t l ( i ( tH.\ l ' l l :H: l t ' l l - \ l tT: l l r ls \ : ! t ) ' r ( ) l ' l ( ls l1) l< l1 l 'Nl ' \ \ ' \ l - \ 's !5\ \o\ \1 l l - f l \ ( '

re-cr(r i l ted the l l t in th. ' t t tes i t trr l plot t ' let lctrts of the l i t t larr

t ; ,r ;k,; ; i t t i t ch..gecl the ttr .a. i i rg a.cl t l r t tr t .s i ' so.re \rrr) ' i

2. For one f i lnr, rvr i tr : threc r 'r fr ,rr l puagrapJrs "n 'r sinqlt " lrrrrt 'nt- , , i t i t , " techrt i rpt ' such ' r ' r r r t ' r ' j t t .nrp ' rs i t i " r r l : ' l i : ' l lC

(x

," , t t i . - t f ' ' f tU' f l " i * techni '1t te \ i ru crnlLert t r ' r t t " rL l int s i r r rp lv

t lescribe the nost iruP()rtxtrt i l l \ t i lnrt 's i l l the hhl l i r trd orl lv tnerl

"t i" f t ," i" f t .* ' , t t" ," teclrnir lrres arl t l to t l te tncirnitrg of thc spec i f i tr

shlrt . sccne, or stYl l)er)( e '9d4f#{r-.,

{

' .

SIX APPROACHES TOWRITING ABOUT FILM

Ttrrr rvriter rrrirr ltotb be intereslctl irr i lrc l igltt j l la irr Fritz Ltrrg'.s Srririr i.Slrrrl (19.15), lrrLt t lrev rniw use clif l i 'r 'cnt nr<.th<rtls to locus that clistL,.-srorr: -\ r l l i ter rrsing lorrnalist tpploaclt ntiglrt.rnal;ze the repetit ions oli i l inri l l le ol the vt i i t iorls o{ l iglrt ancl slraclorv rvit lr in the l i lnr; a l 'r i tt rrrsil{ a historicd a1)proiiclh lr ight sh(^\' lLow tl lr)s(' l iglrt i l lg pattcrns cxn b1lirrketl kr Langs bc{irrnirgs jrr the (iernran t:xprt:ssionist peiorlLikcrvise. dil lerent approrchcs lre used,,vlren ryritels discruss stl l istirsjlnilrrit i t 's irr t le f i l lrs of Renoir or historital clrrnges irt the rnusical. Irthe first r ' lse. th(i \\ 'r i tcr rrses, iurp)icit)r. iur "i lr ltclrr" approach. thich r:lrrrsttl or the beliefthat f i lrns crrr lx' l irrkcd thrrrrrgh the str' lc of thc <lirt 'c.tort ir thc sccrntl. t l te \\,dter practi(r 's gt'rrn'r 'r ' l t l t isrrr, \\ ' l t ich presrrr(.r 'trt.r irr arrr,ptt,t l 1r1r's ()l lrovies. Arr lnri ir lrrr 'ss ol thesc netlrorls rrrrl>)ir-.r r r r r r r r -e t l reotet ict l t i rn in t r r rLr ' \ \ ' r i t i l r ( t l r iLrr rn i l l l \ ( :ornpct(nt \ \ ' r i ter ' :rrl lrrrt [ iLrtr hlrvc lor'even s'ish to hrtrr '). \ 'r ' t. tr<,rr rvlert vou i inahz( ir si l.qle ti lrr. i t is inlpoltxrt arrd useful kr rrrrrl rstirncl t lrc apploact rorL :tttrrsirrg lreclrrse this as,arcnt:ss wil l lrt ' l I rorr k.r ide'nti l j tht' l irrrits of t lr,apploach. the neccls ofyour arrrl i t 'ncc. arul the goiis ofthe t:ssar'.

As )rrrr consirh'r a topic firr rur esstr srrcrl i ls arr etl it ing techni<1ttcruncl as rrlr begin to give tl l l t topic sLape, trrnsicler-also the iusulrptionrtlrrt rrrrt lt 'r 'Jic l our lpproach: Are \()u irt( 'r '( 'sted i l n pir.t iculal teclrnirlnt'suclr ;rs p.rluJJr' l ctl i t ing, becuuse ore rl i lector nscs it regulatlvi Are rorirtelestetl i l erirnrining a scrics ol i lrr ir{es l)e(i\rse thcy r-elute tho l i lrrr trsrx iolrgital arrd culturri l issues, as Lott( l l islr-r ' is uhen sht'sug(ests tI,..t l te nli ir l\ '5ti l irclscs irr ()errrr:rrr f ihrrs ol t l i t t\\(.rLtics relitte kr t ltc t-rrrrtarit ic antbitiorrs oftlt, socit ' tv o1 \\ i, irrrar'( lernrarrv? l)<r rou sant to l i)(us ()rhorv tlrc use ofl techniqrle. such as Eiscrsleit.. i r lr lntlgc. t lr i i l lelgt tL tlrtl 'al erl it irLg hacl traclit iolallv been rrsc.l arrtl, t lrus, suggests al irrp{)fl l11tlt i irtgt in fi lrn frrrnri) No rrratter *Jrirt apploirch 1'ou firrt l i ipptoptiate, 1orrvil l alu a,r's clari lv lour drrrs arrd l inits i1 rrrrr get l sense ol t l le lurgeissut's. \\ 'hel <rrrriyraring trvo fihrrs or parls o{ {i lrns, lor exunplc, dt'r ' icl ir l

I t l l c l l , \ t , t t : t t - ! 5 l \ , \11' t t ( ) , \ ( l l l l is l ! ) \ ! l in l \ ( , . \ l t ( ) l ' l l : l l , \ !

(nr t l l ( ' t ( f l rs oi t l r i l l ( \) l r l l )a \(nl-[ i t l tnir l . histol i tal . or-rt t l r t ' t - clul l re i t t tl | | r [ r ' r l i l | | l \ l , l ' r l l , ,1( . r l r l l i l r t t l r . r l L r r r r r I r ' I t | . ' I L

Tlrt l i r lLrrr ir tg irr trot lrrct irr t t to t l t t ' r t tajrrr i rpl>toit t l rcs ru nl. tho(ls us( '( li r \ \ ' r i t i rg r i l rorrt f i l rr ( lo( ' \ r lot i l t tcrnPt k) rel ic\r t l l t trortrpltr i t ics ol ' i ruvsirr{ l t 'approacit ( t the \\ ' iN's t \ \1) ()r r l l ()re.t l) l )( l i ic l tes rt tar t t l rr lap in oncstrrdr. Thesc skctr lres artr l er l l t t l t les slrould. I louevcr. l telp l rrr to iclenti l irqrploacl l s t l tut cttr dir( ct \ ' () l l rrrr i t i t lg l l t r trr t f i l rr t arrt l givc tt \ t a s< l tst <t[ 'lur* a parl icrr lar t tr t- t l rrxl rniglrt olgarr ize; l t ld I tse irrf i rrnl i i t ior l

FILM HISTORY

A histori tal i rPProi lcl l is orle t l l f l te t t tr lst * ir lelv rtse(l r l iet lLods in l i l rrrcr i t ic isn. I t cart lx 'er i t l t lor l r l \ r i th \ i In i r )g t l l 'gr t 'es t , I t ' rnPlr i ts is ()r ' ( { r l r -

sciorrsness, l)r)t i rr gt ' trr ' r i t l . t l r t ' r l r i ter Lrsi l lg this irPl)rotcl l ol { iul ires i t l l ( lin\ ( st igirt( 's f i l l rrs i t t t ol t l i rrg to t lr t ' i t l l i r ict rvi t l r i l l iL l t isttr l ic iLl contert r trrr]i l l iglr t {) l historical dt 'r t ' lo1. lrrett ts. Strch ' t tr apPrortch rrt iglrt cxplore ihc

firlkr*'irrq:

. The histol icl l relat ionslr ips tt l thc f i l tns thctrtselrt 's- us rvltel a\\ r i ter colrpiues an(l ( \)rrt l i tsts thc rrse oi strts irr rL f i i l t t i r l rr i t |et lr i r t ies rvit l r t l teir trst ' in rr f ihr l f i 'or lr the se\ ( 'nt ic\ '

. Tlre rclat ionshi l t ol f i l t r ts kr t l teir urttdit i t tns ol pr-odrtct i<lt t '

l l t I l ,aPs al lr ,s ' ing i t r \r i t tr k) ir l i tk(-(rr) lr 'ct iotts betrvet:tr Atnt 'r i tal li i l rrrs ol thi ' t ' iqlr t i i 's iul( l t l r t ' t r( ' r l ( l (hrr i t lg t l rr>se veitrs tou'ard t lrrorvnclship of stucl i t)s l) \ lurg( ((t l )( , lat ior ls l ikc (; l l l l+\\ i 'st t nl orTlanr-,\nrcrica ot tr i i r tvt 'sl igi t l t ' l l rxr t l r t ' r i t l t ' i rrrpact rr l t l igi taltec lr trologl trxl irv has altelt{ l iorv t r t()\ ies i l r( i l l l i t ( le iutt l u'atchcd

. T|e lelat iorrshiP oI I ]ro\ i fs to their recePtiorl . t l t ' t r lorrstt i t l t ' t l i t tar essiw t l t i i t erplrres l tr . ,* ' tcler isir r l i r t tht ' f i l i ies chalgtr l the('xp( '( tat ions ol nlo\ ic r l l ldi( 'n(t 's i t t thr l t t inl(r '

