This document provides context and analysis of the films La Haine and City of God. For both films, it examines themes of power, poverty, and conflict within urban environments. It summarizes key plot points, characters, and scenes. It also analyzes how the films portray issues of ethnicity, gender, class, and violence within the contexts of France and Brazil. The document uses examples and details from the films to illustrate its points about the social, political, and historical contexts portrayed.
The document discusses themes related to urban stories and films about power, poverty, and conflict. It provides context on films like "La Haine" and "City of God" that portray cultures dominated by powerful ideologies and the inability to form relationships due to social conditions. Issues covered include feelings of insignificance, violence, and conflicts arising from social/cultural environments. The document also analyzes how these films use aspects like mise-en-scene and sound to generate meaning and emotional responses regarding the issues presented.
This document provides an overview of common issues, contexts, and representations explored in urban stories films. It discusses themes of cultures dominated by powerful ideologies, feelings of insignificance, and conflicts arising from social/cultural environments. For the film La Haine, it notes the context of 1990s Paris housing estates and police brutality. It examines representations of ethnic young men and how characters like Hubert reject crime but are impacted by circumstances beyond their control. Students are tasked with analyzing 1-2 scenes from the films through discussion of techniques, themes and the social issues they raise.
The document discusses several urban stories portrayed in films that deal with issues of power, poverty, and conflict arising from social and cultural environments. It analyzes two films - City of God, set in Rio de Janeiro about gang violence among poor youth, and La Haine, set in the outskirts of Paris about ethnic minority groups living with limited opportunities. Both films depict societies lacking identity due to Western globalization, and characters descending into violence, crime, or lethargy due to their social conditions and upbringings in unequal, discriminatory environments dominated by more powerful ideologies.
Verisimilitude refers to how realistic or truthful a narrative appears. It comes from the Latin words for "truth" and "similar." Verisimilitude in film is important for creating believability, and it can be achieved through generic conventions that audiences expect or through reflecting broader social norms. Certain film genres rely more on cultural verisimilitude for realism, while aspects that violate culture norms may attract audiences the most. Cinéma vérité documentaries aim for maximum verisimilitude through capturing experiences in an unedited, unobtrusive manner as possible to portray events as they unfold without camera influence.
Here are some ways the social, historical, and political contexts are relevant to La Haine:
- The banlieues where the film is set represent the urban poverty and marginalization experienced by many immigrants and descendants of former French colonies. The multicultural population of the banlieue reflects France's colonial history and the influx of immigrants from former colonies.
- The tensions between police and youths in the film stem in part from longstanding racial inequalities and discrimination faced by non-white citizens. As former colonies gained independence, many immigrants came to France but faced social exclusion and racism.
- The film was made during a time of social unrest, as the banlieues experienced regular riots and clashes between minority youths and
The document discusses several films that portray urban stories dealing with issues of power, poverty, and conflict. It provides background context on the settings and time periods of City of God, La Haine, Chungking Express, and Princesses. It examines how these films represent masculinity and femininity, as well as themes of poverty, crime, and the struggle to escape difficult social environments. Key cinematic techniques used and the impact of representing urban issues through film are also addressed.
City of God tells the story of Rocket, a young man growing up in the violent slums of Rio de Janeiro in the 1960s-1980s. As crime escalates in brutality under the leadership of the psychopathic gang leader Lil' Ze, Rocket pursues a career in photography to escape the criminal world of the favelas. The film chronicles the changing gang culture over the decades as weapons become more powerful and gang members younger. Rocket acts as an observer of the intertwining narratives unfolding around him as he witnesses the short and brutal lives of those in the slums.
The film La Haine follows three young men - Vinz, Sayid, and Hubert - in the French suburbs over 24 hours. Tensions are high between the racially diverse youth and the oppressive police force. The previous night, a police officer lost his gun in a riot, which Vinz finds. If his friend Abdel dies from police beatings, Vinz vows to kill a cop. The film explores the experiences of the working class characters and issues of racism, police brutality, and social exclusion through its portrayal of their interactions and the surrounding environment.
The document discusses themes related to urban stories and films about power, poverty, and conflict. It provides context on films like "La Haine" and "City of God" that portray cultures dominated by powerful ideologies and the inability to form relationships due to social conditions. Issues covered include feelings of insignificance, violence, and conflicts arising from social/cultural environments. The document also analyzes how these films use aspects like mise-en-scene and sound to generate meaning and emotional responses regarding the issues presented.
This document provides an overview of common issues, contexts, and representations explored in urban stories films. It discusses themes of cultures dominated by powerful ideologies, feelings of insignificance, and conflicts arising from social/cultural environments. For the film La Haine, it notes the context of 1990s Paris housing estates and police brutality. It examines representations of ethnic young men and how characters like Hubert reject crime but are impacted by circumstances beyond their control. Students are tasked with analyzing 1-2 scenes from the films through discussion of techniques, themes and the social issues they raise.
The document discusses several urban stories portrayed in films that deal with issues of power, poverty, and conflict arising from social and cultural environments. It analyzes two films - City of God, set in Rio de Janeiro about gang violence among poor youth, and La Haine, set in the outskirts of Paris about ethnic minority groups living with limited opportunities. Both films depict societies lacking identity due to Western globalization, and characters descending into violence, crime, or lethargy due to their social conditions and upbringings in unequal, discriminatory environments dominated by more powerful ideologies.
Verisimilitude refers to how realistic or truthful a narrative appears. It comes from the Latin words for "truth" and "similar." Verisimilitude in film is important for creating believability, and it can be achieved through generic conventions that audiences expect or through reflecting broader social norms. Certain film genres rely more on cultural verisimilitude for realism, while aspects that violate culture norms may attract audiences the most. Cinéma vérité documentaries aim for maximum verisimilitude through capturing experiences in an unedited, unobtrusive manner as possible to portray events as they unfold without camera influence.
Here are some ways the social, historical, and political contexts are relevant to La Haine:
- The banlieues where the film is set represent the urban poverty and marginalization experienced by many immigrants and descendants of former French colonies. The multicultural population of the banlieue reflects France's colonial history and the influx of immigrants from former colonies.
- The tensions between police and youths in the film stem in part from longstanding racial inequalities and discrimination faced by non-white citizens. As former colonies gained independence, many immigrants came to France but faced social exclusion and racism.
- The film was made during a time of social unrest, as the banlieues experienced regular riots and clashes between minority youths and
The document discusses several films that portray urban stories dealing with issues of power, poverty, and conflict. It provides background context on the settings and time periods of City of God, La Haine, Chungking Express, and Princesses. It examines how these films represent masculinity and femininity, as well as themes of poverty, crime, and the struggle to escape difficult social environments. Key cinematic techniques used and the impact of representing urban issues through film are also addressed.
City of God tells the story of Rocket, a young man growing up in the violent slums of Rio de Janeiro in the 1960s-1980s. As crime escalates in brutality under the leadership of the psychopathic gang leader Lil' Ze, Rocket pursues a career in photography to escape the criminal world of the favelas. The film chronicles the changing gang culture over the decades as weapons become more powerful and gang members younger. Rocket acts as an observer of the intertwining narratives unfolding around him as he witnesses the short and brutal lives of those in the slums.
The film La Haine follows three young men - Vinz, Sayid, and Hubert - in the French suburbs over 24 hours. Tensions are high between the racially diverse youth and the oppressive police force. The previous night, a police officer lost his gun in a riot, which Vinz finds. If his friend Abdel dies from police beatings, Vinz vows to kill a cop. The film explores the experiences of the working class characters and issues of racism, police brutality, and social exclusion through its portrayal of their interactions and the surrounding environment.
