Exam Question Planning

 How are the ideological themes in your chosen films resolved?


Shaun Of The Dead Themes

Responsibility

Growing up

Acceptance of others 

Friendship

Loyalty

Trainspotting Themes:

Friendship

Escape/Freedom

Addiction

Happiness

"Life"

In this essay i will display how the themes of my two chosen films have been conveyed in particular scenes and elements of film form and is ultimately resolved by the end.

Film 1: Shaun Of The Dead

Theme: Growing Up

-Shaun at the beginning of the film is like Ed - childish, selfish, unchangeable, unaware of people's problems other than his own.

-Irresponsibility highlighted when he doesn't book the restaurant, an avatar of middle class.

-Winchester the avatar of working class.

-Suggests to go there instead, further depicting his inability to convert.

-Growth begins when Liz breaks up with him, he tells himself to get his life together by writing in on the board.

-When the apocalypse begins, he goes to save Liz, Davs, Di and his Mum.

-Childhood conflict with Phillip resolved when he accepts him as his father, highlighting his growth in maturity because before he was stubborn to let him into his life; a child like thing to do.

-Takes charge of the groups survival, becomes a natural leader and becomes aware of other peoples problems by trying to protect them.

-Apexed when he lures the zombies away to save them.

-Kills his mum - growth over.

-Shirt is ripped and unbuttoned-has literally been stripped down and focuses on what's important-survival

-Holds the gun-conveys masculine role he has taken on-protector

-Dark, dingy lighting representing how dark things have got, the grimness of their situation.

-Davs holds gun-false hero

-Protects Ed against Pete - Ed still a "child" - paternal love.

-Settles down with Liz.

Film 2: Trainspotting

Theme: Freedom

-Renton starts as an addict

-No ambition or goals in life, only cares about taking heroin

-Hatred towards authority in society, caused by parents

-Life goes into downward spiral - baby dies

-Nearly overdoses

-Goes clean

-Tommy dies - partly his fault

-Moves to London but cannot escape the gang-wants freedom, to start again.

-Bar scene, when he decides to leave.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

No Country For Old Men vs Captain Fantastic: Visuals and Sound

Both No Country For Old Men and Captain Fantastic uses elements of sound and visuals to engage the viewer with the characters, narrative and themes of both films. First of all, No Country For Old Men uses mise-en-scene, editing and camera angles to visually tell a story. This is evident in the final scene of the movie where we see Bell's retirement. It starts by slowly fading from the previous scene: Chigurh walking away from the crash and transitioning into Bell in his home looking into the distance. The editing makes it look like Bell is looking at him walking away and he doesn't do anything about. This is a recurring theme throughout No Country, that Bell is ineffective and can not stop this new wave of crime that Chigurh represents. Also the shot frames Bell at the center, aligning us with him and the transition preceding the scene seconds before could symbolise this is what Bell's thinking: that Chigurh escaping the crash represents him escaping justice and it is unset...
Read more

Shaun Of The Dead Opening Analysis

The opening scene uses editing, camera angles and sound to establish Shaun's character and his relationship with Liz and Ed. Firstly, the scene begins with the sound of the bell and zooming out slowly from Shaun's face. Being close up highlights his facial expression: he is wide eyed, apathetic, he is daydreaming. This is emphasised by the framing of the shot, as the background is blurred and Shaun is clear. Having him in the centre of shot shows how Shaun is absorbed by his own problems and is unaware of everyone else around, including Liz and her wants and needs. This idea is further reinforced when Liz transgresses the rhythm of scene with her dialogue. It reveals that Liz was talking all along but Shaun wasn't paying attention because her dialogue starts mid conversation. As we are aligned with Shaun and his thoughts, this depicts that he is not mature and not taking there relationship seriously. Shaun's relationship with Ed also showcased to the audience. For examp...
Read more

The Grandmother Analysis

    HOW DAVID LYNCH TURNS THE ORDINARY INTO NIGHTMARISH One thing The Grandmother subverts from innocent to unsettling is childhood. David Lynch's creepy and imaginative direction gives the scene a nightmarish and unsettling tone. For example the scene where the mother is comforting the child turning into a intense scuffle between the two is demonstrated through the use of sound and editing. The cyclical echo of the scream progressing into a high pitch shreak is an unnerving and disturbing sound that perfectly matches the intensity of the scene; as the scream gets more and more distorted and intense so does the editing of the scene, using quick cuts between shots to emphasise the chaotic nature. This creates a intense and uncomfortable scene and maybe symbolic of Lynch's outlook of childhood. Maybe the mother gripping the child constantly maybe be displaying the parents hold on their children regardless of their intentions and the child is trying to break free of their control...
Read more