Midterm Exam - FRENCH Flashcards
What is the French New Wave?
the generation of filmmakers who emerged from film theory and criticism
Techniques
Long-takes, fragmented, discontinuoius editing, realism, ending unclear, real lighting, live sound, extras are not actors, shooting on location, real people, real experiences, cinematic reflexivity, mise-en-scene, jump cut, long take
Philosophies
Experimentation, personal expression, and rejection of traditional filmmaking techniques
Years
Late 1950s to early 1960s
Auteurism
director is the center of creative meaning in the film, born in FNW, associates film directors with their films and styles, made by Francois Truffaut
Camera stylo
camera as the pen, designs the film
Personal Filmmaking
Personal expression of the director, writing themselves into the film, medium as personal expression
Andre Bazin
Writer of the Cahiers du Cinema
Cahiers du Cinema date
1951
Cahiers du Cinema
film magazine, groundwork for auteur theory
Cahier Group Members
Claude Charol, Jean-Luc Godard, Francois Truffaut, Eric Rhomer, Jasques Rivette
Francois Truffaut
Attacks French Cinema in 1954 article, later develops auteur theory, apolitical, two stages of filmmaking (early black and white then color)
Francois Truffaut films
The 400 Blows (1959), Shoot the Piano Player (1960), and Jules and Jim (1962)
Ontology of cinema
the existence and manifestation of cinema in the world, and its relationship to the world; people and their relationships to the world; how is film special?
The Left Bank
traditional filmmakers
The Left Bank Members
Anges Varada, Chris Marker, Alain Resnais
Alain Resnais
Less obsessed with movies, literacy-based filmmaker, interest in modernism and left-wing policies, merging of documentary and fictional aesthetics
Alain Resnais films
Hiroshima, Mon Amour (1959) and Night and Fog
Direct Sound
Recorded live, ambiant, sound is all live. Example is The 400 Blows
Reflextivity
People are reminded they are watching a film
Fourth Wall
Often, French films would break this forth wall, such as Breathless. People would look directly into the camera, and even start to talk to the audience. Alphaville had a direct narrator that spoke to the audience therefor breaking the fourth wall; Breaks the suspension of disbelief
Direct Address
Directly comments to the audience. Talk directly to. Happened in French New Wave because people are trying to break the established laws of filmmaking
Direct Address films
Alphaville & Pierrot le Fou
Existentialism
Jean-Paul Sarte, existence precedes essence, freedom and responsibility, authenticity