Fm4 section a revision - tsotsi, city of god, gomorrah and la haineNick Crafts
The document discusses film techniques used to influence audience perspective on characters and events. It analyzes how mise-en-scene, cinematography, sound, and editing are employed in the films Tsotsi, City of God, Gomorrah, and La Haine. Specific techniques discussed include costumes, lighting, shot types, music, and framing to convey characters as heroes, villains, or induce empathy. The analysis suggests audiences are positioned to view events and characters from particular viewpoints through manipulative use of technical elements.
City of God (2002) is a Brazilian film directed by Fernando Mereilles that depicts life in the violent slums of Rio de Janeiro in the 1960s-1980s. The film uses handheld cameras and location shooting to capture the "real" experiences of living in poverty. One character, Rocket, manages to escape the gangster lifestyle by pursuing his talent in photography. The film examines themes of social climbing through power and intimidation in slums, where money often leads to both happiness and downfall. It provides a glimpse into alien worlds and life experiences that audiences can personally relate to, even if not directly part of their own lives.
The document provides information about the WJEC GCE Film Studies exam, including the structure and timing of the exam. It examines the topics of Urban Stories focusing on films about power, poverty and conflict. Sample exam questions and advice for answering are provided, along with background on relevant films like City of God, La Haine, and Bicycle Thieves that may be discussed.
This document provides an overview of the 1995 French film "La Haine" and its context. It discusses how the film was inspired by real events involving the deaths of African immigrants in police custody, which led to riots. It highlights tensions between citizens and non-citizens in French society. The film portrayed a grittier version of the Parisian banlieues compared to typical romanticized depictions of Paris. Overall, the document examines the film's commentary on racism, police brutality, and social issues in France.
City of God (2002) directed by Fernando Meirelles tells the story of the slums of Rio de Janeiro from the 1960s to the early 1980s through the perspective of Buscapé, a young man who witnesses violence and emerges as a photographer. The film follows Buscapé and his friends as children and teenagers trying to survive in the favela dominated by warring drug gangs. It depicts the struggle between the Tender Trio who want to live honest lives and the rise of Li'l Zé who builds a drug empire through increasingly violent means. By the end, Buscapé is the only one of his friends who escapes the cycle of violence and carves out a new life.
Fernando Meirelles is a Brazilian film director born in 1955 in São Paulo, Brazil. He studied architecture in university but developed an interest in filmmaking, making experimental videos with friends. After working in television for nine years, he began directing commercials and a children's TV show. In the 1990s he co-founded a film production company. His breakout film was the 2002 crime drama City of God, adapted from a Brazilian novel, about the violent drug culture in the slums of Rio de Janeiro. The film was a huge success in Brazil and internationally, and earned Meirelles fame and Hollywood offers, though he has stayed focused on independent films telling Brazilian stories.
Social realism is a genre that aims to portray realistic depictions of everyday life, often focusing on working-class characters and social issues. It typically uses handheld camera work, unknown actors, and gritty urban settings to represent the struggles of ordinary people. Films in the social realism genre commonly deal with controversial topics like poverty, relationships, and minority groups that were not typically represented in other films at the time. The genre became prominent in British cinema starting in the late 1950s as filmmakers sought to authentically capture the realities of working-class lives on screen.
Experimental Film & Spectatorship Revisionbrettmax
The document discusses experimental and expanded film/video, providing information on key characteristics and filmmakers in the genre. Experimental films reject mainstream conventions and explore the possibilities of the film medium itself. They often manipulate audiovisual elements in unconventional ways and do not follow traditional narratives. Viewing experimental films can provoke responses like confusion, boredom, shock or laughter as they challenge expectations of what a film should be. Spectatorship of experimental films requires an openness to different experiences and ways of seeing the world.
The document discusses the representation of gender in the 2002 film City of God. It notes that gender plays an important role, with men typically portrayed as powerful through controlling the drug trade and asserting dominance over women through violence and rape. However, some scenes challenge typical gender roles, such as a woman manipulating a man through sex, or a woman convincing a man to leave the city with her after becoming pregnant. Overall, the film presents a stereotypical portrayal of gender but also raises questions about women gaining or challenging power over men in some situations.
The document discusses the themes explored in the film La Haine, including the treatment of ethnic minorities, poverty, racism, and social issues in the suburbs of Paris. It analyzes the responses of the three main characters - Hubert, Said, and Vinz - to living in the suburbs and the challenges they face. The document also examines the film's portrayal of the police, gender roles, and everyday life in the suburbs through the use of cinematography techniques like variations in depth of field and handheld camera work. These techniques are used to convey themes of social divides and the complex issues faced by inhabitants of the Parisian suburbs.
Here is a potential response to the question:
Both La Haine and City of God use stylistic techniques to represent the social realities of the environments they depict, while also pushing the boundaries of realism.
La Haine employs a documentary-like aesthetic through its handheld camerawork, long takes, and natural lighting. However, it is not a purely observational film, as techniques like crane shots add a sense of stylization. Overall, its black and white cinematography and slower pacing create a gritty sense of realism.
City of God has a more chaotic, kinetic visual style in line with the violence of the favelas. Its use of quick cuts, Dutch angles, and color gives a vivid
The document discusses the opening scene of the 1995 French film La Haine. It provides context for the film, noting it is set during riots in France in the 1990s caused by issues like unemployment and poor living conditions. The opening scene uses the Bob Marley song "Burnin' and Lootin'" to accompany documentary footage of the riots. The song endorses the actions of rioters and reflects the attitudes of the main characters towards police. It introduces the three main characters and hints at their negative views of authority. Students are asked to analyze this powerful opening scene.
The document discusses themes in the film City of God, including poverty, wealth, gangs, conflict, hope, hopelessness, loyalty, and family/friendship. It asks how the director communicates ideological messages about these themes through narrative events and film techniques. An example is given about how hopelessness is portrayed through the lack of structure and role models in the lives of the young characters, trapping them in a cycle of violence with no hope of escape. Theme statements from the board are also presented without choosing any specifically.
Lil Ze/Lil Dice rises through the ranks of the drug trade seeking power, showing no mercy for those who stand in his way. He is involved in a mass shooting at a hotel and later dies when shot by younger gang members. Benny is a respected gang leader who passes his role to Lil Ze and helps Rocket by giving him a camera, seeing a life beyond the favela. The Tender Trio, including Shaggy, Chipper and Goose, were an influential early gang who mentored Lil Ze and Benny and provided gas for the community during a hold up.
The document provides background information on the film City of God and the social context in which it is set. It discusses the film's portrayal of life in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro from the 1960s to the 1980s, when gang warfare over the drug trade was rampant. It notes key characters like Rocket and Lil Ze, who take different paths, and highlights scenes that depict conflicts. Additionally, it provides historical context on the development of favelas in Brazil and how poverty and lack of opportunities drove migration to the slums on the outskirts of cities. Drugs became a significant source of gang power and violence in the favelas over subsequent decades.
La Haine depicts life in the poor, multiracial suburbs of Paris for three young men - Vinz, a Jew, Hubert, a black man, and Said, an Arab - who pass their time in boredom and anger. As the film shows, tensions are high between local youth and the police due to prejudice and a lack of opportunities. Through its realistic portrayal of inner-city struggles and commentary on racism in France, La Haine maintains its powerful message despite its age.
Representation of Gender in City of GodNaamah Hill
The document discusses the representation of gender in the film City of God. It notes that men are depicted as strong, violent, and associated with crime and drugs, while women are portrayed as weak and used by men. This shows an imbalance between genders that reflects the undeveloped nature of the favelas. Key scenes discussed include a man being killed while trying to escape with his girlfriend, and a rape scene showing men taking out aggression on women. The challenges presented by some powerful female characters, like a reporter, are also mentioned.
