Genre: ML - Poetic Realism

Question 1

French ‘Poetic Realist’ Tradition

Answer 1

Some 1930s french films were categorised by their ‘poetic realism.

Directors such as Jean Renoir, Marcel Carne and Jean Vigo focused on aesthetics and had a lyrical style aimed at highlighting the poetry within reality. shots were simply constructed but with an other-worldly purity from the lighting and camera techniques used. they often dealt with characters who were disillusioned, with perhaps one last chance at happiness. they were fatalistic in tone and had a sense of impending doom and the bittersweet irony of human existence.

Question 2

Poetic Realism Films are “Recreated Realism”

Answer 2

They usually have a fatalistic view of life with their characters living on the margins of society, either as unemployed members of the working class or as criminals

Poetic realist films featured pessimistic narratives and night-time settings, and a dark, contrasting visual style pre-figuring American film noir

Question 3

The Major Themes of Poetic Realism are Bitterness, Disappointment, Disillusionment and Nostalgia

Answer 3

They can be seen as a social critique of lower class conditions and a general part of the ominous atmosphere in France before World War 2

(Could be used to argue Les Rev as a metaphor for social injustice)

Question 4

The Goal of Poetic Realism was to Distill the Essence of Situations Rather Than to Merely Record Them Faithfully

Answer 4

The tools of revealing underlying meanings with hyper-authenticity included careful design of scene, framing, lighting and shadows, layers of the camera’s visual field, camera positions and movements, and, of course, the performance

Question 5

The Doomed Universe of Poetic Realist Films was Said to Reflect the Gloomy Morale of the Immediate Pre-War Years

Answer 5

An important aspect of poetic realism is its rejection of the happy ending, which was so common in Hollywood movies at the time. Poetic Realism filmmakers distanced themselves from their Hollywood rivals.

‘Port of Shadows’ was so bleak and depressing in its outlook that the French government and military took to saying, “if we’ve lost the war, blame it on Quai des Brumes”

Question 6

How is Les Revenants Influenced by French Poetic Realism?

Answer 6

• Characters such as Jerome (Camille and Lena’s dad)
• the location
• mise en scene - colour, lighting, time of day etc.
• themes such as bitterness, disillusionment, disappointment
• lack of happy endings

Question 7

Features of French poetic realism films

Answer 7

• slow movement
• log takes
• steady cameras, symmetry
• disillusioned with one last chance of happiness
• grief portrayed (painful human emotion / hopeful)
• “bittersweet irony of human existence” - Jerome (Camille and Lena’s dad) his response to Claire and Pierre when Camille returns