Narrative

Question 1

How does Tarantino draw from the French New Wave movement?

Answer 1

It starts with a reference and play on words to the film ‘band a part’ by Goddard

Question 2

Why do you think Tarantino opens the film with the definition of Pulp?

Answer 2

• that is what the film will be like
• shocking subject matter

Question 3

How is the narrative of the film constantly shifting to defy our expectations?

Answer 3

The scene where Burch unexpectedly decides to stay and help Marsellus sees him pick up one more devastating weapon after another before finally settling on a samurai sword

Question 4

Spaghetti Westerns

Answer 4

• originated in the 1960s; cheaper to make films in Italy than the US
• filmmakers made their westerns there and had English dubbed in (how Clint Eastwood’s early films were made)

Question 5

Vincent Vega

Answer 5

• a professional hitman who is constantly caught unaware
• goes to the bathroom; diner - discovers a robbery and stand off has occurred with Pumpkin, Honey Bunny and Jules. At Mia’s house he returns from the bathroom to find out she has overdosed. At Butch’e place he gets murdered.
• Like the spectator, he discovers the narrative of Pulp Fiction is always one step ahead of him

Question 6

Butch

Answer 6

• constantly sees the word with amazement and reacts to it with strange mutations
• has a sympathetic quality, often becomes a conduit for the audiences viewpoint
• he is surprised to find; Vincent waiting to kill him, Marsellus crossing the road in front of her, the evil redneck pawn shop owners

Question 7

Burch - Fantasy v Reality

Answer 7

• Tarantino blends fantasy and reality into his narrative
• Butch awakens from flashback sequence narrated by Captain Koons about the legacy of the gold watch; he awakes to find himself in the locker room before his big fight
• In the second part he falls asleep next to Fabienne only to be abruptly awoken by shots and explosions of the action film she is watching the next morning

Question 8

Theme of violence

Answer 8

• used to shock the spectator
• violence is an everyday yet unpredictable phenomenon, often reflecting the surprising nature of life itself
• the threat of violence looms over all the film’s sub plots

Question 9

Do you think the use of violence heightens or diminishes the narrative of the film?

Answer 9

• Diminishes: almost feels forced
• Heightens: creates an unconventional narrative and creates a gateway to that particular type of film.