Tough Female Characters & Femme Fatales in Film & Video GamesJoanna Robinson
This document discusses the representation of female characters in film and video games. It notes that historically, female characters have often been portrayed through gender stereotypes as weak, emotional, and dependent on men. However, there has been a rise in strong female hero characters that blend traditionally masculine and feminine traits. As media becomes more participatory, audiences now have more opportunities to help shape representations and identities in games and virtual worlds.
Film noir has a distinct style that represented the mood in America after World War II through its use of gloomy grays, blacks, and whites. Visually, film noir used expressionistic lighting, shadows, and skewed camera angles to convey a sense of isolation. One recognizable feature is the use of low-key lighting and shadows to create a sense of disorientation and emphasize the cold nature of characters. Gender roles were also distinctly portrayed, with femmes fatales representing a threat to traditional values and victims portrayed as upholding maternal instincts. The 1941 film I Wake Up Screaming showed how women were limited to careers based on looks and the power dynamics of the time through camera angles that made women appear submissive.
2013 past exam questions section a urban stories paragraph planning templatescandifilmstudies
This document contains past exam questions for an A2 Film Studies course focusing on urban stories as a topic. The questions are from exams given in June and January from 2010 to 2012. They address how film techniques impact films about urban stories, the social issues and attitudes presented, how cinematography/editing communicate issues in cities, and how stylistic choices shape the narratives and meanings of the films.
This document contains instructions and questions for a film studies exam. It begins by noting that candidates will need a 12-page answer booklet in addition to the exam paper. Candidates must choose one question from each of three sections (A, B, and C). Sections A and B require discussing a minimum of two films, while the film discussed in Section C cannot be used in the other sections. Questions vary in their focus on topics like world cinema, spectatorship, and close analysis of a single film. The exam is designed to assess candidates' written communication skills in addition to their knowledge of film.
Fm4 section a revision - tsotsi, city of god, gomorrah and la haineNick Crafts
The document discusses film techniques used to influence audience perspective on characters and events. It analyzes how mise-en-scene, cinematography, sound, and editing are employed in the films Tsotsi, City of God, Gomorrah, and La Haine. Specific techniques discussed include costumes, lighting, shot types, music, and framing to convey characters as heroes, villains, or induce empathy. The analysis suggests audiences are positioned to view events and characters from particular viewpoints through manipulative use of technical elements.
City of God (2002) is a Brazilian film directed by Fernando Mereilles that depicts life in the violent slums of Rio de Janeiro in the 1960s-1980s. The film uses handheld cameras and location shooting to capture the "real" experiences of living in poverty. One character, Rocket, manages to escape the gangster lifestyle by pursuing his talent in photography. The film examines themes of social climbing through power and intimidation in slums, where money often leads to both happiness and downfall. It provides a glimpse into alien worlds and life experiences that audiences can personally relate to, even if not directly part of their own lives.
The document provides information about the WJEC GCE Film Studies exam, including the structure and timing of the exam. It examines the topics of Urban Stories focusing on films about power, poverty and conflict. Sample exam questions and advice for answering are provided, along with background on relevant films like City of God, La Haine, and Bicycle Thieves that may be discussed.
This document provides an overview of the 1995 French film "La Haine" and its context. It discusses how the film was inspired by real events involving the deaths of African immigrants in police custody, which led to riots. It highlights tensions between citizens and non-citizens in French society. The film portrayed a grittier version of the Parisian banlieues compared to typical romanticized depictions of Paris. Overall, the document examines the film's commentary on racism, police brutality, and social issues in France.
City of God (2002) directed by Fernando Meirelles tells the story of the slums of Rio de Janeiro from the 1960s to the early 1980s through the perspective of Buscapé, a young man who witnesses violence and emerges as a photographer. The film follows Buscapé and his friends as children and teenagers trying to survive in the favela dominated by warring drug gangs. It depicts the struggle between the Tender Trio who want to live honest lives and the rise of Li'l Zé who builds a drug empire through increasingly violent means. By the end, Buscapé is the only one of his friends who escapes the cycle of violence and carves out a new life.
Fernando Meirelles is a Brazilian film director born in 1955 in São Paulo, Brazil. He studied architecture in university but developed an interest in filmmaking, making experimental videos with friends. After working in television for nine years, he began directing commercials and a children's TV show. In the 1990s he co-founded a film production company. His breakout film was the 2002 crime drama City of God, adapted from a Brazilian novel, about the violent drug culture in the slums of Rio de Janeiro. The film was a huge success in Brazil and internationally, and earned Meirelles fame and Hollywood offers, though he has stayed focused on independent films telling Brazilian stories.
Social realism is a genre that aims to portray realistic depictions of everyday life, often focusing on working-class characters and social issues. It typically uses handheld camera work, unknown actors, and gritty urban settings to represent the struggles of ordinary people. Films in the social realism genre commonly deal with controversial topics like poverty, relationships, and minority groups that were not typically represented in other films at the time. The genre became prominent in British cinema starting in the late 1950s as filmmakers sought to authentically capture the realities of working-class lives on screen.
Experimental Film & Spectatorship Revisionbrettmax
The document discusses experimental and expanded film/video, providing information on key characteristics and filmmakers in the genre. Experimental films reject mainstream conventions and explore the possibilities of the film medium itself. They often manipulate audiovisual elements in unconventional ways and do not follow traditional narratives. Viewing experimental films can provoke responses like confusion, boredom, shock or laughter as they challenge expectations of what a film should be. Spectatorship of experimental films requires an openness to different experiences and ways of seeing the world.
The document discusses the representation of gender in the 2002 film City of God. It notes that gender plays an important role, with men typically portrayed as powerful through controlling the drug trade and asserting dominance over women through violence and rape. However, some scenes challenge typical gender roles, such as a woman manipulating a man through sex, or a woman convincing a man to leave the city with her after becoming pregnant. Overall, the film presents a stereotypical portrayal of gender but also raises questions about women gaining or challenging power over men in some situations.
The document discusses the themes explored in the film La Haine, including the treatment of ethnic minorities, poverty, racism, and social issues in the suburbs of Paris. It analyzes the responses of the three main characters - Hubert, Said, and Vinz - to living in the suburbs and the challenges they face. The document also examines the film's portrayal of the police, gender roles, and everyday life in the suburbs through the use of cinematography techniques like variations in depth of field and handheld camera work. These techniques are used to convey themes of social divides and the complex issues faced by inhabitants of the Parisian suburbs.
Here is a potential response to the question:
Both La Haine and City of God use stylistic techniques to represent the social realities of the environments they depict, while also pushing the boundaries of realism.
La Haine employs a documentary-like aesthetic through its handheld camerawork, long takes, and natural lighting. However, it is not a purely observational film, as techniques like crane shots add a sense of stylization. Overall, its black and white cinematography and slower pacing create a gritty sense of realism.
City of God has a more chaotic, kinetic visual style in line with the violence of the favelas. Its use of quick cuts, Dutch angles, and color gives a vivid
The document discusses the opening scene of the 1995 French film La Haine. It provides context for the film, noting it is set during riots in France in the 1990s caused by issues like unemployment and poor living conditions. The opening scene uses the Bob Marley song "Burnin' and Lootin'" to accompany documentary footage of the riots. The song endorses the actions of rioters and reflects the attitudes of the main characters towards police. It introduces the three main characters and hints at their negative views of authority. Students are asked to analyze this powerful opening scene.