Alt l rougl i thr ' t t alc \ \ ' i lvs to writc l lxrrrt l i l rr i \ \ ' i t l l () tr t t ' l lpl l tsiTinBhistorical issrrt 's. sonrt ' i r istot ical 1t\ \ ' i l ret l( 'ss i tr f i l rrns r los_l rr ' t i t i rrq ahrrttl i l l r . Arr essri . t l tut etrunirrt s \ l ik lrul l ' i t ' rr :c (19'15) i l the context ofpost-\ \ i rr l t l \ \ i t r l l t \ruetica atrcl t l te clrtr t{ ir tg srtci t l l rgi tal l l t ls i t ion ol\ \orrerr \ \(nrl( l l r( l ) i tserl r tr t a h istra-i t l l nicthtxl. ert t t t l torrglr the ( l j r-c(t i(nl

anrl 1: loirrt of t l re argrrrncrrt l r i r l lx ' i r 1i ' rnirr ist cr i t i r l t te Sir l t i l i t r l r ' , arr t 'ssi4t lr t preserts ir straiglt t l i rrr l i t r t l rcarl irrg rt f t l ,e t l r t t l r t s i tnt l str l t ol f /r , '\ \ ' i ! t l Buntl t L l9( i !) l cr,rr ld rk'rr ' l rP t lr l t n .rt l i t tg bv rt ' l i t i i rrg t lrose subjc'crts

l : [ . I l | | ts11,t t \ t

t0 t l ic \ ' i r tnanr \ \ 'ar. the l t iston.<l l lhc \ , t ,stt ,r tr i tr A|rrerr i t ,an trrrNie,s.l l r ' , \ r l r , . 'n\ , in l r , ' \ r . tet . l r r r . l , rJ} c|rr i r rg t |L,rrr t i " . lv fnrrr . - ; , : . ; ; ; ;

- ' ,' l l , in l r . r l t \ , . tu5t , ,u, . r tp\ \ i l \ \ l r i r \ r . r r . t , r j r r l r I , j i \ l l j i , l I r I r r r . I i t I I r . , , r l , , r l r i r r r ;

do rvith t lre analvsis of speci l ic l ihns arxl. i , ,*, ,na. "nu". l ,ra." i" ' , , i , r , , ,cr<lrrsively on l i ist<rr i t .r l i r t<.ts .rncl corrrplt ,r i t i t ,s . , , , ,*. , , ,u,, , i" . . ; ; ,-",

or thc ln)l i t i (1J presslrres krhinrl ar in.-st irnce of censorstr ip .". t , i" i , ' , r , ,i rrr l i rect lr ' l igrrrc in,,vhat arr atrdielce sees ol l t l le screel.

\ \ 'Jren usinq ir histor. ir .al rrret lr txl tr . , Irclp cr| lairr a f i l rrr, l rrvlrcrrssrLlr irrg t lrr t anv part icrr l i l . l lo\. ic. uve,r ir d,,ctr, Ierttarf. . gi l€s ,rurrrtr l i i r t i ' r l Pictrr lc of: i srx, i t , tr alcl rr l r istori<.. i1 Period. To fr" ' ,1r". C,r,Drt i l4 BtLnd t\931) tel ls us ir greirt creal alx^rt t l r . i urrv t lr i r tes; ' { ' rerrrr lr l i rrg t lre' Clreirt De'prcssiorr. l rrrt l , lut i t tol ls rrs i . ; tr , ,"r, t , ,p Jtt , t , j r iic,al r lr l 'st iorrs tonccrrr irrg. l i rr . t ,rarrrPle. i ts , tr l"

", . t int". ,La ,, . , tr , , , , , ,

I l jston js ir r lel ici i te instnl l l lel t ; ust: i t \ . i t l t r is l t l rrch ( l iscr. irnini i t ioD il ' , , . : ' i l '1 , . l r l f i r l r l l i , r , t t y . l l r , , t t1 , t t r , l t , r , t . t i t , . R, , l ,cd { l l , . r r ; r r r r l l ) , , r rq l .( ' , ' r r r , t r t r r r l ' lJr . r i rL, i r r l Lr . l , , r r rer l l i res i r r r l , l j r r r , r l .1, ,1 rrr , . r , , l r t l r . I r . , r r rr r r i r r i , , r r , r lLr . i r 1 i r . l r r t l r i r r rctry i l iorn t l r<: i r . rc.r t l ing o1.F. \ i l lUurnau..uI t r \ , t iJ : t . r . . r , l , . r r r , rnr l r . r r r , , f r , r r r l r r . t , , r . i r . , r l r , , ._:Lrt . l , , . r r r lu.rrs, . . l t1iLr, l an jnit i l l crrr iositr aborrt the larish urrr l ur.tsv trclrrr i r jL",, , , i i i r , , ,r ,", .

\ \ ' i l l jarrr F,rrt decjsir;rr to hire f l \ \ . - \ Irrr.n:rrr.rnrl io gi, ,r ,hirr \ . i , fr .r l l \cufte blatrche in the prodrct i(n) ol sir, t nrr. i r rrrrh,r,cl rnrch rrrore tLarr ther( l { l i t io l ot or l , r r rorr , - l r ighl_r rr t is t i ( .prctule. kr the 199i lg2b F.oxsclrt thr lc. For rrstt l lUurrr iur! rrnsiderl lr le broglrPhir.r l Jcgtn<l as partol a r ' | Irefrr lh orclrt ,strrte(l plAlt b cle\at. thr, *atrrs rrf l t is stud;o to t l tat(r l I) f t ' r , l l rurr, Irr(, i r i I I( | I Iot i{) |r | i ( tufo i ldustr\ . I l l t j re rrr ici l t) ]os. Iroroc crrpiccl. along * ' i t)r First Natir>nal iurd \\ .rrrrrr lJros . r rnjt l r l le erhelolnithirr t le f i lnt nt( l l rstn l)oih in t t ,rrns oi 'ccrrrrontic lou.rr. unrl prxhrctl) i-r 'st igc. { l}1.\ t)g. ( lrr l r rL,6rr, ,d iN t lre e\krrt A, rr.Lit l r t le f i i rrs o1.asturl io ale pelceived b l ,e of "1111x111r.- in the r.r i t i ld r l jscorrrse ol t |epel i(xl .) ln thc rnir l 192{)s ! 'or $rs kno,,vrr as l procluccr of.rrnprt,k,nt iorrs. l i r lkst I tc,trrrt s. rrot hiqlr lv legarded l ,r r lr i t ics lrrrt l i l . t l rc rrurstp.trt popul:rr uit l t t l le l l i tss al( l ieuce. Exarnini lrg t | . . . l lest FiL:ts., l ists,t t I i ln Dti lq \ inr l t<ak *rLI I ' luttol)t t tq |ot (J25.l i ,r . r ,xrrrrrpl, . *e i i l r ithrt r)1 l8+ l)( 'st l ) i ( . trrr(, \ ( , i t( ,( l l ) \ I s.1 ( l i l l i , r( ,r t ( ,r i t ics, orrhi 9 , ,crt Firxt i tk 'sr in l)ot lr l ists t l r t f fh,rs ul panrrrourrt arrd \IOII pret lorrr irratt , .

Irr l l )25 lrou cltr . \ \ ' i l l jarrr For larr l t |ed orre ol lLe qreatest erplrr-sior pl iuls i l t the I iskrn.ol the lx)t i(xl pjrtrrre in(Lr\tn. . l . i t , f len ererrtrr.Ll lr coi iapserl$rt ir thr \ tock rrrketcrr| l i rol 192!), l rrrt j st l r t l .orr hisr|^r 'rr1:r l l I . i ) \ controlL,r l the prorlrrct ioD ol l .or rrrrr l 1\ lcl \ l st l l ( l jos.

1X) ( ,1t , \ t ' lF- l t . r qt \ \Plzt ] ( ) , \ ( . l l t is l ( ) \ \ ' l i lT l f i ( ; , \ l l ( ) I f l : l l I l \ \ ( ) \ \1. . t \ l t \ I . \s ! ) I

j i i l ) io l ( \e so( i ( ' t \ : thr ' l ) l r r rs ol Kcr j i \ [ izogrrc]r i or ' \1 i l< io \arrrst r t r iqhts l 'crrr t (x) l i ) r 'c iqrr anr l crrrr l r rs i r r { [ r r ' t l i ( ' i i ( ' r i tgt ' . \ r r r r , r - ic i t ) l s t l l ( l ( , l | t .

Olrst nc horv t lrc rrrrthol ol t l re l i r l losin,4 passrrqr, i<h,l f i { ies the sPe-cif i t crr l trral hel i lagt 'ol the,{f i ic lr | { ihns of Orrsrl l rrc Scnrlrne antl \ IedILrrdotFigrrre3)) . \ \ ' l r i | rat l l r i t t j r rqt i r t ' i lHrr t ' r rccs<rf<t t l l ( , t r r t t i ( r l (ur-crr .N ( l ik i , t l re f ' rerr< l r \err ' \ \ 'ur< ' r r l Jr . r r l Lrrr 'Orxl . r rdt . I rc s i r r { les orr t l r roral tr i tr l i t ion that dist irrqrr islres arr l rraks ir r i lgc of <l i f lercrrt l i l rrrr tstrrr i r l r r r ) r Alr ' i . l rD:

.\ l t i rorrqlr \ l r i r rur I i l rrrrrr.Llt ,rs ir toLe or.J lr i rr l i t iorr as.r prirrrrrrr i rrHrrt ' rrct, .t lu,r i rurc aplr loPri.r t(r l i t xl( l r !pl i(( l i t i l \ndon\ \ \r \ \ l ( l cf( i r lc l) i !r .xt l igrrrs l i rr erl t l r tssirrq t lr , l r l ,rd r ' .ur,:r ' , , i socirr l . pol i t i ( r l cr l trr l l al( l l l is-lor i ( . r l i \ \ucs ol c l ie.r . . Al t l rorrgL i l rc i r st l l ls i r lc t l i i r r r r t tnr : r l l ropPostr l krr , , tchoi l rcr t l r i r r rsr , , r l or ' : r l t r l r l i t io l rLrul . \ l r r<iur t i lur l .urt {ux{( c l r t l r , ' idcnt i l i t< l i r r t l r l l l lnrr Orrsrrrarrc Scrrr l rcnt rLrx l \ lcc ll lorrdo. \ \ l r i l r Slrrr l r l r r r , .s l r r f r l r t i \ ( i \ n|()r ' ( I i I i ( r I r t l rarr t Iorr t I r .s.Lrrr li rrr lrrrt r l rr i t l rstrai l l r t l i )r1v.u(l( l i ( l l ( t i ( isrr 1us iu l l , ,r ' rorrr \u rrt . . \ t t t t l , l t i' ' - f l r i \ lorrcr OnLr" l ! ,( iS, Iala M7l. l rd ( irrrr7.r t l t l l t tuntut, l l \1 .l l rrrrr l is i i Ins L.5o/, i1() l : l (r{) dr( i \ l { , . \ / . / ,r / / . ,r , l9;! l l ,L(,. . . \r({)pirtL'( l

l ' ,s , , ! l s , , r | l ! r , r . \ I . /1/r l9; l ,1.11,.(1s\ l ! , ( i ln,r lh 4Jf i ( r , , 1,(r j i r t r ( \ turd i \s,( ,sL.(nr(r 'Dt f , , l i rg 11,r i , r \ l r " ( , r ( r , r r I r I r l i ] , ( ! r t l r t r r r , { lnr( | r r l . r t ! ) | | \ i \ \ r ( i f . r , , lx !Ltt l r is l i l r r i l r r \ r l$ iL\s l r , r rcJi ls l |orr $rrr , lurr l i r r r l \ $ i l l i

' r \ r , ( i ( r r , r l0( l r r r l t r r ra l i , , r t i r t

t,ocrv! Tlreatr's, !'or"s o*rr Jalgc theLlttr clliril. iLlld one third int"'st

irr Fjrst Natiorral Tlrc.rt l rs. l ldi js)r ( larrrrrLrrrt rrrrt l lssortet l tr t l rr"r l rolr ' l -

i rrgs. Tlre lox t lr ive for (((trorrr ic PoNef in thc late 1910s trs p rr l l l lccl

lrr : attel lqrts kr enhance thc Pr est ige oi ! o\ l)r ' ()drlct idls, !rr( l i t is ir l this

colrtext t l rat I \ ' l rLrrtrrus )r ir i rrg lrrt l his prcrdrrct iol () l Srr 'rr in rrrust be

rie$'erl. !'ox rurticip.rted thirt \lLrrniru! Production (}1 t]re Lighh artistic

pictrrrc r!ould bol i ter his str( l ios "special l i l rr ls categow- Unless the

sptr i ,r)s roukl Attract gt{ i l tcr cr i t l ( :r l rr t ter)t i t) l t Fo}i lvorr i l n' ! .r l r i lve

t lre lrest ige to nrdtch his hoPed 1or t 'corrorrr ic stt tus i99)

l f rou t lecir l t thi t t vott ls \{ i l l l ) i ' : l hiskrr icul i lP|rotclr ' ask trtrrsel{ '

sDeciff ; Qi l( 'st ions altout t l te nrl t : histor-r ui l l I tale in I 'our i trgtt tncnt: Is the

h' ist, ,r icl i i , r f i rr t tat ior l l t l l t t tst backgrrrt tnt l or i l l t r(xl l lct()ry in[brl tat ion

{ol ror.rr stuclr '? Arc r ' ,r t , <,ur<'ern<'t l iv i th hrl tv r ln( l \(h\ '(eftain histori( ' ; r l

eve;l ts are rcPlesenied as t l lcv iue jr t t l le tnorie? Does historical back

groun(l lLelP t; e\plait t narrat ive ot terir l ical rrtat lel tvers i l ) the [ iLnl Does

i ir" ,rro. ' i . i t . tnd ,rrrt in lr iston' or is i t l lart of rr histol i<t l trentl? Is v<rtrr

argl|rrel l t intt 'nt lecl to clari f \ ' thnt plrtce irr historr? \\7lt t | t is tnore:. impor

trrrt tu r ' ,u,r. i trgtr l l lel) t : t l lc histr lr icrr l l i rcts l lelr ir lcl t l lc l ihlr"s produdiorr '

hou i ts su<tessir l inl( l i ( 'n(es tespttnt l t 'd to i t . or both? No l l latter $hat

\1)ur sPecif ic sl lbjc.t , i rsk rourst:] f $' l t i t t Pdft hjst( ' rv r l l igl t t pLw in i t

NATIONAL CINEMAS

ll histol iczrl issues ustlLl l l l Pl+ solt lr Plrt in css'tvs r ' t t the-r nlr ' ie '"olul lrer '

i l rport iutt i i r trcl rcl i t t t t t l ) I tr iv t ,r discL,ss t lrctrt is in telr r ts ' r f t l tetr . . t l l t t tr ' r l or

n,r i iort,r l ch,uactt ' r . The pre.srrmptiort belt incl this r lpprolch is that f t l rn rrr l-

turt 's cvohe wit lr i r tertaju "u,u,,111

1;l indivit l l r l l l i tv an(l t l rat to t l l l ( lcr-

stani l . l i rr instance. thl: conplexit ies of Alexantler Dovzltt ' t tko"s Arscnal

(192fj), ore nnrst loci l te i t f i rst in the pol i t ical ald resthctic cl iurate of

l)ost re\ '( ) lut iot ra^ Russia. Sinl i larh' kr : tnaltze i in lnt l iatt f i lDl of Satvdi i t

i l^r, r ; , ,"h as Dirrarrt '1 ' l rrrnt/r:r (1973), ir wri t( ' r should kno*' srrtncthing

about the socieh atttl culture ol Lltlit Accorcling to this approach' rvavs

of seeirrq t lr t , rvr ir l t l i rDd $ iNs () l Portr. i \rrrq t lre rr '"r l t l in the nrorier Ji f fer

fbr e,rch cortntrv and cultr irc. i l ;d i t is l t |ce\sln t , , rrrr, lersl l tnt l t l re t ' rr l-

turul urrrclititilrs thiit sttrr(rlltl(l a II(Jvit' if \\'e arc to ttnclr:rstirrrd lvhat it is

abott. f lccul lse i t ett ipl t l rs Dl ial)\ ' \ \ 'estel l l 1111'11et ard forlnul i ts atr

Arrrericiut slx ct l .r to, t l r ighi have l i t t l r : trotrble cornl lrelrerlding a f i lnr bv

Akirt Kuros,trva, but rvithout guitlantre irncl sonle culturlrl backgrottnrl on

'Jl

1)2 ( : l t . \ l ' f ! l t t - t s l \ \ t ' l ' l t ( ) , \ ( l l t l : -s f ( ) \ \ l t r l l \ ( i \ l r i ) l f l1 l - l l

t r( l ( ' fLr l) t i l . r i l tort ' . al t l l t rrr iniscclt o1 t lr{ shl ist icrr lh (L' i frr l t i l i k)rr(, r l l , lack l lcrc l r l i l rcr ' .L i i r r r r is t l i t , r r r t r r r t Tlr t turr l i l rnrrr i rkcrs lot o l lv. l r iLr I u r ' , r r r r l r t ' r ' r , l \ \ i s t t r i r r lLr( r r ( t s ' \ r rch iL\ t t . r l i t l l r \ r ' ( r -Rr ' t i is t r r .I lol l \1r 'rrrxl . l , rr t i l l i \ Ircicir l r l txrrrru' tar_r: xrt( l S(r\ ' icf nl(n)taqc) bl)t Areir( l , l l i (11 k) irrr l i r :r ' rrorrs or.r l sl( t l tel l i rrg t .Llrrr ir l rr ls ls rt t l l l 'Lrrs. rrhi le\\ ' { ,sterr l cr i t ics hitrc tr ' r tr l ' t l to rtad I lolrt lo's str le as avarlt t-gart l urd( ixlardi.ur. Al i i l i rnisi t l isrrrrrrsr ' 1ra. errr|hasized i is l ink \ \ i th oral tr ir( l i -t i , rr . t trkarl ikt ;-r i I ,

\ \ l ren t lecit l i lu tr) ( l j \ (rrss i l rr){)\ ' ic or a {rolr l) o1 rrrr)\ ' ics l iotn l l i ' r ' -

cign culturr ' . i r \ \ ' r- i t( r nl igl l t l )egir l l ) \ ' l l l lest iorl i l lg. wjth i l r l oPell lni t ld.\ \ ' l l i r t ( ' \act l \ d ist i r ,qrr ishcs thesl l i l l l rs I ronl t l r l ' AnleI ican or ies \ \ ' i i l r

shic i r l re ot rhc ' is i i t r r t i l i i r r ' . lT l r is i r i rp l ies t l r . t t . a l t l i t s i lnre t i lDe. t l )u

s i t t ' r ' u i l l skcttf i a st t tst ' ol ulrrrt is speci l ic l lxrt t t tht: Altel ican cir lel l l t to l . i g i .en Per i (x l . l ITo\ \ ' r l t r t l te r t rerrni t rgs of t l tese f i l r r ts c l t l t lge l ' l ret l

t l r r ' r l r r t ' s t t t r or t ts i i le t l te i t ( l l l t t l rc ' i l t l \ \ ' l l i t t u ' l lvs I i l ight \o l l . t ls i l r l. , \rr t l ic iut. rrrcletst iut l Bl i t ish t l l rrrs of ihe f i l i ies cl i l fert ' rr t lv frrrrrr t tre[ , ] r rg l is l r r t r rc i i t rc l iLt t lLat t i rnt l \ \hr i t k in( l , ,1 crr l t t t ra l resciucl l nr iq l t l

{ i \1' \ol l i r l r t ' t tcl l rutt l le ott the tht ' tncs? Sltortkl vou l-ci l( l sorret lr l t lgrulrorr t thr 'ot l )er i r l ts . th i Pt) l i t i (s. tht er ' r r t tor l t jcs l t f l l re r t tor i t ' jnt l t ls lnt lr t ' r ' t l Trr trot to orersirnltLJf\ ' t l te connc<tiols l tets'een a ctr l t tr t-e i t lc l i fsf l l rrrs, r ' rnrcrrbt:r that au iqrprorch of this kirrcl i rrrpl ies (perhaps f ir lst: lv). uni l \ 'or i i l r t trr i i t trr t ' t r tal sirni l i rr i tv beh!e(r l l rn,,rn t l i l l i ' lent l i lnrs l iorn a(1nrrl tn. ( l(ruld l ' t l t t f ind a sinl i l l l r kir ld of tr l i t t in Arnt:r i tatt movies ol

th( ) r i r ( ' t i t - \?

