Identities in Contemporary European Cinema
Film Clip Presentation
My film clip is taken from the compilation film Paris, je t'aime. Director Gus Van Sant's "Le Marais" segment tells the story of a young French man, Gaspard Ulliel, who attempts to connect with a young American who is unable to understand him. The segment broaches the topics of cross-cultural communication, language barriers and love (or at least attraction) at first sight, contributing to the overall theme of the compilation.
My clip begins when Gaspard first addresses Eli (the American). Van Sant favors a naturalistic style similar to cinema-verite. He only incorporates diagetic sounds (the clanking of the workshop around them) and the voices of the actors, giving the viewer the impression of witnessing the conversation. Van Sant favors neutral colors, with Gaspard's bland grey shirt blending into the industrial background. Likewise, Eli's blue jacket allows him to recede into the background.
The most notable feature of the clip is the innovative cinematography. The camera only follows Gaspard as he talks to Eli, solely focusing on him and not allowing the viewer to see Eli's reaction if there is one at all, contributing to the overall ambiguity of the scene. I also feel that this effect creates dramatic tension and symbolizes the disconnect between the two. Van Sant also favors unbalanced shots, contributing to the tension of the segment. Gaspard often appears at the far right of shots, leading the viewer to anxiously anticipate the entrance of another character on the left side, which occurs when Eli asks Gaspard to light his cigarette. This technique reminds me of the film Masculin/feminin by Jean-Luc Godard as he applies a similar technique.
My clip begins when Gaspard first addresses Eli (the American). Van Sant favors a naturalistic style similar to cinema-verite. He only incorporates diagetic sounds (the clanking of the workshop around them) and the voices of the actors, giving the viewer the impression of witnessing the conversation. Van Sant favors neutral colors, with Gaspard's bland grey shirt blending into the industrial background. Likewise, Eli's blue jacket allows him to recede into the background.
The most notable feature of the clip is the innovative cinematography. The camera only follows Gaspard as he talks to Eli, solely focusing on him and not allowing the viewer to see Eli's reaction if there is one at all, contributing to the overall ambiguity of the scene. I also feel that this effect creates dramatic tension and symbolizes the disconnect between the two. Van Sant also favors unbalanced shots, contributing to the tension of the segment. Gaspard often appears at the far right of shots, leading the viewer to anxiously anticipate the entrance of another character on the left side, which occurs when Eli asks Gaspard to light his cigarette. This technique reminds me of the film Masculin/feminin by Jean-Luc Godard as he applies a similar technique.
Note: The clip that I showed in class begins at 2:01 and ends at 3:01.
Final Project - Movie Trailers
Elling (2001) - Norway
Description (from Netflix): Per Christian Ellefsen and Sven Nordin play the shy, retiring Elling and the imposing Kjell in this Norwegian movie about two mentally challenged friends who battle adversity and find their place in the sun. The two room together and attempt to create a life for themselves outside the confining, but protective, walls of the hospital. Directed by Petter Naess, Elling was nominated for an Academy Award in the Foreign Language Film category.
Description (from Netflix): Per Christian Ellefsen and Sven Nordin play the shy, retiring Elling and the imposing Kjell in this Norwegian movie about two mentally challenged friends who battle adversity and find their place in the sun. The two room together and attempt to create a life for themselves outside the confining, but protective, walls of the hospital. Directed by Petter Naess, Elling was nominated for an Academy Award in the Foreign Language Film category.
Noi Albinoi (2004) - Iceland
Description (from Netflix): Noi (Tomas Lemarquis) is a gifted 17-year-old boy from Northern Iceland who dreams of fleeing his dreary small-town surroundings -- even after the arrival of Iris (Elin Hansdottir), who's new in town and has brightened up Noi's lackluster existence. Soon, Noi plans a getaway for him and his new friend, as the townsfolk continue to view Noi's lack of conformity to rural life as simply his being a lazy, dim-witted failure.
Description (from Netflix): Noi (Tomas Lemarquis) is a gifted 17-year-old boy from Northern Iceland who dreams of fleeing his dreary small-town surroundings -- even after the arrival of Iris (Elin Hansdottir), who's new in town and has brightened up Noi's lackluster existence. Soon, Noi plans a getaway for him and his new friend, as the townsfolk continue to view Noi's lack of conformity to rural life as simply his being a lazy, dim-witted failure.