The document discusses themes in the film City of God, including poverty, wealth, gangs, conflict, hope, hopelessness, loyalty, and family/friendship. It asks how the director communicates ideological messages about these themes through narrative events and film techniques. An example is given about how hopelessness is portrayed through the lack of structure and role models in the lives of the young characters, trapping them in a cycle of violence with no hope of escape. Theme statements from the board are also presented without choosing any specifically.
Lil Ze/Lil Dice rises through the ranks of the drug trade seeking power, showing no mercy for those who stand in his way. He is involved in a mass shooting at a hotel and later dies when shot by younger gang members. Benny is a respected gang leader who passes his role to Lil Ze and helps Rocket by giving him a camera, seeing a life beyond the favela. The Tender Trio, including Shaggy, Chipper and Goose, were an influential early gang who mentored Lil Ze and Benny and provided gas for the community during a hold up.
The document provides background information on the film City of God and the social context in which it is set. It discusses the film's portrayal of life in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro from the 1960s to the 1980s, when gang warfare over the drug trade was rampant. It notes key characters like Rocket and Lil Ze, who take different paths, and highlights scenes that depict conflicts. Additionally, it provides historical context on the development of favelas in Brazil and how poverty and lack of opportunities drove migration to the slums on the outskirts of cities. Drugs became a significant source of gang power and violence in the favelas over subsequent decades.
La Haine depicts life in the poor, multiracial suburbs of Paris for three young men - Vinz, a Jew, Hubert, a black man, and Said, an Arab - who pass their time in boredom and anger. As the film shows, tensions are high between local youth and the police due to prejudice and a lack of opportunities. Through its realistic portrayal of inner-city struggles and commentary on racism in France, La Haine maintains its powerful message despite its age.
Representation of Gender in City of GodNaamah Hill
The document discusses the representation of gender in the film City of God. It notes that men are depicted as strong, violent, and associated with crime and drugs, while women are portrayed as weak and used by men. This shows an imbalance between genders that reflects the undeveloped nature of the favelas. Key scenes discussed include a man being killed while trying to escape with his girlfriend, and a rape scene showing men taking out aggression on women. The challenges presented by some powerful female characters, like a reporter, are also mentioned.
Tough Female Characters & Femme Fatales in Film & Video GamesJoanna Robinson
This document discusses the representation of female characters in film and video games. It notes that historically, female characters have often been portrayed through gender stereotypes as weak, emotional, and dependent on men. However, there has been a rise in strong female hero characters that blend traditionally masculine and feminine traits. As media becomes more participatory, audiences now have more opportunities to help shape representations and identities in games and virtual worlds.
Film noir has a distinct style that represented the mood in America after World War II through its use of gloomy grays, blacks, and whites. Visually, film noir used expressionistic lighting, shadows, and skewed camera angles to convey a sense of isolation. One recognizable feature is the use of low-key lighting and shadows to create a sense of disorientation and emphasize the cold nature of characters. Gender roles were also distinctly portrayed, with femmes fatales representing a threat to traditional values and victims portrayed as upholding maternal instincts. The 1941 film I Wake Up Screaming showed how women were limited to careers based on looks and the power dynamics of the time through camera angles that made women appear submissive.
2013 past exam questions section a urban stories paragraph planning templatescandifilmstudies
This document contains past exam questions for an A2 Film Studies course focusing on urban stories as a topic. The questions are from exams given in June and January from 2010 to 2012. They address how film techniques impact films about urban stories, the social issues and attitudes presented, how cinematography/editing communicate issues in cities, and how stylistic choices shape the narratives and meanings of the films.
This document contains instructions and questions for a film studies exam. It begins by noting that candidates will need a 12-page answer booklet in addition to the exam paper. Candidates must choose one question from each of three sections (A, B, and C). Sections A and B require discussing a minimum of two films, while the film discussed in Section C cannot be used in the other sections. Questions vary in their focus on topics like world cinema, spectatorship, and close analysis of a single film. The exam is designed to assess candidates' written communication skills in addition to their knowledge of film.
This document outlines potential exam questions for a film studies course focusing on documentaries and the spectator experience. The questions address how different types of documentaries provide varying spectator experiences, the importance of trusting the documentary filmmaker, how viewing context influences response, and whether spectators approach documentaries with more critical awareness than fiction films. Additional questions explore issues of manipulation in documentaries, the pleasures of viewing them, how real people/situations provide more challenge, and whether engaging spectators cinematically makes for the best documentaries.
The document summarizes the rise of documentary films in the late 20th and early 21st century. It discusses how Michael Moore's films helped raise the profile of documentaries as cinematic and television products. It also profiles Morgan Spurlock and his influential documentary Super Size Me (2004), which had wide-reaching effects by contributing to declines in McDonalds profits and the end of their Super Size promotion. The documentary notes Spurlock built a genre around 30-day concept films and that Super Size Me is one of the highest grossing documentaries.
Bill Nichols studied documentary film styles and identified six distinct modes that documentaries fall into. These include the Poetic, Expository, Observational, Participatory, Reflexive, and Performative modes. Students are instructed to research one of these modes by looking at its background, key features, examples, and creating a blog post explaining it. They are provided example blog posts and given tips on resources to use for their research.
Who is the most powerful documentarian debateEmma Wilkinson
This document outlines the topics and structure for a debate between two teams on whether Michael Moore or Morgan Spurlock has had a greater impact or influence as a documentary filmmaker. The teams will be given time to research their assigned director and then debate their findings, discussing the filmmakers' documentary techniques, the impact and change instigated by their films, box office performance and what that signifies, and overall effect on the world and genre.
This documentary by Errol Morris examines the case of Randal Dale Adams who was wrongly convicted of killing a police officer. The film uses reenactments and interviews to explore inconsistencies in witness testimony and raise questions about the trial's outcome. These techniques were influential and helped achieve Adams' release from prison. The documentary employs features of the reflexive documentary mode by drawing attention to its reconstruction of events and investigation of the case.
Here are some reflections on your documentary questions:
1) Whether Moore's manipulation matters depends on the filmmaker's goals and the viewer's expectations. Some see it as problematic, others as an effective technique.
2) Liking the subject is not necessary to appreciate a film. Films can be compelling even if we disagree with or dislike the subject, by virtue of craft, storytelling, issues raised, etc.
3) Staging some scenes is common and not inherently problematic, but it depends on context and degree. Complete fiction posing as documentary would undermine trust. Strategic staging can enhance storytelling if the overall goals are documentary.
4) Archive material alone can be enough if it thoroughly illustrates the filmmaker's
Amores Perros is Alejandro González Iñárritu's 2000 debut film that follows the intersecting stories of three individuals in Mexico City whose lives are changed after a car accident. The film uses these stories to explore themes of culture, social class, love, violence, and masculinity in modern Mexican society. It was a critical and commercial success that helped reestablish Mexican cinema and address social issues rarely depicted in films at the time, such as the oppression of women and lack of paternal role models.
The documentary film Être et avoir profiles Georges Lopez, a teacher at a small rural French primary school, and his students over the course of a school year. While intended as a small documentary about single-teacher village schools, the film became a surprise commercial success. However, Lopez and parents of students argued they were misled about the film's scope and felt the children's privacy and emotional well-being were exploited by their unexpected fame. The court ultimately ruled in favor of the filmmaker, declaring the children were not actors but subjects of a documentary.
The document discusses the representation of Rio de Janeiro's favelas in the film City of God, noting that the film depicts the harsh realities of life in the favelas including poverty, violence, and the drug trade. It contrasts this portrayal with the typical images of Rio as a place of leisure and beauty. The location of the favelas is an important character in the film that authentically captures life in these slums.
