Film Movements and History Flashcards
Origins of Cinema
Key Characteristics: Static shots, non-narrative, focus on everyday life or staged events.
Historical Context: Late 19th-century technological innovation. Cinema evolved from still photography and early moving image devices like the zoetrope.
Examples:
Lumière’s First Screening: Realistic portrayals of everyday events; foundational for documentary-style filmmaking.
A Trip to the Moon: Transition from simple actuality films to imaginative storytelling, featuring innovative special effects like stop-motion.
The Pioneers
Key Characteristics: Experimentation with narrative, cross-cutting, and visual storytelling.
Historical Context: Cinema’s transition from novelty to an art form in the early 20th century.
Examples:
As Seen Through a Telescope: Early comedic use of point-of-view shots.
The Great Train Robbery: Introduced continuity editing and parallel action.
The Birth of a Nation: Advanced cinematic techniques like intercutting and close-ups, though marred by its racist content.
German Expressionism
Key Characteristics: Distorted sets, chiaroscuro lighting, exaggerated acting, and themes of madness and horror.
Historical Context: Emerged post-WWI in Germany, reflecting societal disillusionment and instability.
Examples:
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari: Twisted set designs mirror the characters’ psychological states.
Nosferatu: Utilized shadows and eerie landscapes to enhance its horror atmosphere.
Soviet Montage
Key Characteristics: Rapid editing to create meaning, emphasis on collective over individual heroes.
Historical Context: Reflecting the political ideology of Soviet Russia, montage theory emphasized the power of editing to influence perception.
Examples:
The Battleship Potemkin: The Odessa Steps sequence exemplifies montage by building emotional tension through editing.
Mother: Focuses on social struggles, using montage to evoke empathy for the oppressed.
French Poetic Realism
Key Characteristics: Melancholy tone, focus on working-class characters, romantic fatalism, and richly textured mise-en-scène.
Historical Context: Developed in the 1930s during political turmoil in France, influenced by the economic depression.
Examples:
L’Atalante: Combines lyrical romance with gritty realism.
The Rules of the Game: Satirizes French upper-class society, using elaborate staging and deep-focus cinematography.
Golden Age of Hollywood - Drama
Key Characteristics: High production values, emphasis on character-driven stories, sweeping narratives.
Historical Context: Studio system dominated filmmaking, with a focus on escapism during the Great Depression and WWII.
Examples:
Gone with the Wind: Lavish production and melodrama reflecting historical romance.
Casablanca: Interweaves personal and political stakes, resonating with wartime audiences.
Golden Age of Hollywood - Comedy
Key Characteristics: Slapstick (early), screwball comedy (later), and character-based humor.
Historical Context: Studio system dominated filmmaking, with a focus on escapism during the Great Depression and WWII.
Examples:
Sherlock Jr.: Innovative use of physical comedy and cinematic trickery.
Bringing Up Baby: Screwball comedy with fast-paced dialogue and absurd scenarios.
Golden Age of Hollywood - Film Noir
Key Characteristics: Low-key lighting, morally ambiguous characters, urban settings, and themes of corruption.
Historical Context: Influenced by post-WWII disillusionment and German Expressionism.
Examples:
The Maltese Falcon: Cynical tone and intricate plot twists.
Scarlet Street: A dark exploration of obsession and deception.
Italian Neorealism
Key Characteristics: Real locations, non-professional actors, stories of everyday struggles, and a focus on societal issues.
Historical Context: Post-WWII Italy, reflecting poverty and resilience.
Examples:
Rome, Open City: Raw depiction of resistance against Nazi occupation.
Bicycle Thieves: A poignant tale of a man’s desperation and dignity in postwar society.
Golden Age of Hollywood - Other genres
Film such as Frankenstein (Horror/ sci-fi?), The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (Western), and Singin in the Rain (musical)
Discovery of Asian Cinema
Key Characteristics: Philosophical themes, non-linear storytelling, and cultural specificity.
Historical Context: Gained global recognition in the mid-20th century, offering diverse perspectives.
Examples:
Rashomon: Explores subjective truth with groundbreaking narrative structure.
Pather Panchali: Blends realism with poetic storytelling to depict rural Indian life.
French Nouvelle Vague
Key Characteristics: Improvised dialogue, handheld camera, jump cuts, and exploration of personal themes.
Historical Context: Postwar rejection of traditional studio filmmaking in favor of personal, auteur-driven narratives.
Examples:
Breathless: Breaks cinematic conventions with jump cuts and a self-referential style.
Cléo from 5 to 7: Examines existential themes through real-time storytelling.
New Wave Cinema
Key Characteristics: Diverse, politically charged, often experimental, focusing on marginalized characters.
Historical Context: Influenced by social upheavals of the 1960s and 70s, embracing new voices and perspectives.
Examples:
The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner: Critiques class structures in 1960s Britain.
Ali: Fear Eats the Soul: Challenges societal norms around race and age in postwar Germany.
