What is your understanding of a realist mode of filmmaking? Can you think of examples of films that are realist from the ones we have watched?

The realist mode in film refers to realism and is essentially a narrative style that aims to represent realistic themes such as characters, settings and events. An example of a realist film that we have watched is This is England, as it aesthetic is influenced by documentary filmmaking, emphasising the representation of British social realism.

What is your understanding of an expressive mode of filmmaking? Can you think of examples of films that are expressive?

The expressive mode of filmmaking is emphasising the truth and realism with unnatural and dramatic aspects in order to convey the narrative to the audience. An example of this is the abstract and surreal hallucinations in trainspotting.

To what extent does Eisenstein’s work merge the two ideas and how does he do this in Strike?

Eisenstein’s work merges the realist and expressive mode. In Strike, examples of the merge of these two are the intercutting with animals being killed and the workers being run down and the editing techniques of metric montage which is synthetic and disrupts the visual flow vs rhythmic montage which cuts to the action, having more of a flow visually.

realist: An example of a realist moment in one of the films that we have studied is when the baby dies in trainspotting. this scene really give a perspective on how bad heroine is as the mood change in the scene is big

WORK IN PROGRESS!!!

1. What is your understanding of a realist mode of film making? a film is realistic when we see it as the photographic record, not of the Events Filmed, but of the events that make up the Story Told. Example – Moonlight (Jenkins, 2016)

2. What is your example of an expressive mode of film making? It is primarily in the qualities of its images and sounds that the expressivity of the cinema must be sought. Example – Trainspotting (Boyle, 1996)

3. To what Extent does Eisenstein’s work merge the two ideas and how does he do this is Strike? e.g montage. Example – The intercutting between the expressive and realist mode, e.g tonal montage – spilling ink on the map to represent bloodshed.

Realism VS Expressionism –

1. What is your understanding of a realist mode of film making? can you think of examples of films that are realist from the ones we have watched?

‘This Is England’ directed by Shane meadows, depicts realism through large shot-camera angles and use of onset locations. Set in a time-period of turmoil as well in England, this creates an element of realism as the topics of racism and war (Falklands war) surrounds the plot and characters. With use of kitchen-sink realism the visual aesthetic further creates that effect of a realist mode and establishes the realism well for a spectator to reflect upon.

2. What is your understanding of an expressive mode of filmmaking? can you think of examples that are expressive?

‘Trainspotting’ Directed by Danny Boyle, shows an expressive mode through scenes where the character Mark Renton goes on a drug trip, with an example of such being when he overdoses, a POV shot of mark sinking into the carpet as it surrounds him shows the surrealism and expressionism of the altering effects made by film making.

3. To what extent does Eisenstein’s work merge the two ideas and how does he do this in strike?

With the use on an intellectual montage, the scene where both a cow is killed by butchers and the workers are shot dead this creates a merge between the 2 ideas of how the workers and really shown to be treated at the time but also the expressionism of comparing it to something regularly seen.

Another in Strike can be seen with the Mise-en-scene of the outfits, with the workers shown to be dressed in tatters and old clothes which was quite realistic at the time, the factory owners and soldiers in the army are dressed quite expressively with over the top hats and 3 piece suits.

Realist – The visual elements of This is England takes a documentary-style approach, this can be seen by Shane Meadows choosing not to colour grade the scenes and instead leaving them natural.

Expressionism – The narrative flow is interrupted in Joker when it is made clear that Arthur’s relationship with his neighbour was simply a figment of his imagination. This is emphasised by the cross cutting between the pair and the same scene but with Arthur alone.

Eisenstein combines these in Strike, as seen in the sixth part, during the intellectual montage in which the cow and workers are simultaneously killed, creating a visual metaphor in order to make the point that workers are exploited by the workplace and are gotten rid of once they’re no longer needed.

Realism: an example of realism would be the film This is England. Presenting real world issues in a grounded setting. It uses natural lighting with simple cinematography as well as non actors playing roles to feel more real and less dramatic. following kitchen sink realism feeling more like a documentary than a made up story.

Expressionism: an example of expressionism would be the film trainspotting. Having scenes that reflect Renton’s mindset opposing what is really happening as seen in where him rummaging through a toilet is instead shown as him swimming in the ocean. This results in more abstract scenes which play around more with lighting, mise en scene and cinematography.

strike: The film strike reflects both realism and expressionism. Having the film portray the issues the real world workers went through as well as presenting them realistically. However intellectual montage is used in the film having antagonists represent different animals and acting in ways that are out of touch with reality. The rich in the film are overexaggerated wearing overly expensive cloths and drinking luxury drinks showing how the film is the directors perspective of the workers rather than the complete truth.

realist mode- an example of realist mode is in the movie Moonlight, when Chiron hit the bully over the head with a chair, this is realist mode because we are on a POV shot. we are on the level of if we were sat on one of the class chair watching it happen when everyone else did.

expressive mode- an example of expressive mode is when we watched the movie Trainspotting, when he lost his pills and shot down the toilet. this is expressive because this did not actually happen, he did not go all the way into the toilet he just dunked his head in to find those pills.

Eisenstein- he mixed both of them in the movie strike, when he compared the workers to circus bears. this is a mix of both because it is not realist but it is about real people in real life, the bears are walking in chains but so are the workers. another example is when he put the distressed bear in chains, then it cuts to the scene of the workers working away in the factory.

What is your understanding of a realist mode of film making? Can you think of an example from a film we have watched.

The realist mode of film making is expressing an idea of a film without the use of dramatization and stylization. An example of this is This is England with its kitchen sink realism used to present its story and characters.

What is your understanding of an expressive mode of filmmaking? can you think of examples of films that are expressive.

The expressive mode of film making is expressing’s ideas in the film with an over the top nature and over dramatic tone. A good example of this is Bonnie and Clyde with the overtop energetic shootout scenes. Trainspotting also makes use of the expressionism movement and makes many over the top scenes presenting the effects of drugs.

To what extent does Einsenteisn work merge the two ideas and how does he do this in Strike

Eistenetin merges the two so he can create points for the audience but still keep its realism but use the expressionism to capture the audiences attention. An example of expressionism is the scenes with the chained up bears as this is used to present the real issue of animal cruelty. An example of realism in the film is the poor treatment of workers.

Intellectual montage –

An Intellectual Montage is used with scenes cutting between the workers being killed and a cow, this creates a visual comparison of how the workers are being ‘butchered’ by the oppressive government.

Metric Montage –

A metric montage is seen between scenes of a fire in a family home, with similarly timed shots, the fire service is being seen to not put out the fire which has ruined the families heirlooms but rather be put to use to try and disperse the crowd of workers on strike.

Tonal-Editing montage –

Shown through the scene where a young worker struggles to free himself from a door, shadowy lighting and tone is used to show his cramped position.

Rhythmic Montage –

A rhythmic montage is used in the scene where a mother realises her son has gone to play under the army officers horse, trying to get him out of harms way she hurriedly grabs him pushing the horse out the way and as a result is beaten upon by the soldier.

Over-tonal Montage –

An over-tonal montage is used in the scene where the workers attack the soldiers, as a result, scenes change to different tonal areas, such as bright open road to a more condensed shadowy factory sight.