The document discusses the film Tsotsi and how it represents contemporary issues in South Africa such as wealth disparities and the impact of poverty on society. It provides context about poverty, crime, unemployment, and disease rates in South Africa. It then examines how the film represents these realities through elements like its depictions of poverty, crime, segregated communities, and the prevalence of HIV/AIDS. The document analyzes various representations and stereotypes in the film and how they construct reality.
Filmmakers aim to elicit emotional responses from audiences. However, individuals may experience different emotions to the same film due to personal experiences and social/cultural backgrounds. While some shared responses are possible within social or ideological groups, each person brings private memories and desires to their viewing experience.
This document provides examination tips and a checklist for answering essay questions about the films "La Haine", "City of God", and "Chungking Express". It emphasizes directly answering the question by referring to film sequences and using film language and key issues like representation, narrative, and social issues. Candidates should compare and contrast the films, discuss characters and sequences, and support their own opinions about the films with evidence from the sequences.
The film La Haine focuses on three teenage friends - Vinz, who is Jewish and filled with rage; Saïd, a happy Maghrebin who tries to find middle ground; and Hubert, an Afro-French boxer - and their struggle to live in the impoverished, multiethnic banlieues of Paris in the aftermath of a riot. The film was meant to be a wake-up call about the problems in the banlieues slums and to express the feelings of marginalization felt by many immigrant groups in France. It references the shooting of a young immigrant in police custody to illustrate the tensions between immigrants and police.
This document summarizes the box office failure of the 2012 Disney film "John Carter" and analyzes reasons for its lack of commercial success. Some key points:
- Disney spent $350 million total on production and marketing of "John Carter" but it was a major box office bomb, resulting in a $200 million loss for the studio.
- The film's story and lead actor Taylor Kitsch were not very well known to mainstream audiences. Its marketing also did little to convey the sci-fi and adventure elements of the source material.
- "John Carter" had a confusing opening sequence that left audiences unsure of what was happening. In contrast, films like "The Lord of the Rings"
Under the Skin is Jonathan Glazer's adaptation of Michel Faber's novel of the same name. It stars Scarlett Johansson as an extraterrestrial who takes the form of a young woman and drives around Scotland, picking up hitchhikers. Many of the men she interacts with were actually non-actors who were unaware they were being filmed. The film uses a mix of surreal, dreamlike imagery and realistic scenes to portray the alien's experience on Earth. It received polarized reactions from critics for its radical difference from other films and the way it forces viewers to reconsider how they see the world.
The auteur theory examines films and argues that some directors have a recognizable personal "signature" or style. It holds that the director is the primary creative force in a film's production and has primary authorship over it. The theory focuses on the director's artistic control over the various elements that shape the film such as cinematography, editing, and screenwriting.
The auteur theory examines films and argues that some directors have a recognizable personal "signature" or style. It holds that the director is the primary creative force in a film's production and has primary authorship over it. The theory focuses on the director's artistic control over the various elements that shape the film such as cinematography, editing, and screenwriting.
This document provides context about the 1995 French film La Haine and compares it to the 2002 Brazilian film City of God. Both films depict urban gang cultures and the lives of young men from ethnic minorities. La Haine is set in the Paris suburbs and focuses on tensions between Arab, Jewish, and African youth after a police brutality incident. City of God shows the rise of gang violence in the Rio favelas from the 1960s-1980s. While depicting some negative stereotypes, the films also feature protagonists trying to escape the criminal lifestyle. Through their realistic styles and representations of social issues like poverty, racism, and police corruption, the films provide a compelling look at urban ghetto cultures.
This is a film about three young male adults growing up in the ghetto. One is Muslim, one is Jewish, and the other is black. This film shows the struggles of growing up in poverty in Paris and the large economic gap between the rich and poor, which has always been a problem in Paris.
Powerpoint on the movie La Haine, which was directed by Mathieu Kassovitz. This powerpoint looks at a range of things in the movie from police brutality to life in les banlieues.
This is a film about three young male adults growing up in the ghetto. One is Muslim, one is Jewish, and the other is black. This film shows the struggles of growing up in poverty in Paris and the large economic gap between the rich and poor, which has always been a problem in Paris.
Kindergarten Letter Writing P. Online assignment writing service.April Davis
This document provides instructions for requesting writing assistance from HelpWriting.net. It outlines a 5-step process: 1) Create an account with a password and email. 2) Complete a 10-minute order form providing instructions, sources, and deadline. 3) Review bids from writers and choose one based on qualifications. 4) Review the completed paper and authorize payment if satisfied. 5) Request revisions to ensure satisfaction, with the option of a full refund for plagiarized work.
The document provides reviews and background information on the movie "City of God" directed by Fernando Meirelles. It depicts the violent subculture that has persisted for decades in the slums of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The movie follows the character Rocket and shows the poverty, crime, and gang violence that many children in the slums face and that drives them to join gangs. It highlights the lack of opportunity, law enforcement, and desperate conditions that have perpetuated a cycle of violence over generations in the City of God slums.
My partner and I have decided to create a hood crime film trailer based on our analysis of successful trailers in this genre such as Ill Manors, Harry Brown, and Adulthood. We were drawn to the exciting conventions of the hood crime genre, which typically focuses on the struggles of young black men growing up in urban environments surrounded by gang violence, poverty, and racial discrimination. Hood crime films and trailers aim to portray realistic depictions of crime and the circumstances that lead people into criminal lifestyles while also raising awareness of societal issues. Common themes in these works include reality, perception, death, gang violence, drug use, law breaking, identity, survival, and purpose.
The document provides background on the 2002 film City of God, directed by Fernando Meirelles. It depicts the cycle of violence in the slums of Rio de Janeiro over decades, as seen through the eyes of the narrator Rocket. The film shows the poverty and lack of opportunity that drive many children in the slums to join gangs. It highlights the norms of the subculture, such as widespread gun ownership and drug use. The violence and lack of law enforcement have created a hopeless environment where survival depends on crime.
My partner and I have decided to create a hood crime film trailer based on our analysis of successful trailers in this genre such as Ill Manors, Harry Brown, and Adulthood. We were drawn to the exciting conventions of the hood crime genre, which typically focuses on the struggles of young black men growing up in urban environments surrounded by gang activity, poverty, and crime. Key themes include reality, survival, identity, and gang violence. Generic conventions include realistic portrayals of criminals and criminal acts set in run-down urban areas, with a focus on stereotypical characters, slang, violence, drugs/alcohol, and hip hop music.
Social realism is a film genre that depicts everyday life in a realistic way. Key themes of social realism films include nationalism, racism, dysfunctional families, homosexuality, alienation from society, drinking/drug culture, and poverty. Conventions of social realism include location shooting over studio filming to feel more realistic, using unknown actors, semi-improvised scripts, and wide/close-up shots that mirror how people view real life. Social realism originated from realistic novels and was influenced by films after World Wars I and II that depicted ordinary people and social issues in Britain in a realistic manner.
The Sherlock series draws attention to its constructed nature as a postmodern text through various techniques:
1) It is self-aware of being a narrative and acknowledges the intertextual references and knowledge of both the historical Sherlock Holmes stories as well as the TV series itself that the audience possesses.
2) Characters like Mrs. Hudson point out their own functions within the narrative and the constructed nature of their roles.
3) Scenes and dialogue directly reference and parody elements from the original Sherlock Holmes stories and previous episodes, blurring the lines between reality and fiction.
Postmodern media differs from other media in several key ways:
1) It opposes modernist ideas like objective truth and focuses instead on subjectivity and relativism.
2) It frequently references and comments on other media texts through techniques like parody and pastiche.
3) It lacks linear narratives and instead embraces fragmentation and irony.
