Realism VS Expressionism –
- 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.
