The Hard Stuff Reading Questions Flashcards
What is the original German language title of the Wim Wenders’ film Wings of Desire when translated to English?
“The Sky Over Berlin”
In Roger Ebert’s review of Wings of Desire, he says that the angels are more than just guardians. What is their purpose? What do the angels do? What is it they can’t do? (please answer each part)
The purpose of the angels is to serve as witnesses and to see. Throughout the movie they move invisibly through Berlin, watching, listening, and being a silent comfort of hope to those who are down on their luck (accident victims, suicide contemplators, etc.), however they cannot directly change events they witness.
n a key turn in the film Wings of Desire, the character of Damiel decides to “take the plunge.” To what is he referring? Why does he make this decision?
Damiel decides to become human
What are the three unities of Greek Tragedy that the Spike Lee film Do The Right Things obeys?
The story takes place in one setting, there is a continuity of time over three days (with a unity of action), and there is a Greek chorus of three elderly men.
What incident begins the racially motivated conflict in Do The Right Thing?
A customer in a pizzeria asks “Why no brothers?” in response to all the Italian Americans actors displayed on a wall.
In The Crying Game, a British soldier held captive by a team of IRA soldiers, and suspecting he is to be executed, asks one of the IRA soldiers, Fergus, to do something for him. What is it?
To look up his girlfriend someday in the event that he dies.
Name one of the powerful themes that resonates in Jane Campion’s film The Piano?
Piano has strong emotional themes of love in relation to respect and love as intrinsic to all sexual relations.
Upon her arrival in New Zealand, Ada, played by Holly Hunter, is told that she must leave something behind. Where does she leave it. Why? (please answer each part)
She must leave the piano on the beach because it cannot be carried across the island to her new house.
Who reunites Ada with her most valued possession? What does she do that so charms her guide and ignites his desires?
Baines reunites Ada with her piano, her skills on piano and mysteriously strange contemporary style charm him.
During her lessons, the new owner of Ada’s most treasured possession offers her a bargain so that she can buy it back. What is the unit of measure that she and the owner agree on; one what for every visit?
Baines offers that Ada trade sexual favors, nicknamed “keys”, for each of the 88 keys she must win back on her piano.