The Big Short is a 2015 film about the 2007-2008 financial crisis directed by Adam McKay. It uses unconventional techniques like celebrity cameos and breaking the fourth wall to explain complex financial instruments. The film follows three separate but interconnected stories of men who predicted the housing market collapse. It combines elements of drama, comedy, documentary, and music videos. The film challenges conventions by blurring the lines between hero and villain. It also represents bankers and banks critically but conventionally through their appearance and actions. It explores an unconventional postmodern representation of the audience by highlighting their initial lack of understanding of the financial concepts covered in the film.
This document provides exam resources and guidance for a media production question. It instructs students to write about one of their coursework productions in question 1(b), applying the concept of genre. It provides two examples of student answers that received 18/25 and 16/25 marks respectively to serve as models.
This document provides exam resources and examples for writing about one of your media coursework productions in response to Question 1(b). It lists representation as the topic for January 2010 and 2012, instructing students to analyze media representation in one of their coursework productions. For June 2013, it asks students to apply the concept of representation to one of their coursework productions.
This document provides an example response to a past exam question asking students to analyze one of their coursework productions in relation to the concept of audience. The response discusses the student's horror film coursework called "The Sleepover" and analyzes how they took audience into account when creating the film. The response demonstrates understanding of several audience theories (hypodermic needle, uses and gratifications, reception theory) and relates them to choices made in the filmmaking process, such as targeting a specific age range and incorporating feedback. Overall, the summary highlights the student's ability to apply media theories to their own creative work through relevant examples and explanations.
This document provides guidance on concepts that could be discussed for a media production assignment, including audience, narrative, representation, genre, and media language. It gives examples of questions students may be asked to answer about how their media product engages with these concepts. For the concept of audience, it provides questions about defining the target audience, appealing to them, and gathering audience feedback.
This document outlines an essay plan discussing an important concept, its impact, and relevant theorists. It includes discussing three examples of how the concept was used and its effects, as well as one example of how the concept was challenged.
This document contains examiner comments on student responses to a question about how their media production work was informed by research into real media texts and how their ability to use such research developed over time.
The examiner notes that higher scoring responses were able to provide specific examples of how research influenced creative decisions, critically reflect on the research process, and discuss progression from earlier work. Weaker responses lacked applied examples or evaluation. The examiner advises focusing responses and being clear about research outcomes rather than just listing sources. Higher scores required synthesis of examples, critical reflection, and awareness of development. Research can inform work in various ways beyond just genres, such as technical or institutional aspects.
The document provides information about the 2010 film Inception, directed by Christopher Nolan. It discusses the film's plot about sharing ideas through invading and stealing another's dreams. The document also reviews the film's box office revenue, awards, and themes it explores like confusing dreams and reality and having no single narrative.
The episode confuses boundaries between reality and fiction by having the main characters transported from their fictional supernatural TV show into the "real world" of the TV show's production. This postmodern narrative technique blurs the lines between the constructed nature of the media text and reality. The characters struggle to understand what is real as they interact with actors playing themselves and the director. The episode also comments on celebrity culture and fans' obsession with social media through its portrayal of the characters uncomfortable with their celebrity lifestyle.
Flight of the Conchords can be defined as a postmodern text based on several criteria. The TV show incorporates elements of postmodern theory as described by Strinati, such as blurring genre boundaries and playing with audience expectations. However, it also employs traditional media concepts at times. Overall, while Flight of the Conchords displays some postmodern features, it cannot be purely defined as postmodern and still incorporates traditional elements of narrative and representation. The show challenges rigid definitions of postmodernism.
This document discusses key concepts in traditional media and how postmodern texts challenge those concepts in three main ways. It outlines how postmodern media draws attention to its construction, challenges genre conventions through hybridity and subversion, and subverts audience expectations of representation, ideology and narrative through new stereotypes, ideas, and non-linear or open-ended structures. The postmodern audience is also described as diverse, fragmented, and active rather than passive.
The document discusses several theories of media audiences, including reception theory which states that audiences interpret media texts in different ways based on their own experiences and perspectives, rather than just accepting the producer's intended meaning. It also examines the hypodermic needle theory, which suggests audiences passively accept messages from media, and uses and gratifications theory, which proposes that audiences actively engage with media to fulfill various needs and desires.
This document summarizes several theories about media audiences:
- Cultivation theory suggests that repeated exposure to similar media representations can shape people's views of the world.
- Reception theory examines how audiences can interpret media messages in preferred, negotiated, or oppositional ways.
- Participatory culture theory describes how audiences actively engage with media texts by creating and sharing their own works.
- More recent theories argue that digital technologies have transformed passive audiences into active producers who can respond to and create their own media content.
This document discusses film techniques including camerawork, editing, mise en scene, and sound. It provides a specific example of each technique and explains how they relate to meaning and audience response. In a concise manner, the document outlines key cinematic elements.
The document discusses various concepts relating to how meaning is created through media language. It defines key terms like denotation and connotation, and how they relate to encoding and decoding meaning. Elements of media language that create meaning are explained, such as mise-en-scene, camerawork, editing, and sound. The importance of understanding how these micro-level techniques construct intended meanings and can allow for alternative readings is highlighted. Analyzing one's own media products in terms of the specific examples of how these elements create key meanings and audiences' potential alternative interpretations is presented as a task for revising one's work.
This document provides guidance on answering exam questions about using conventions from real media texts in your own work. It emphasizes showing how your understanding of conventions has developed over time through various projects. It recommends discussing both technical conventions as well as symbolic conventions related to narrative, representation, themes and messages. Students are advised to structure their answer with an introduction about the projects, paragraphs discussing skills and examples from early and later projects, and a conclusion. The document also contains advice on analyzing other students' work and planning essay answers.
How to Fix the Import Error in the Odoo 17Celine George
An import error occurs when a program fails to import a module or library, disrupting its execution. In languages like Python, this issue arises when the specified module cannot be found or accessed, hindering the program's functionality. Resolving import errors is crucial for maintaining smooth software operation and uninterrupted development processes.
বাংলাদেশের অর্থনৈতিক সমীক্ষা ২০২৪ [Bangladesh Economic Review 2024 Bangla.pdf] কম্পিউটার , ট্যাব ও স্মার্ট ফোন ভার্সন সহ সম্পূর্ণ বাংলা ই-বুক বা pdf বই " সুচিপত্র ...বুকমার্ক মেনু 🔖 ও হাইপার লিংক মেনু 📝👆 যুক্ত ..
আমাদের সবার জন্য খুব খুব গুরুত্বপূর্ণ একটি বই ..বিসিএস, ব্যাংক, ইউনিভার্সিটি ভর্তি ও যে কোন প্রতিযোগিতা মূলক পরীক্ষার জন্য এর খুব ইম্পরট্যান্ট একটি বিষয় ...তাছাড়া বাংলাদেশের সাম্প্রতিক যে কোন ডাটা বা তথ্য এই বইতে পাবেন ...
তাই একজন নাগরিক হিসাবে এই তথ্য গুলো আপনার জানা প্রয়োজন ...।
বিসিএস ও ব্যাংক এর লিখিত পরীক্ষা ...+এছাড়া মাধ্যমিক ও উচ্চমাধ্যমিকের স্টুডেন্টদের জন্য অনেক কাজে আসবে ...
How to Manage Your Lost Opportunities in Odoo 17 CRMCeline George
Odoo 17 CRM allows us to track why we lose sales opportunities with "Lost Reasons." This helps analyze our sales process and identify areas for improvement. Here's how to configure lost reasons in Odoo 17 CRM
This slide is special for master students (MIBS & MIFB) in UUM. Also useful for readers who are interested in the topic of contemporary Islamic banking.