GENRES

A li t 'ert , l , n,rul l l { ' rrr ir tg kir ld, g{r i i r l is a cateqrrn l i rr clr tssifr i : lg f i l rr ls intcrtrts ofcotnmon pttt t ' r ts lr f f i rr t tr and c()ntcnt Nl irnv of t ts cirsurr l l l puctict tht 'crr lcgorizing behirr<l genrc stt lr l ics u'hcl \ \ 'e vic\\ ' i l loviesi Oflen.*e ' lenti l \ a set of sirni lat lhetl t t s. cl teri tcters. l larr i t t ive strt lct l tres' al l( lcrrncr-r tcclrni( lucs thrtt l ink nlori t 's togcthcr i ts \ \ 'esterns, l l t ls icals' f i l r trIoir. r 'oa(l tr(Nics. r lrek)dri tr t t i r . r , t sci ' f i { i l l r ls. \ \ 'L 'stefrrs f i 'aturt 'corvbovsar(l op('r . lui( ivi l izcd sPit(esr s( i- f i nlo\ i( 's deiJ \ \ ' i t l l i l (hel l tur(rs in ot(crspirfe (r ' i )r t)rrsiors l) \ 'e\t) ir tcl ' re\t) ' i rr ls. Ir l i r ialrt icrt l rvr i t ing. a discussio, i f q, : l lc i r i l ret l r r . ' r r t l r r i r t ef l i ' t t ivr ' \ \ 'x \ to l ) t 'g i t r c\ i l r l l i l r i lg l r<l rv i i l i l rn()rginrizcs i ts ston i l r ld i ts i t l r( l i ( ' rr( ( ' :s e\Pc(t i i t i ( trs A \!estcrn srr( h i ts Jol lntrr l<l.s 7Jrr. , \ lat \ l l t , , Slu' t Li l tr ty 1i.r /ai | r ' f l l )( i3) opent(,s r ' \P1's\ l \ ' {nrt

( i l r \ | l l .s 1) . I

of a gerrer ic t lacl i t iorr . unt l i r l thouglr t l rere r l l \ l ) , , r r ln\ uers ol t l lLrrglhrut t l te { ihtr . r t lc r l thc nlr)st i l l l ) ( ) l - tn l l t i . to er l rnr i r r r j i ts srr l t r r . t -s ior t 0 lr r rar*, ' l t l . t ra( l i t io ' . t l l ) : t t f { , . . t \ arr t l erpcc. t i ( i r r r r r r t l r r r r r t t l r r . r rest . r . r r . Tlr i rpurt icrr lar r lot i t ' is lhe tt le of a sestt,rrt l rct.o, lnt st r l is<.ore,r. fhat t l r ishr:ro is not l iLe the rrsrrul rv i ,stcr-r hr , r -o r i r r r l ar-c srr l r r . isr- t l ln. t l re j r rk,rr_t ionit l gerrerir ' r l r iat irrrr.

In the l i r l lorvi lg passxg.. \ ' i \ i i in sobchacl cl isc.rrss,:,s t l r t ,gcnr.r,ol hl l t. ' i r l lat lr .r than a() '( e' trate (), ' , r .el l ktr. , .r rr clrrtra<.tr, t ist i .s . f t l r is g.rrr. ,(srrch as stori t s ol cr irrre arrd t lr t , ust.ol dar.k l iglrt i rrq). slre higlr l iqlrts lrercthe rnore srr l r t le corr t rast l r r ' l r r , r ' r ,n a honsc anr l horrre i r r t i r is postu. l r t .genre:

I r r l f iLrr ] r r r iq a l r r , r rse is alrnrrst r r r <,r r t hr r l rL, . I r r L. r l . t l r t l<,ss ol l rorrrcbecol l tes e stnL(t l l . i l lg [bs(rtr. | i Fi lrrr rror| l I t is | .u1icr r [Lr h. f t , l l i r r ,q tothink hclL rr f t l , r ' i ro l ic donrr \ t i r i t \ . th.r t I .u ls thr , ) rq l r . l ) , ) , r r l r ,I t t<fuunitq i )111t <t l l i l ln/ l I ' i t ,n1. i t9{;r f i j rs t l r i r t i ! r .r . l i rrktt l i rr | \ocl l) l r to noir brrt l rrst probL,ns to i ts l) i l f t i ( \ l l .Lr rrr. l ) l l i r .(nlool.al) l l \ . .' lLc srr l r r r rb,rrr l r (nr \ ( i r t r r r l r ic l r I ' l r r l l is Di t , t r jc l rsorr in\ i t t , : r rsrrrrLn(.( ,. lgrrrt \ \ i r l t | r \r , i l is rnerelr 'a horrse, j ts lufr l j t rrc l t lai lr . i ts rL,r.oret iorrssp.use [Dd ir lrpe|soD:rl , rnotcl ] ikr ' I t drx,srr ' t Lxrt l^crl i r hrcler.r l j tsinterior ( l l ,c.rrat i(r l is hcst rLcsr,r i l , tr l i rr a l i rrr, ol rLlIrgrrL-rr l i r ,r .erl l rr t.hi t f l r( t( r r i ln)ut i l l r(nrsr jrr ;r later- [ i l rr l r loir. . I 'hr BigH( t i l ! ) i3] . . l l r , \ . Il ikr , tL is. E.rrh rrr t l r i r iq. Arul . i , rcrr i r l r , , r ( lorL(,st i ( . l r ,q i r r i r ,L: .lr l i l t l rer l ls lromt is aLso f igrr lcr l as rrrcrclr a lrouse: dr..r lr . plairr. rr lrnurkcrIbr tJrc prtTJt rr lro l i r t , t l rere arrd supposr-<l lv (nr{1ituk, r i l rr l i l r . l - l rckj t ( [ re l iLr \h i r l ] \ l ikL.et l l r .Lkes lLtr 'p i ls l r r rs rxrrr t . rn t l r t . tLu.rr t l r , r r r t lcoziness ol NonIe)l Ro(.k\\(,111\ ki t( . l r( , s.urr l is halr lh a l i - l i r i rorLs sPilcr,.Air( l tL i \ l l (L r , f l i , l ic i t r rs et . l ror- t l r l hcr roicr , , r r r r r r r r t r t i ( r r t l r . r taccorlpxrr ies rL l lashback: I t i rs rr lrrars in th(,Lit( , l rcr. I Iel t as t lrorrt lrI i l lx ' t ,n born in I l j tclrcrr rrrd l ivt,r l t l r t ,r t al l rr l l l l i , ercePt l i r l r i rr l i r lhori fs i t t(xrk to Let rrLar.nrcl i l l -1

In r lr j t ing alrorr l a l i l rrr gelr.e. rrhetlrer i t :{ i r t .oui.r l t t i ( (r) lr(( l \ or i(horror f i lnr. alrviu s kt 'ep historic.t l cl ist ir ict ions ir uin(1. rrs Solx,hlci dr,. ,shere. l recarrse gerrres thalgi ,v i t l i lhc t i r r rcs. , \ lsrr jc ler t iJ \ f i r r rorrsel lrvhat cor l rnt . l r stnlct l t rcs. tht ores. t rn,Lstr l i r t r t , f t r . l r r r r i l r r r . , . r r . . , . r , . , ,cr . r t t , r lu' i th a palt icular gcnre \\ I l ren dicl t lus tr1r,, ol rrroriL, i i lst .ur l t . .rr i \ \ hatrulc t l r t ' untctcr lents orr ts i<le l i l r r r l r i r t , r r i - r ln i l , , ,p. r . t i i1, , , , 1, . i . i tchangr'<l throrrgh l t istort: iurcl vr lrr '? l)oes t lrc ston oI i l r t , l lovi(, \ .ol t l l . ( ,r tnalvzing f i t t ) te qeDr '1, i t see|rs to l r , ,Plact . r l i r r? i l r rot . rhrcs t l r r : Dr i r i r rg

( ) l I | | \ t t l l ( I \ l \ \ r ' l ' l ( r \ { l r l \ l r ' \ \ l ( l l r \ r , \ lnr l I l : l l \ l

ard nrrtcl f i rrg ()f !1( 'r( r ic l i r t-rrrrt l l ts serrc l l l ) l l r-Pl)s( ' . ,rs i t IJl t tr fu l l t r t t t r ' r( l !)Er r. i r i rr l t i<lr t l r t , <lcl t ' t t i* ' : trrr l .- t j - f i { . I)r 's. ; tr l rr)n{ r)t l t( ' t \ . xt i ' \ r l l )er-ir rrposerl? As qcrr-cs r r l t t tr r t ' t l rr 'orrgh t l !( ' \ 'ei trs- \1n r rr l r l \ ' ( [ isc()\ ( ' r l l st l- iu l l I ( 'sc l l r ' r , r rs<jorrsrress i r t r t I i l rn.s rrs l r t l gtrrcr ic l i r t - r r t r r l i rs. i ls j r t ' l / l ( . \ lnrr \ \ / , l t r rSlut t L i lx ' f t t1 \ ' r t /ntrcr ' l lorv is t l r is st ' l l -crrnsci t ) r ls i l ( ' rs rrsed? Is i t anrr l terni) t t r ) l ) r )kr ' f i r r r iLt t l tc grr , r ' r ' . ( t is j t l t t l i r t t ( ' r )Pi to s l to t l r t ' l i l , r i ts r r l 't l r t ' gerre ' iu r l t st l i l r i r rg t l re ct . r r r rp l t ' r i t ies rr l t l tc nr t t t le l t t r t ' , , r ' ld l ( .or tk l

