French Impressionism
Defining Characteristics of French Impressionism
Subjectivity & Visual Experimentation
- rapid editing
- filters
- POV shots
- Layering of shots
Defining Characteristics of German Expressionism
- distorted sets
- harsh lighting and contrast
- exaggerated acting
- themes of madness
What is the Kuleshov Effect? How does it work?
The same neutral reaction being used to show many emotions when juxtaposed against a different clip of film
How did the introduction of sound technology initially affect the circulation of films between different countries
- Created language barriers
- slowed down international export
How did the studio system in Japan in the 1930s influence the kinds of films that got made?
- vertically integrated studios controlled production making a large stable industry
What were the goals of French Impressionists
- making film an art form
- separating film from theater and literature
- exploring psychological depth
What were the goals of German Expressionists
to use film to portray mood and meaning. No realism. visualize inner confusion and social tension
What are the defining characteristics and goals of Soviet montage
- Emphasis on edition (montage)
- collision and juxtaposition of shots to convey many meanings
How did filmmakers attempt to overcome language barriers during the early sound period?
- multi language versions
- dubbing
- subtitles
How did Yasujiro Ozu’s 360º shooting style challenge Hollywood continuity filmmaking
created a different sense of cinematic space and continuity
What is photogénie
The idea that cinema reveals a more poetic sense of reality (shows beauty to the naked eye)
What were the challenges German Expressionist filmmakers faced?
- inflation/ economic instability
- Government restrictions
- ban on foreign films
What were the goals of Soviet filmmakers in the 1920s
- promote revolutionary ideology
- education
- use cinema as a political tool
Film Breakdown 1(French Impressionism)
- The Smiling Madame Beudet
- 1923
In what ways did various governments influence the kinds of films made in their country
- censorship
- propoganda
- funding
- quotas
What were the challenges French impressionist filmmakers faced?
- Financial instability
- small audiences
- competition from Hollywood
How was the German film industry able to flourish at a time when German citizens faced widespread hardship?
domestic films dominated the local market and gained traction globally
What were the challenges Soviet filmmakers faced in the 1920s?
- limited resources
- shortages of filmstock
- political pressure/censorship
Film Breakdown (Soviet Cinema)
- Battleship Potemkin
- 1925
How did individual filmmakers resist or comply with government influences
Some worked within the restrictions while others critiqued or experimented outside of it as under the radar as possible
What were French Impressionist filmmakers reacting against?
- Naturalism
- theatrical adaptation
- wanted to express inner turmoil not just outward action
Film Breakdown (German Expressionism) & (Greek Weird Wave)
- Cabinet of Dr Caligari (1919)
- Chevalier (2015)
What is Constructivism and how did it seek to combine politics and art?
an art movement emphasizing functionality and materialism in cinema. The goal was to use cinema as a way to shape audiences political views.
Film Breakdown (Japan/Other Studio Systems) & (Early Sound)
- M (1932)
- Rashomon (1950)
How and why were quotas used in the British film industry in the 1920s
laws required domestic films to take up a certain amount of screen time in order to reduce US dominance