A workshop hosted by the South African Journal of Science aimed at postgraduate students and early career researchers with little or no experience in writing and publishing journal articles.
LAND USE LAND COVER AND NDVI OF MIRZAPUR DISTRICT, UPRAHUL
This Dissertation explores the particular circumstances of Mirzapur, a region located in the
core of India. Mirzapur, with its varied terrains and abundant biodiversity, offers an optimal
environment for investigating the changes in vegetation cover dynamics. Our study utilizes
advanced technologies such as GIS (Geographic Information Systems) and Remote sensing to
analyze the transformations that have taken place over the course of a decade.
The complex relationship between human activities and the environment has been the focus
of extensive research and worry. As the global community grapples with swift urbanization,
population expansion, and economic progress, the effects on natural ecosystems are becoming
more evident. A crucial element of this impact is the alteration of vegetation cover, which plays a
significant role in maintaining the ecological equilibrium of our planet.Land serves as the foundation for all human activities and provides the necessary materials for
these activities. As the most crucial natural resource, its utilization by humans results in different
'Land uses,' which are determined by both human activities and the physical characteristics of the
land.
The utilization of land is impacted by human needs and environmental factors. In countries
like India, rapid population growth and the emphasis on extensive resource exploitation can lead
to significant land degradation, adversely affecting the region's land cover.
Therefore, human intervention has significantly influenced land use patterns over many
centuries, evolving its structure over time and space. In the present era, these changes have
accelerated due to factors such as agriculture and urbanization. Information regarding land use and
cover is essential for various planning and management tasks related to the Earth's surface,
providing crucial environmental data for scientific, resource management, policy purposes, and
diverse human activities.
Accurate understanding of land use and cover is imperative for the development planning
of any area. Consequently, a wide range of professionals, including earth system scientists, land
and water managers, and urban planners, are interested in obtaining data on land use and cover
changes, conversion trends, and other related patterns. The spatial dimensions of land use and
cover support policymakers and scientists in making well-informed decisions, as alterations in
these patterns indicate shifts in economic and social conditions. Monitoring such changes with the
help of Advanced technologies like Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems is
crucial for coordinated efforts across different administrative levels. Advanced technologies like
Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems
9
Changes in vegetation cover refer to variations in the distribution, composition, and overall
structure of plant communities across different temporal and spatial scales. These changes can
occur natural.
Walmart Business+ and Spark Good for Nonprofits.pdfTechSoup
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Spark Good (walmart.com/sparkgood) is a charitable platform that enables nonprofits to receive donations directly from customers and associates.
Answers about how you can do more with Walmart!"
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A review of the growth of the Israel Genealogy Research Association Database Collection for the last 12 months. Our collection is now passed the 3 million mark and still growing. See which archives have contributed the most. See the different types of records we have, and which years have had records added. You can also see what we have for the future.
This presentation was provided by Steph Pollock of The American Psychological Association’s Journals Program, and Damita Snow, of The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), for the initial session of NISO's 2024 Training Series "DEIA in the Scholarly Landscape." Session One: 'Setting Expectations: a DEIA Primer,' was held June 6, 2024.
2. URBAN STORIES
Common Issues:
• A culture dominated by a more powerful ideology.
• A portrait of a culture in a particular place at crucial
time of development.
• An inability for sustained romantic alliances due to
social conditions and upbringing.
3. URBAN STORIES
Common Issues:
• A feeling of social or cultural insignificance.
• A descent into violence, drug use, crime, alcoholism or
lethargy.
• Conflicts arising as a result of social and/or cultural
environments.
• Societies lacking in identity due to Western Globalisation
(influence of America)
4. URBAN STORIES
Context of time and place:
Production
Film
Representation of the city:
The city as a character in itself
Influence of the urban environment on the characters
Representation of Power:
Physical / Authority / Power / Gender / Social Class
Money / Family
Representation of Poverty:
Material / Emotional / Education / Opportunity
Representation of Conflict:
Physical / Psychological (of the mind!) / Emotional /
Material / Social & Cultural / Family & relationships
5. La Haine
Contexts
La Haine (1995) is set in the 1990s and the protagonists live in ‘les
banlieues’ (housing estates) on the outskirts of Paris. It also deals with
police brutality, racism and civil unrest. It opens with immediate context:
real footage of the riots that regularly took place between youths and
police between 1986 and 1996 (and were continuing during filming).
The director, Mathieu Kassovitz, has often stated that he was inspired
to write the film when he heard the story of: a young Zairian, Makome
M’Bowole [who] was shot in 1993. He was killed at point blank range
while in police custody and handcuffed to a radiator.
6. Messages and Values
•Multiculturalism and ethnicity within modern French
society is clearly explored throughout the film. Examples of
this are the posters in Hubert’s room and the song ‘burnin
and lootin’, which links directly to ideas of black uprisings
and by that fact that each of our central characters is from
a different ethnicity
•A positive outlook is that the three friends are all of mixed
ethnicity and within the youth culture the separate
ethnicities are shown as evolving into a vibrant hybrid of
cultural fusion and unity. It is only in the centre of Paris that
this unity is missing
8. Ethnic Origins
•Drawn together by their shared youth culture, their
difference in ethnic origin seems unimportant to them: But
each character is shown to be very aware of the ways in
which others in France might look at his ethnicity.
•For example, because he is ‘white’, it is Vinz who is given
the task of attempting to gain entry to the middle-class
block of flats where they hope to meet ‘Asterix’.
9. Ethnic Origins
What other ways could you differentiate between the three
main characters?
Discuss the above question in
pairs. Make sure you can refer to
specific scenes in order to
illustrate your point.
10. Key Scenes: Interview attempt
When the TV news crew are attempting to interview the
three main protagonists about the previous nights riot,
they literally ‘look down on’ the three friends.
What does this suggest about how they are viewed within
society?
Why do you think the news crew approached them?
What does this suggest about the attitudes of white
French people towards non white French?
11. Key Scenes: DJ scene
The DJ using his decks to blast out an anti-police message
in a scene which is filmed and edited in such a way as to
convey the sense of momentary freedom, escape or
release.
Why do you think it was important to include this scene?
12. Representations - Males
Young men from ethnic minorities are the main social
group represented in the film. The American ‘hood’ film
sub-genre often has a character that is trying to reject a
life of crime and escape the trappings of the ‘hood’ in
which he lives.
13. Hubert conforms to this archetype, and rejects crime as a way of
life. He tries to fight against taking violence as a means to integrate
into society and earn a living (Poverty). His friends Vinz & Said
take different approaches to their social situation (Conflict). The film
can be seen as debate about the way to deal with issues above and
beyond their control (Power).
14. Hubert rejects the rioting of the other youths on his estate. He runs a gym that
he worked hard to get a grant for, and promotes boxing as a sport for young
people to get involved in. The audience first meets him in the ruined gym after
the rioters have trashed and burnt it in the previous night’s riots. The film ends
with Hubert sucked in to potentially committing the murder of a police officer
(or being murdered himself) as retaliation for the shooting of his friend.
Characters who try to escape the ghetto life are often stopped from doing so by
circumstances out of their control – or even by death (something explored in
other Urban Stories).
15. La Haine- Other Messages?
• What is the film’s message? Consider it from an ideological
standpoint, thinking about class, ethnicity and France as a
nation?
• The masses rising up and revolting against the dominant
ideology? Power to the people?
• The working classes being kept in their place by the ruling
classes?
• Immigration doesn’t work?
• France should take greater care of its colonial cousins?
• Others
• Does the film have an overt or covert message?