L i t t l r ) l i \ \ Sl l , r r r i l r , ' (20(Xi l . l { i lnr r l r r r r r t : i r h st l t t r t t iot t i r l l i i r t r ih .s j r r rnr t ' rt(J ir l )ei l l t \ ' . (nlt( sr l i rr vorrtrt l gi t ls. l r t ' cl iscrrsscd .ts lr r t tat l< ap r, t t i iLt irr t t t , i tt l re roir t l r r r rx i r '? l l rL, l ; t lnLk ) l rnt t t to i t r (2{)() ; l is t l l ( 's t r )1 o1 \e( rct \cr l l i i lr< l l r t iorrs l t ip lx ' ls t ' t n hxt ( rxvlx) \ 's l h) r r l r r r t t r l t l r f i \ l f \ I r r , \ \ i t l l l , l t l ) l l l

; l l r ' r i i t r .r l i rncl ir l r ol l tn i l t i ' f i l t t r ( or\s( iolr\ l l er lgrrges t l t l tr i tr l i t iot l ol t l r tuestcn imd i ts rr ir \cul inl ] st( ' re()t \ l )( si

AUTEURS

lutr ' rn r ' r - i t i l isrrr i r o l r o l t l rc r t iost u i r l r h lxr(r 'Pi( \ l i l r ) ( l o l ie l l l r t ( ( ) t lsc iortslr Pr-acti< t ' r l hl t t t t l i t ic istt ts toclar : l t i r l t ' r t t i { ics artcl t rr ir) l i l rcs i i r l ro\ i tl l assrrc jat i lJ j twi tL ar l i lcctorrrr 'occrsiorr . r lh l i l i r anot l ret-drr l r i r rur t f igl l fe, s l r (h xs i r st iu lsur. ( l l int J i .Lst lotr t l ) . l r r rL st ' t rst . r 'et i ' r ' i r lg to r t I ) iu j t l

l , r 'un l i l rn or- l Str ' \1 'n Spiel l l l lg rr ror i t " ' is i r r i lsc l l at l i t i ta l i ic t l ) ( ( i t r rs{i t i rnpl i ( s t l l t ( t t l r { r rn i l \ i r rg l is i r t r rbelr i t r<lr r l r i t t t r r rsce<rt t tht r t r r t r r is t l r ,r l i lettrrr ls arrr l t l l r l t l rert i l r ' ( 'L '( ' r_ixir i (orrr lr lor l t l lenlcs i i r l ( l st l l jst i( tr i l i tsthat l i rrk f i l rrrs l l t l r( sxrr( f ihnrl i lk( f . . \ l t lL,rrr, ; l r tr I i ters rt ' { i t crtsttalh to r idonr i r r i rnI l ( lor-()r ( ' \ ( D i r s( ] ( 'er l \ \ ' i t ( r i ts i i r l l r l t ( ' r r t iar l l t t r t l rot t l . l r t t ' t t l 'r , r ' i t ic i r r r r hus i fs l r is tor jcrr l f (n) t r i i r t I l ( ' ( l l i r r \ of l i l< r 'un i l rk l , r ' l t l t ' r l<r ' i t r l t ll r ( ' i i t i \ i tv nrr t l ' l r r at t r l l i r r r ' r ' t t r r in c l i r '< ' r ' tots. Si t t te t l te t ! )50s. i t l taslrccrrrrreirstr tn<l i t l rL\ t l i i l r 'g\ i r \ \ f i t i rg l i r r r r r t f i i r r i .s i t i r t i rct l i r<ckr l r t t tc l t t -st<xrcl lo lx ' l l re arrter rr u ho rnr ' l rors lutt l trrr i f i t 's orrt Per-tr lr t iorr o{ t l r t ' [ i l r r t .l Ier t , Tlrort r ts I lsatsscr ' ( ' \ rLrnir ] ( s c l t : t rack l r i l t l r , ' l i l r r ts ol Sart t r r t l! 'ulk l antl l ) i r lpoirts q( 'neri l l ( hal-acl( ' r ' t r- : i i ts art<l r I(1iors xttr i lnrtal) le t()l r r r l l t ' r - r qrr i r l i r rg v is i ( r r iur( l cor ls i tk r l t i r t t ( tests:

Ort ,oJ t l r l r r rost r l j r l i r r l t i r l l i , r t r r r ls o l r l jh rr t r r r r r r r l r l r o l t t r r l l , ' r ' l r lnr t sis t l ic i r \ l i l l i rgr( ,ss i r rc lc l t l t l r t i l corr | r r lu(nr t ( ) r ' \Po\ctherr \ch(\k ls ' t r ; r l j ( t r \ (h i t rg( ' ( l \ \ i l l r (1)r t r i r ( l iLtr{) ' r . Tlr l l r r l l l l l r l r ,x s. r rs i t r l r l r ' .crrrrrc to l i f i orr l r r r r r rL,r corr<lr t iorrs,r l r ' r t l t r r r t p l r rs i ta l r r r - r r ( r r t r l l \ l l ' \s li l r t , r sr l r r r . arrr l o l icrr ; r r r ' , ,nr l l r ( \ ( ' r { ( o l l r rs l r r i t , arrr l t l rc i r r r r txL rr l 'r r ( t j (nr l ) ( , t r r \s.L k in( l of cL, t t l ic . l r i {hh l rp l rs i l t cr t r '1n.

^r -rrrr. tts !J5

Paradoxicallr ' . t lrr ' irrrpr'<,ssi0n orrr'gcts is t lt l t t lr is itpparent DteDtal.tDd err)tionrrl iust.rbil j tv i\ \r lr.t nrakes therr !tr(nrg i l l \ i l l ir:rrl .rctjon.I an tlr irking of l igures l ikc tlre Rarorr ol AlizrrriL. Z.rck ir 7Ac Sk(,iH.rnr./. O Nr.rrrl i tr Rtttt ,t.f t lv'..\rrrrrr ' l 'ol lr. l)crl irr irr Lrrrr/r,rrrorlr/[,r)-A, dud evcu \lerri l l iu l lcrnll r l larurders. All l trc irrrpursible sihr-ations, altd k)to\a'i g thct cannot r| in, thev rrcvertlreless .rct rrjth a ]i i l lclo[ colriction, a kincl ,:rl irlstinctive ilrm( (liac\'-xs il tlt(-\'\\,efe engdgedr:r an i lcessnnt l l igltt fonrard. ln(l rrerc conrnlitt i lq thcmsehes lo acoursc of xctiol irt \hose pen.r'rseness thcv i l lnlost \ecrn k) rei{ri(,c.becaust they intuit irclv irc.r:ept it as the fur)darneltal conditj(nr ol theircxistenc... (291J

Althotrgh attteuisru pttrrcles the {itrurtlation for rrriurv excr' l lcrrt stLul-ies, jt should be rrst'd with sorne skcptlcislt l irr ttt l t:ust hvo reasons. I l irreltckres a dircctol hale tl i<.totrrl coltrol t lt i tt the tcrrn sugg( srs l)ecatLs(,iur\otre lrout a scriptrv ter to lD crlitcu rulv lre rnort' resporrsible: lirr-the look.urtl logic <rf a {i lm. Antl r.rl irrt alr luterrr rcprrsents cli l ft.r 's qrrite a lritr lepencli lg orr the ti l tt 'antl plact,. riufcrrr applied to Frt: lch clircctorsTnrll irut or Eric Rolirrrer in tl ie 10{i{)s l ias quite.r dif ler.erit nrciuri irg {r<rrrr.rrfellr applied to \\ts Anrler.son ol Davirl Lllr'h todar'. If vou t'nrbark ona (i)utpar:rt i\c -\t lrdr ol thc etl it irrq in hlo fi lnrs bl,t l ie sanle dire(t( 'r, \1)ushorrlcl make it <,lear that \<u klnrv vou iire using an aute.ru rloclel iurclintl icate hr>u tlrat tag app)ier k) this ;l ireutor. Askalso lrorr the historicalconditions ol film procluctitll e11111l1age or discorrrrge tht: iluteurist llnitvvou find in his or her rrrrrk. \\ 'cre the fi lurs rrri l le as parl rrl a shrti io srs-tcrr, as were Georqe (lukorls, in rvhich tht' inlluerce o1 the stLrdio lrightbe rnore rroticclble tlr ln t lre irrHrrencc of the dircctrrr? ()r ' r l ir l the fi lrrlrlilker hiive a great rlcal of inth'pt'lrdenrt'. lrs tloes thc Brifish liltlnakerPett r Gleeni*r' i l , ald thus qrntrol or er- horr, tht, f i lrrr looks? \\ 'hirt arc tlrernost (l isti lrctive signs of tht f ihnurakcr's control o\1rr the fi lm: EditingPThe stories therrselves? The tht:rncs? The setti lq? . '\rc rrur erpr'(trt ioDsabout a fflrn conclitioled by whdt v(Jll knorv irbout its direct<rr. as u.hen lluanticipate u great dcal of vioklce Ir,,nr rr Sarn tlr lorrpal' nr,l ie? \\ ' l l?Wlut kind of dlanges ue there irr the director s rvor.k <xe l the _r.r'ars, arrclhorv do vou lccount for thcnr? Are thcre specil l rnarks ofthis fihnurakcr jrreach of the fihrs, l ike Al{ietl Hitchcock\ cirnreos. Josep}r ron Stembergscinernatic poltlaits o1'N{irrlerrt: Dietrich, or Spike L.c's apl)earan(e ts anactor in soule crf his rnovies? Kct,p i l ruincl, f inll lv, t ltat sophisticated.Luteur studics are intercste(l in tlro fihlrs. not il tlre pslcho)og_v- or privtteli lc of the fi lmrrrrker

{xt ( .1t , \ l f f t i t t I s tx, \ t ,11() \ ( | [ :s l ( ) t \ t l r f t . \ . ' ( ; , \ t ( ,1 f I I l_\ t

