La La Land and Captain Fantastic

Question 1

Which scene allows us to align with Sebastian?

Answer 1

Christmas Jazz Scene

Question 2

Describe the Christmas Jazz scene

Answer 2

Seb strikes a minor chord and the camera sweeps behind his back, signalling his subjectivity. He plays his and Mia’s song and the realistic space of the restaurant is gone- we are transported to a theatrical world - inner desires illuminated by music, camera and the mise en scene.

Question 3

How do the aesthetics in the Mia watching Seb perform scene enhance our alignment with Seb?

Answer 3

Illuminated by a spotlight - shot reverse shot of the couple connects them but everything changes - blue turns to bright yellows and reds and Mia is now only a face in the crowd - Seb’s dreams are on hold.

Question 4

Describe the argument scene

Answer 4

Mise of green curtain - jealousy?
Low key lighting lit by a candle at the table - tension.
Mia thinks that Seb has sold out (‘this isn’t your dream’) - Seb tries to blame Mia for his discontent.

Question 5

Descirbe the Mia as an observer scene

Answer 5

Watching Seb perform motif - montage ends with Seb performing while Mia dances.
Seb doesn’t reciprocate the support - Seb wants Mia to go on tour with him but doesn’t understand the pressures of her playwriting.

Question 6

Describe the sequence in the museum

Answer 6

Pays homage to Rebel without a cause.
Purple/blue indicate fantasy
Their dance represents them getting to know eachother.
The scene irises out showing them kissing as the score rises around them.

Question 7

Describe the Negativity of living in the past sequence

Answer 7

Seb is unwilling to compromise and surrounds himself with objects from the past
Montage shows Seb selling out but Mia sticking with persevering her show.

Question 8

What are the references to Nostalgia in LLL?

Answer 8

Seb’s love for Jazz - Mia’s love for the golden age cinema.
Romanticised, surreal dream sequences are purple/blue
The font of the title sequences is are deco in style again reminding audiences of the 20s Hollywood films.

Question 9

Descirbe LLL references to Classic Hollywood

Answer 9

Mia is an aspiring actress- the audition
Mia and Seb in the movie theatre watching an old movie together - the classic Hollywood music experience.
Mia’s bedroom - Ingrid Bergman on the wall/classic posters.

Question 10

What are the ideological messages in LLL?

Answer 10

Meritocracy- rewarding people based on merit.
The American Dream - everyone has the potential for success
Relationships don’t always have a happily ever after - Chazelle

Question 11

What are the ideological messages in Captain Fantastic?

Answer 11

Disconnecting from society + political disconnect
Audience left to make up their own minds (active audience)
Ben’s issue with Lesley not having any control over her autonomy after her death - promotion of the importance of agency?

Question 12

Parenting in Captain Fantastic

Answer 12

• Ben is raising his children to be independent.
• Confrontation Between Jack (grandfather) and Ben where Jack criticises his parenting techniques.
• Independence- Relian injuring his hand on the mountain and Ben refusing to rescue him.
• Dinner scene with Ben and his children where parenting styles are challenged and they clash over different approaches

Question 13

Religion in Captain Fantastic

Answer 13

• Ben does not believe in religion; He believes that is a tactic to rule a civilisation by fear in order to get them to follow irrational beliefs.
• The Funeral scene- Ben uses his wife’s will to mock Christianity and to demean Jack’s Christian intentions.
• Ben making his children to pretend to be Christians to scare off the police.

Question 14

Nature in Captain Fantastic

Answer 14

• Ben believes that nature is the environment to be raised in.
• When the children and Ben and meditating in the wilderness it suggests that they are one with nature.
• However, at the beginning of the film where the calm nature cuts to the violent death of a deer, it makes us question whether this is an ethical way of life or not.
• Ben and the children choosing to sleep outside rather than in the house.

Question 15

Modern society in Captain Fantastic

Answer 15

• Ben believes that modern society and conventions are harmful to the way children are raised.
• He instead believes being one with nature is a more progressive view towards life.
• The children thinking that the overweight people in society are ‘sick’ – suggests consumerism and capitalism.
• The kids being confused about the video game.