16. City of god: Context and plot
Directors: Fernando Mierelles and Catia Lund
Year of release: 2002
Stars: Alexandre Rodrigez, Matheus Nachtergaele and
Leandro Firmino
All the characters existed in reality, and the story is
based on real events.
17. City of god: Plot and context
• It depicts the growth of organized crime in the Cidade de Deus
(City of God) suburb of Rio de Janeiro, between the end of the
'60s and the beginning of the '80s, with the closure of the film
depicting the war between the drug dealer Li'l Zé and criminal
Knockout Ned.
• The tagline is "If you run the beast catches, if you stay the beast
eats,“ Which is a theme that runs throughout the film. The idea
that if you are born into the city of god, you are expected to
stay and become a hood. (This is an idea that is also explored
with the film La Haine ).
18. City of God: Plot and context
• The cast includes Alexandre Rodrigues, Leandro Firmino da Hora, Jonathan
Haagensen, Douglas Silva, Alice Braga and Seu Jorge. Most of the actors
were, in fact, residents of ghettos such as Vidigal and the Cidade de Deus
(City of god) itself.
• What is the advantage of having actors who are from the Ghetto’s of Rio
De Janeiro?
• Do you think that this gives City of God an advantage over more
traditonal casting?
19. Key scenes: Opening scene
• The opening to the film focuses on a chicken and its attempt to
escape the violent death that is almost inevitably awaits it.
• The images that flash up within the scene are of blood and
instruments of death, which also help to suggest that the chicken
is going to be killed by the group chasing it.
• The scene is also accompanied by piercing and threatening
sounds, which add a almost tense atmosphere as the chicken is
desperate to escape the chase.
20. Key scenes: Opening scene
• The chicken trying to escape can be seen as a representation of some of the
‘hood’s’ living in the ghetto.
• The chicken is then replaced with the character Rocket, who is then stuck
between two equally threatening parties (the hoods and the
police), representing him as a character who wants to escape from the lifestyle
associated with being a hood.
• The opening scene is taken from a scene at the end of the story, but is used as a
point for all the previous stories of the slums to amount to.
• This shows that this scene is key to the story of ‘city of god’ and is almost seen
as the make or break moment for Rocket- should he take his opportunity to be
a photographer or join Lil Ze’s gang?
21. Key scenes: Benny’s death
One of the pivotal moments within the film is when Benny is killed at the club. Make a
spider diagram of reasons why this scene is so important, using examples.
Benny’s death
Benny is seen
as a ‘cool
hood’, people
are now
worried about
who is now
going to keep
the peace.
22. Deaths
Deaths also play an important role within the film and
are often used in pivotal ways that may change the
course of the film. Choose three deaths, other than
Benny’s, and create a mind map for each explaining there
significance within the film. Consider how the Mise-enscene, cinematography and sound used within the shots
are used to create meaning.
23. Other key scenes
Other than the opening scene and Benny’s death, what
are some other key scenes within the film? Devise a list
of what scenes you believe are important within the film
and why. How could you compare them to La Haine
E.G. The hotel scene when we realise ‘lil dice’ has killed all
the people, many of whom live in the slums as well. This is
the moment we realise his character is going to be ruthless
and a rebel throughout the film and also allows us to
understand how young some of the hoods are when they
begin to kill. In La Haine there is no evidence of violence
between members of the slum, their hatred (which is no
what near that of lil dice) is aimed out side the slums
24. Messages and values
• The scenes representing ‘City of God’ in the 60’s, show a much
more innocent side to the ‘hoods’. The ‘tender trio’, as they
hold up a lorry give the gas cylinders to members of city of
god (even thought there actions are wrong, they still are
thinking of the community).
• When they enter the brothel, the tender trio make a deal to
not kill anyone inside. Where as Lil Dice, who is representing
the next generation, kills everyone inside- this shows a
contrast and change within the ghettos between the 60’s and
80’s.
• But, the problem is suggested to continue or escalate, as the
film is ended with the runts killing Lil Ze.
• This suggest a never ending circle of gang culture in city of
god, and again suggests that there is a stigma and stereotype
attached to those who are from the ghetto.
25. Messages and Values
• Knockout Ned’s character starts off as one that almost mirrors
the idea of a typical Hollywood western hero. Someone who is
seeking revenge in honour of his family. He first puts forward a
moral outlook which centres on the naïve notion that nobody
who is innocent should be killed.
• He quickly becomes deeply involved in the hood culture and
starts to kill for the sake of killing.
• He then becomes part of an unstoppable cycle where he is then
killed by Otto, who is driven by the same sense of ‘Justice’.
• This then highlights again the never ending circle of violence that
the residents of city of god experience. It suggests that there can
be no resolution or solution to the problems ever being sorted.
26. Benny and Ze
Arguably, the most central relationship within the film, is that of Benny and Ze.
Their characters are extremely different and it is important to question why they
have been represented as being so close yet so far from one another.
27. Benny and Ze
• We know little to nothing about the background of the two characters,
their home life or relationships with family.
• Benny has become a leader of a brutal, drug dealing gang controlling a
part of the city of god, yet he remains a ‘cool guy’. Contrasting with Ze,
also a leader, who is represented as a psychotic killer from the moment
we see him as a young child.
• In Benny’s death scene it is implied that Benny is really the only person
Ze has ever loved, giving a reason to why he now has nothing holding
him back in allowing the ghetto to become a war zone.
• Both characters it seems are what they are because of their individual
psychological make-up: essentially they have been born this way.
• If we compare this to La Haine, we find that the characters in that film
are given much more carefully chosen backgrounds, that make them
much more distinctive as individuals.
28. Benny and Ze
In City of God, the only explanation we have for Ze’s nature is that
he is too ugly to get a girlfriend, while there is no explanation at
all as to how Benny has emerged from the cycle of violence as a
freewheeling hippy.
• What was the purpose of using two opposing characters in
such a way? Discuss and make a list.
29. Social, historical and political context
• More than 6,000 people, most of them from the ghettos (favelas),
were murdered in Rio de Janeiro in 2007.
• Rio’s wealthy middle class lived in gated apartment blocks with
private security, in conditions that are completely contrasting to
those of the hillside shanty towns.
• Police chiefs seem to be in no doubt that their job is to protect
status quo through control of the underprivileged.
• Throughout the 1980’s Brazil suffered chronic inflation and the
country's foreign debt was higher than that of any other
developing nation.
• There was a high birth rate and a migration of people into the city
from rural areas during the 1980s and these trends continued into
the 1990s.
30. Social, historical and political context
• The struggle between left wing socialist/communist groups and
right winged conservative forces stretch back into Brazils past, to
the 1960s and beyond.
• In 1961, the president, Janio da Silva Quadros, resigned, saying
his attempts at reforms had been blocked by forces of reaction
(in other words right wing political forces).
• In 1964, the new president, Joao Bechoir Marques Goulart ,
attempted to nationalise the country’s oil refineries and limit
profits going abroad but was deposed by the army.
• Military rule lasted until 1985 with the opposition political
parties being supressed, civil liberties being curbed, and strict
media censorship being enforced.
• Also during the 1960’s Roman catholic priests began to criticise
the governments failure to help the poor.
31. Social, historical and political contexts
• Meirelles seems to suggest in City of God that as one generation
has replaced another since the 1960’s the political dimension to
crime in the ghettos, has now most certainly been lost so that
all that is left is a dog eat dog world.
• How important do you think it is to attempt to place such films
within a social historical context? Discuss with the person next
to you.
Editor's Notes
Lil Ze, Knock Out Ned. Goose, Shaggy, Shorty and Wife, The Hotel, Steak and Chips, Police officer and arms dealer, Otto’s Dad, Knockout Neds family.