KINDS OF FORMALISM

Forntl irn is rt rr i i rnt 'ol i t ' l r { i r( ' r l tr) f i lnl ( t i ( isrrr (1)lr(eln'( l with nl i l t ter\r r l s t r r r t ture lnr l shle i r r i i t r rovir ' . r r r -u i th l torr t l rosc le. t t r r t , 's d iscrrsscr l i r ,(J l r . tpt . r :3 (srrch l is t l t t 'nnrr l t f i \ ( ' ( ) r t l re nl isc-crr s( i ' t t r ' ) i l r ( o l - { ' l i l t l iT( ( [ i t lpl tr t i t Lr l i t t rravs in a ln()\ ' i ( l l l l l l ()st i l lst i l r lces' rrrf i ter$i l l \ \ ' i r l l t to dis( l lsstht:se t ir l rnl l rnirt tcrs togeth( r vvith t l tc rr lajot t l lernes o1 a f i lnl , l rut t l rctticl lixrrs ol a firllralist essat will l)e on Pattertrs sttch as ttarlatilt' lrpetrirrgs anrl cLrsings. the signif icant r-.peti t ion lurd \r lr i l t i (nl of carttera tcr lr-nicpes. or t l te r 'elat iott ofshots rt ld sct l l rerlcle's k) ei( lr ()t l l ( ' l ' . I l i t ]re c(mtcxtol a r l i rrrrssiorr rrf ( i int 'nt i iSt lpc nr)( l hv c(nrcerrtr i l t i l rq,n crt lor antl spate.tht ut i te l o i t l re f i r l iorv in{ t \c( rpt I ) r ( s( ' r l ts i tn i lhtr i l i r lat i r l { arrc l I rat tir((o nt of i l seql l( 'nce in l i rr l t t iLl ist ic ta'rnls:

hr t l r , l r , l \ \ ' i t i rrrrr i d ai lr /1. i l la\: 1955) a shot ol ertraor-r l inan lx 'r lr tvcornes r l iel t l rc f frst tuenh milruk's ol the f i l rrr. <Lrr ing s| ict t l l ' srrr--r , r rnr l i r rgs huvc l r r t l rLni l i r r rnh crarrrpct l ant l dr l r lcssing. t l r t i r lagcsp)*src.r lh clrr l tert 'cl-rp rrnt l d.r l in.rted br bl ' rcks irrrr i hrourrs Non.

J.rr)r ' \ Dpxr i \ .brn)l tr) \r ' t ort l i , r 'choolr lrr Irrks rrut rt l the t irrdor,I Ie Ir(r)qnires a girI r \xtal i( \ \(xxl i \ \ ' t lk i l rg px\t i thc ( l ist ir tr({ ' . (- ]rrt h)th,, [ i rr t c]rN/r 'xterior shot. t l re f i rst l )d{l) t r nrc. the 6rst hodz(t)tal oIre.A <lrse shot 01 Natal ir \ \ 'oo(1. ir) a l ight {teen .arr lg,ur, aqai st a bi l t kqrr,urrd o1 greerr brrshes. As shc rvalks thc catner' i l t l toles l .Lk rxlh withher Tlr is nrekes a direct serrsrral inprcssion ul iclr givt 's l ls i ln insigl l ti r) io l)ean.\ r ' \per- ier(r ' , \vhi le at thc sirLrl le t inr{- rerrr i t i r l ing colrrf lck'hrr,rtrrr,r l urrt l rr l l i rrced ()rr thc snrir l l slr 'ccrr. srrr lr ln irrr irqc tr lr l t l n,rt. . , r rcr , i ' l l ,h i r .*r ' l rar l e corrrp. t rahl , ' r i t ' ig l r t . ( lJnrf l { ) - l 1 )

Stl ictJv sPeakirrg, lornral ist cr i t i . isnt cl trs not t ' rrrphasizc rrrt t ters oLItskle the { i lur Prrpcr. such as t l l i 'di f lerent effects a ttovie milv hi l \ t ot lar( l icr( es. thc Ir jstorical curtdit ions of i ts prot l t tct ion. or i ln\ ot ln'r ( lues-

t ions lhat are not i tnrne(l i i r t( ' l r aqrparcrtt on thc s(tecn. ( l :( trelv toclar.horvert 'r ' . r l<, rrrrr f incl art essav t lrat is prrrt ' l r fbrmalist, usrral lv a f irrr l l t istirrr ir l tsis l l ' r 'orrres pad ol rrt l rer i l r ' { l rr l lents alrortt i i t l l t l t tctr l f i lnl l t istorr ' . i tg( l l r-e. i l ( l s<, on.) A prrr-t h f irrrnrt l ist i tr t i t l rsis rrr iqlrt thcrcfbre i [ \ ' ( st i l l . I t( 'nan.ir t i \e unitv in , [ / is ( i i r1 lr i r lcq (I9.10), i l rvlr i t l r t l r l turt rrrt in cl t : tra<ters propel t l rc pkrt r i lxrg throtrgh a scries of cottfrrrntat iotts and crls. ' rthrrt blgirr in t l rci l cl i l rcc an(l ert( l in their n1:rrr i .L1-1e. A \\ ' r i t( ' r Inir\ ci i l -rful lr l rxrk f irr .st\ ' l ist ic or f i rrnral rt l ret i t iorrs ir th( '( ' ( l i t ing or l iglrt ing ol .r

l t ) l t ( ) l - ( ) ( , \ ! ,7

nrori t ' ancl rrrav t l tcn tk'st r i l r t ' l r lv t l rer '*rr lk irr l r , l rr t ion to the r.est ol thcl i l r r r . Anot lu ' r 'opt io l is to r , l r<xrst ' r t r i r r r . r lh , . , r r r I l . r re, n ' , r ' r \ r " l r l lc( 'at t t l r lL 'scr ibt ' l roru i t urr ' ls , l rc l u ln i t is i r ) r l ) { r ' t i l ) r t to t l i ( 'nto\ ie. Eirr l \ . r rS/rarrr t1953), l i r l errrrrrpl i , . th l r t i i . . ' , l r r i tL ; r r r '1 i r r ro l r , , l err l ' . r r 'ge oli t roks urr torrg Slr i r r re. t l r t ' i i r l rncr ' . the rv i { i ' . r t r r t i t l r t ,c i r i i r i . iur e\c l t iu lge t l r i r tsets rrp t lre social rcLati tr lships l i rr t l re rerr iairLt lcl ol t l re rrrovie; u f irr .rr lLlattahsis cott l t l t 'xplain htxv the crir teta <(nnnrLl l icir t( 's so rrtuch so r l tr ic.kl i :\ \ 'hctht 'r you lr t ' e.r i inr i l i rrg u single slrot or a lr l t terr ol i rnirg( 's. i isk \rnlr-selt rr4rir t is rnost irr teresti trg ancl signi l icarrt alxlrt t ]r t , l i rrr lal l i ' i r trrres antlI trh thev acld to t lrc sirrrv and theme's. Is i t th( ' rnise err sr ' ! le thiLtir l ) l )( ' ln Inost cr l l tcr l rrr. nit l ler ' . l t sef ies {)1 ( irDrerl i l r lglesl l f torr cr l l tcrr-i r i l te o)r l s ingle \ (1 ' r ) { , { r - \ ( , r1 lc:)( .c. I rou.r I r t } r t 'sourr l . l ig l r t i r rg. anr l t . r rn-et i t r r r r rverrrerr t i r r t t r i rct t ( ) c() t l r ] l t t ( )n () l -s l l l f ( ) r t t l r r ' : rct io l ] o l t l r1 ' storr ' iHorv sorr l t l rr lr conrrlct the l i r l rnl l leatrrres ol t l r , f i ln l , i t l r i ts t l rerrres' j

IDEOLOGY

Itr r r r re srrrsr ' . i t l t r l t tgt l is l i r r ) r11'srr l ) tL 'arr l crPlrrrs i r - r 'u.ar.o1 sal i r rg,i),,1i1i( r, .rt l t 'ast i1 rrr ' l lr ink ol polit i t,s as thc itL rts rrr l l ' l ir '1.s r;n rr 'hi<t rvt.base our' l ivt 's rrnd orrl r rri<rr of t lre uollcl. Icleokrgl rrright refer.to orrepersorr'.s belief irr t lre surrctih ol t lrc faruih <lr arrotlu'r ' pcrs(nl.s s(' ls(' t l l l tci\ i l ization is basicallt proglcssirr '. \\ ' lrt n \\ '( 'sr'€ i l rnovi(, srrc,h as //rt l lI |tanrla r,2001) cn Tlu, lhrtlrt lt i | t P()torrfri,r i l !)25). t lrt 're is l i tt le t. lrarrc,eol rrista,king tlre cli l l i 'rt rt polit icul rrressri, lr 's rt srrrk irr <'ach. ' l ' lrt ' l ir ' ,.ttk soi l l 's t j r t 'hcroi ts ol r r l rotr l r ruraglr , l )arr l Hrrscsabaqi l l . uho sr i r lsover t t lrrrr rsand Trrtsi lt ' t i rglt,s Irrrur t lrr ' I I rrtrr rnil i t ia: l lre secr rrrcl hails f lretirrce of ir socialist rcrrrhrtiorr i l l lussir. [-ess olrviorrs, Irorlt,r 'cr'. rrrav l,etlu' rnt'ssaqt's alrorrt l i l i iru(l soci('tv corrrmrtnicltctl i l l i lnrs srrch iLs 77rcSound of l[r/Jir: (196i) 7'l ic E ![ ith Pati. t (]996), or 'tht Dtptttul12{)0i) . l , ik t ' the rrujor i t r 'of r ro\ ies. t l rcsc l i l r ls prcsi ' r r t t l r t , r rschcs asrtrninh'cntcr-tainnt'nt. ;rrrrl l l i<' ir nrakcls urrrrlr l qrr,lbal)lv r 't 's('rrt anl t lairntlr:tt tht'rt: are rrnirtertletl srx,ial or ltolit i t i t) l)ersl)e(,t i\es at rvoll hele.)'et, rlost rl u-r rvou)d prolrrr)rJr ackrrrxrlcdge tlr irt cacli oJ tlrese Irts rirt lrr,r 'c l t , r r i< leological r r i t 'ssrg(s . r l rurr t i r r c I i r i < I r r a I i s r r r . g i ncl t ' r lc , lat ior rs. t I r<itttportarrcc ol l irruilv l i{ i rucc. or Ell lop('ali histon. Sirnilarh. rniLrn ol rrsrr riglit scc ?7rc Corly' i ! lk r I l \19i 1) i is an ( \. i t ing an(l \rcll-rrrir lo gritgstcll i lm. br rt ir u'r ' i tcr st'nsit ir c to tlrt ' i tL'oi<tgit, ir l r alrrt 's i l t ire novic rniglrt stt

lr

( ) t l ( t l \ t " r t :R r srx \ r ' r ' r t ( ) : \ ( : l l l is-

t lrosc elt 'nrerts as part of arrt lht 'r PersPecti \( ' . one <rrr lccrned \\ i t l t thelnrsi lx,ss () l cal i tnl isnr:

