, crime, masculine conflict, gang culture – consider the chicken, series of close ups –
knife, hand and stone- with a cut to black between each shot. Repeated five times in quick succession like
a camera flash bulb, think about why these objects – what is the director saying?. The only sound is the
knife been sharpened. There is a scene of local colour, music and food what do we see – why?
Close ups of faces, guitars, tambourines, carrots, chicken feet, cooking pot, chicken tethered by its leg –
why these objects, how do they help create the setting/location?. The chicken attempts freedom, it can fly
but will not get far –perhaps like the slum dwellers? We see pursuit of the chicken –why? Metaphor!
We see Rocket with the camera – a central prop to the film. What does the slum look like? How does it
change when we go into the flashback – what props are now present? Why?

2. Mise-en-Scene – Significance of the gun which forms part of the mise-en-scene
Power of the gun in both films is important; the gun is part of the mise-en-scene, what is the significance of
the gun in the films.
How are guns deal with differently in each film, what is the same about them (think about what they
represent)
.
Sound in City of God
Brazilian popular music is a key part of the cultural life which the film tries to show
Samba beat is particularly associated with the Favela/poverty
The music in the film often acts as a seductive counterpoint to the violent images, in a similar way
to Rocket’s commentary throughout
Think of examples when tense and violent or emotionalmoments are signalled by the sounds we
hear. Consider the killing of Bene, perhaps?
The music that accompanies the end credit – seems to leave the audience with a feeling of nostalgia.
Consider how you think this works against the feeling of carnage and deprivation we are shown? Does it
neutralise the impact of the film?
Sound and Mise-en-Scene in La Haine
The sounds from the estate are in stereo, with a lot of bass and American influences, whereas
Paris is all in mono. What is the effect of this? There is a greater density of sound in the Project –
why? What are they trying to show about life in the projects
Explore the DJ scene where the anti-police message is heard. This scene is great for sound; we
hear sampling of rap/funk music and Edith Piaf’s ‘Je ne regretted rien’
Hubert’s bedroom for mise -en- scene, perhaps? (the black salute and images of Ali)
In the film the music is racially mixed like the trio of the main characters. Music unites and rallies
people together in the film, what is the message?
Music in La Haine establishes a cultural climate, an ambience that suggests a harmonious ethnic
blend set against the reality of social exclusion/poverty and racism and conflict in the suburbs.
Opening Scene
La Haine – You have done a very detailed analysis of the opening scene already. The images are very
powerful e.g. the uniform nature of the police, the mass of the crowd, the anti-police message, black and
white documentary style footage (of real riots). It is all endorsed by the powerful choice of Bob Marley’s
music ‘Burning n Looting.’
Sound and Mise-en-Scene in your third film
Try to find 3 -6 specifics about how sound and mise en scene were used in your third film. They
should either be similar to La Haine or City of God. You need to explore the effect they have on
the audience and what meaning they create.
Conclusion
Summarises how the scenes you have referred to generate meaning and perhaps reinforce certain
messages and values.
For this section – it is essential that you look the Messages and Values of the film, consider the similarities
and differences between the films. What are the directors trying to say – to their own people, to the wider
international audience? What do you think of the messages?
Good luck – you can do it but must start revising and re watching the films!