()ulf,tllu:r II cl'.:ar\ sl|([vs tll1 dt'stnrction A (L'or rrr()l)t.{inabilih ol thcbaslc lxlrrr:cois values. The\ itrc Dot tlestroverl becarrsr thcv are ilradr-{ lul te per s{ r l runi lv t ies, social l rrobi l i t ' " : r luest for secLrit l t rnak lrrtrplr l i (nlshjp. arrr l err 'rr n: l igious v,r lrres rr l l relate r lnd tor-resprtrrt l trr realrr lr i rcrsal l [rrnirn nct ds for corl rurr ih. lor '( ' , rcsPt(t. sl lpPotl . i tPPreci: t-t i () | | ( iopp()h dc lolrstrates t l l i l t t l le socir i l inst i tut iolrs-nrrclea| f i rnl i l r :\ lal ja {anri lr . et lut ic .orDrnrrr i t \ ' . an(l the (;hrrrch--upoIt sl iclr t le(irr-lcorcs r'.,lietl to proride and protert thes. r'alrres wither-cd beloret lr . i l r .r t ional. dcstnrct ive i i )r((\ ofcirpit tr l isrrr. t l re m:dn gtl ,r frvhich isprofi t , i lot lhr 'r leetirrg ofhrrt l lan nec(ls.

( ir l1xrla lrrr ikls r0. inteN{'a\ '( 's, l rrd i inl lh clestr-<rrs l i rrrr lerels oi 'l l r r r ih.r l a l l i l j , r t iorrs- i l l - nrr t l r . r r ' l i rnr i l l : t l r r ' \ l . r [ ia l r r r r r i l r , t ] rc cthrr i lcorrr lr l i t \ . an(l thc t l : t th() l ic (- l l )r lr( l l . Thr(nlqh c: lrcf ir l iuxtaposit ion. heshrrtr l rorv euch str irrs r l)rsr lcc( 's\ l i r lh 'k) crerrt( arr ideal ccnnrrrr l l t i t \ : Irr: l l l c i tsr 's. t l l , rrcrds ol brLsinr 'ss destrr)\ wlr tevef crrtrrrrrutrtr l aslrt 'ctst lrL se ass(Jci lr t io s |r ight prLiude. lr) 1;r( t . i t is the \cry t f l i rr t to consentrLn<l srrpport t l resr ' fr trrr i t ies thlt h( '( \Jtt tes corluptet l {rv l l rsjrress r lrxl(L(,stro\ 's t lu,,n. Cotl j t t l t r l l torks ottt on t lre lerel ol l rurrran rclat iolrs\ lxr ' \ ls irrsiglrt th|t t ci lpi t i l ] is l l r . eve nt i ts l ]est, r t tust { lestr()\ 'hrrrt lan l i l i 'Lul( l i r \s(x, i i l t j ()r)s to c\ ist. Thl ls. t l rc Dlr) le \ igolotsh horrrgoojs s(xrict\str i \es to achic\1 the i( ler s i t l lxs set l l r i tself , the ntorr- destnrtt ive artd(1,ff lLpt i t l r( ( t ] l l res {nd t lr i5 cont(r( l ict io i \ nlost cL'.rr lr r i r ihle ir lArnr 'r iciur gl)rqstcrdr)rrr. the pr ' cct rr icror\)slr ofAml-r iaan cdl) i tal isrrr.( lL ss l l l

ln cl i t icr l wri t ing ir t t l ln( '( l to idcologv, at) cultrrral pr(xluct or crc-ir t ion ( iu-r ' ics. irnpl ici th or e\ l l ic i th, icleas { lrout lrorv t lre rrrrr l t l is orshoult l l l scen ir id ho\\ ' Dren rurd \\()r lel t sh(nrld see ( 'r lclr ot l ler i l i t i Tl lccirthcs rrru uear-cxpress soci l l l vl lues j l lst ls t l le f i l lns vou \\ ' t tch () l) t lnlr-l icate s()( i i r l \r t lues. \ \ 'hothef we irqree or ( l is irgree rvi( lr t l te vi l l t resr ' \pressed in a Pitf t icuhr nrorie, thc icleological cr i t ic Inzrintair ls th2rt theserno\. ies irr( ' lever inno(elt visiorrs o{ thc rvor' lcl ar<l t l r :r t the social ancl

lrersorJ v'r)ues t lut serrrr sr) nrtr)rai in thern rt t t t l to l>e iuraltzei l . ( l txxluri t ing oftJr is kind rrsual lv avoit ls t l rc obvious pol i t i<s ufpxrpagatrcla t tr iLrrr irvi i ' l ikc, Tlu, ()run Brrrrs ( l96t). in rvlr iclr the Arrterican l t test:nce in! ietraDr is nuir c ' l r ' l t t i led. antl j r tstcrt l lxrks i t) to the rrr) lc srt lr t le antl less(le[ init i \( ' pol i t i (s ol a f i l rrr l ike Nlira Nrrir ' ' .s ' I l is! isr iTri , l fa.szi la (]991), rn

rt)Er )r.()(,) ()9

rrlriclr the fi lrrrrnakor tt ' l ls a <rrnrplex ston, of irterl irci ir] nrrnrlcc it theArner icarr Sorr t l r .

1'lre lbllorviug six apprca<fies lre tht: prircipirl itlcological schools offi lnr <.rit ic,is r n tr rt lav l lach irttt,ncls not onlv to tlu' 6lurs thernseh es brrt ir is<rto thr' rr ars thosc rror ics trc rrrade arrd rnderstrxrcl bv irrrdicnces:

. Studit 's ol Holhrvcxxl lteqcrnr I n, fbcrrrs on lr<n'chssical f i l lrlonrults t lorrrin:rte alrl sornetirnes tl istorl rvar,s o{ setirrg t}rerxrrltl.

. l ' 'eminist stl( l ies i]1\estiFate h,r,,,, rvonre$ hl.e l leel ltotlrnegatir elv ancl positivelv rt'presentecl through the morics, oftenrvith spcci.rl irttt'ntion to the lListon' oI u'otrrcn filmrnlker.s tltrttlx.gils rvith the pioneering rvork of Alir 'e Crrr. Bladri ' at thclr"qrrrrrrrr r l , ' l t l r , l l r r -nt ie lL r 'err l r rn . rnr l r ' , r r r t i r r r rer ihrou( l rc(nlte I nporan, (l i feck rrs. srrclr as Marlc,r,n Ciorl is or Su Friedrich.

. Rnce stDdies (] )r rr,t: rr tlrrtr: on the clepictiol ol cliffereDt races irrf i lns, such ls Latinos. Afl icarr Autcricirns. antl Asian Auericans

o (l lass strrt l ies alir lvzt' the srx i ir l ancl ecorrorrric arrallgelrcntsshout jn a rnorie to slrou'horv socialporver is distributed in andthrorrglr ceftairr f i lrns.

r Postcolonid strl l ies exlrrrine :novies rvithin a qlobal perspective,airning to reveirl tht' repr<:ssion ofor emergelce ()f jndigenollsperspe< tivt's rrithin firrnterlv marginirlizurl or colonized cultrr|es(l ike hrrl ia or lran).

. Queer fheon' invcstlgatcs hou,nonnative relations cun bechalle:r{cd ol disruptcr} t lrrorrgh {i lnrs. especiirl ly throughcontirrntations u'ith heterosexull vahres.

The best eriurples o1 ideological crit i t isrrt atternpt to ir\ 'oid i irnit ing thern-selles to the crrntent of a rnor'1e; insteacl, sophisticatecl ideologici]l criti-t ism relirtes (luestions it lxrut characters and plot to rlore conrplex pointsabout llre shap of the narrirtive or the distalce o[ the canrera frolr th(]cllirracters: \Vhat, fbr instance, is the icleological poirrt of a nar movic rlrvhich the ent.nrl is seen orlv in l i lrge gr(nrps or i lr *lr ir.h the carneriirnakes them nll look alike? (ln this kind of analysis, the irrtentiols ordainrs of the filrnrnaker shorrltl not r(rcessirrih be ir<.ceptecl as vr'hur tlrerrror ie is trrrlr .r lrorrt.)

\\ ' i th tn ideological:rpproirclr. begin 11 tning to pilpoint rvhirt rnes-silqc or ulcssitg( s a Ii lnr t itrrs to coulnutnicilte tlxrrrt its u,olld ln<1, br'ir lpli( irt ion, orr| \or]rl. \\r lr i i t is it srivinu t 'rplicith!'\\ 'hat is it savingirrplicit lv? \\ 'hrit ckx's tlrt ' f i lnr srrggest atxrut l io*' pe<4rlt ' relirtr: or shorrlcl

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;l:=, j i; _- j* i =:: : =:.

- = _

i 1_

: i

== ,

= _i i

: -

= :,1 a; =:ai i== i- =i-=11

:-.

:i::-:-::i-_-:-_.

-- .r

=i:-t:li,i

: ==5=:-211li

)l=l=::=-:ii-

t-';::|i; j;=:1j2.=-=

: 1..-a=-ia=z

=-=.i|i;zji =

--7--_J=-:..=a:=:2--,=I

:='-=:.==i.: .t:-i'==',-=.

- =:====;='i: .

;=:;r--=',i=jZ

=:-:i:i1 -'--

=:=l j r.:-:

;'

::Z -=;-7i=== i=.7i; r:'==t :

.,:=:.'::r;! ii

i:==';;7i ,=: =

='. i-=1, :==i:7= = -= : :==-r==u,

i .=:=i;

z!.=i = !-:=,.--=

j ==:;:;;=;3= =:

j,:==,-=i;-7 .:i

==:l-= ==.,"2i:

: 7= ...;=Z:at; i ?1 1i

-: =:,= , -::7'-1

=)-.::

: =

-: '-.=

: -

: '

-: =:

- ;

- -'-

z-= E

11=:::=i;;: 2 ::;t:=17:; .;

7i:==: i=--,=-

* 1=:1!

?.i .. = , ,

ii= t:ij = ;; 3 i= i'iiZ ,:1 =j,:

i:=:2', =1, =:

- i== ta= t==l-==

i.t=7i,1i:: = : i=;= ;=tii==:

a- a++.!;2 z i 3 iS

EE

'=!E'u,-.,

=,a

l ( ) f ct l , \ l , iH + s l \ . \ t . t , t { ( ) . \ ( : l is I ( J \ \ , l i l l . tN(! \ t3()( l t : I _\ t

l ' igrui 1r l TIc rr Inr l r l n, , ( , r t l , { 's t re( t lx ! r ' , t ( \ , r , , ,c, , rc in{ f t f le( t ( ) , r o1 hinrscl l inFr i l / Lr i l . \ - \ r l ) lJ l l l

\ . \N ' t I I 11s5.\ \ 5 l ( )3

IrigLrc !.1 l-l,erDi ,T ' , r i ' , , rq, s Df l /

| I lo fo r. mor / dri-r6_ .o-u l s B r ' 'b rr lr

p rooso: L no. f l r i rsn o._ J ' l ) r rL l inodsd r-{ l - r .on

of a turbulent Gern't]r.sociely 1ll the early thrflies

\l,tiethel consciously made rI1 thls way or nltt M seems

to work as a mrror iDage of the nse of fascrsm rn

,61i , r . r : i , ' , ' , , -n- r 'n ' r ) r rcr r l . , i lmm,1..

most impoltinlt as di atlempt to expose it to the Geman

aiudren.i,- lhat was so Dvolved rn f,rscism anC its growth.

Cernran cultule in the nventLes dnd e.ltly thirtles

was, as rs well Llowtr cauqht in a cnsis The gadual

collapse oithe Weri)ar Repubhc from 191! lL,. 193:l

created ,l sociefy th,lt seem,6Ll b Llve n il hnd of chdL.s

or dr-corder a chaos that wals economic. social and

Fsych!klg'lc.-rj Povelty' Li,.lenrplolrrnent an.l clepres

sron became w1.-lespread reallties, and the stable sense

of a l.ersonal identity onc-^ found n] a Geman tradition

anal a very ordere.i socret] seems to have been

d.. lroy^d by ho .d.ds-. oplx. oata , oi \Vorld W"r I

This qeneral clso: der and l]-tstabillty are reflected in

m.x1y oi the nlrlcr cultur:{ trends of the penod. The

I O.1 () t \ t ' - l l r l t . t s lx. \ l ' l 'R() , \ ( : t l l ls l ( ) \ \ l l l l l \ ( i . \ t lot ' l I l l \ I

Ixgthlmalrsh diedm pirullnrgs oIl'lol weqan Edv'fd

l,luncih are the very lnJluenllal ernblems oi a whole

school of CeIIoal,) expressionist arhsts whose focus nr'as

on the d2rrk lurbulent world beneath the quiet sudaces

of everyday lrf" Freud s wdlrngs also became more

and more unporlant durng this penod' This urcreasmg

importance is especlally appropriate smce hls work

Tht trnt ltr dlscusses the dark unconscious below men s anclnrtth.fiis . women s conscious lile and also sketches a civilization

titnl firll oisecret dscontents 0nfii1e0.

Tk tuhurul,tnl The German expressiorusl cinema of the twenllesItinnr .ll tunn\l;; ;;,;;, ' i;,.;;',./

was lLke\4'rse concemed with this crisis d its depic-\ ' \ l . t htt l r 'n As Sre Jhied KJo. r, l i tncl Lor-:. '16! l-- rva

ltilllirhtftl 'rith Sho\e1 some Cf ihe r]lost rmport;]il !no\ne3 made dur-

)'o1i kt'.f] \ n,)gthls tnne deplct a "baunted screen lefl-octilg

',.i',,,,t",a't nuch o[ the Dnsl.]ble redlity ol lhe society Fron The

' , : i , l , l l .1, , ' r , , , , , , , ,

-a11nct 61 p1 . C Jiq. ' t . NDsI' / . /u. tho V"mplP

',i,il :,1,!l'l!i,:,,')i manv of these films seem reqularlv to be aboul madh)\,.u/f .1tfu ness and destrUcl ion and even In the Ieahstlc Stleet

ii,,,';, i rl," films " the settrngs and plots descnbe a world that is.r ie\ I - i (d, rxf

t",,,.^,', "*t,A collapsrng urlo i-Lrin ln the tltants and madnen th'rl

! t . t t l ' \ ' ' 1 of len coltrol lne .h os ln rhasa _nor16s m Jl l nawal

i t t t l t t , r r t

hdve seen the foreshadowng oI llitler the Callgarr

11, r , \ t ,L l r , t Who\^OL.o .ap j t U.-dlh Lrsd.Lr.nO' l laC ts- . .d

tm \iti,,1 a vehicie for massive destnlction (Kracauer Ei'rner)

;,;;;;. ',,,;;;;;, . These motrs are central to M uhich draws ftomt, t lur 'L, t l r' : , : . . : . : , : ' : : , ' , : , : i , ' rr . o\ptas. onL. ru ,cr 'r 'n u \ l - . h | .nq h!1 f

socL liLttt-in 'r'/orkecl duing tlle t\venties. The ceitlal ch.lrader

\h,,t srtht1,1t Becken (Peter lnrre) is .l maJl possesse.l by eomelhrrgt{ t t( hlr i ',:t httd ttn tt he cir]mol c('ltrol, a tllaal ccDpulsionto mulilel

i \Nlt'l I: t.lSS \\'S I 05

clxldren. Benedth hrs placid and calln extenor an,1 ul

the mrdst ol everyday life, the [isirne h]ler begms to

tlu ow the world mto chsorder Sl-yl$hcaily the fi}n

draws on Loth the eli?resslonst and lhe street real

1sm' tradlhons of Geman film lhe ur,sanlty ls shown

on the one hand m a number of e-tipratsslonlstic shots

like the spirahng starlcases thdt u1.]rcat,6 entrapment

a]l<l a dizzlng lack of per:ipective Conversely, there is

the street realism ofsoclal povefi and unilenvorl,l life

which gives Ma land of documentar/ looi: at tunes

IJr ike m some expressicmst hllns it irhculd be noled it

is djlfic,Jlt to dlstingiuish m rl{beNveer the r}e.rn v/orl.l

of p:rr-chologrcal ch.ros dld the soclal ahaos oi Ihe

street Or to pul il rn ierms of lhe slory. Larg makes lt

orffrcull l]l llxs poslexpressrorust mor'1e to say whether

Becken $ an e'd madJnan or a !1clun ofsome forae

thal runs thl ouqh the whole society.

The mo\'-le makes tius confusion ,nd the cnsN lt

unplies fairly expllcit at times The balloon whlch

becomes the sylnlol of one of Beckerl s !'lctims, has a

pudgy human shape. and lts resenblance to Becked s

shape might suggest a comection between the kller

and the \,'1ctj]n The law and order ofthe pohce who

search ior Beckerl are throuqh Lang s palallel cross

cuttrLq identihed',^'lth and almost mdrstrngul.ihabLe

foonl the underworld cj trne mob th .t searches fol

Becked tco Lastli. there are the careftillv orche-.

lraled n]ob scenes (as durng the jrnal tnlal) wlich

Doletheless af,peal as hyslercal ard f,ioo.llhlrsly as

the pal|etrc nurderer se,oms. 0n these inslances. I

| (Xi ( ; r t . \ t ' r ts-R.! s l \ . \PPRoA(l t l l ls r ( ) wl t l r l l ( i . \u( l t r Fl l -Nl s,\ \ lPl-t : l iSSr\ ' \ S l{)7

i:\drlicipate L1 thar r!rflectlon lookinq.tillter o\.,-l

Beckerl's shoulder or dx'ectly jnlo th,o reflecton lts{]]f.

Ju3t ns illa f m bul.l:r up il strang4 ,qFrljdthv lor thelr . R- l . - r . r r o . - . . (en- lo lorce

.rn audrence 10 view rts ou.o darher side ul the r-oflect

u1g rm.lges cl d psY,lliotri hller

If Mis then. like other Germiu frlms of th-- late

-- . | ) . t .^ lecl onol ,

CleIIILan lLliule ir-r {ir isrsr. it is dlso rnore than a srrnple

reflectlon C.rmbullng the two tr.icllllons of expressron

r9m arlJ stre,ol reallsm, it tnakes lxghtBrares real aJl.-l

re.dlt-,{ a niqhtnare llI a Ir13nner tar m(,!e dlsllll]aring'

thiu m.st other G-arman rnovies of the time Perhaps

,rs ls lvhat lhe Ge nan aulhorilles recDgnlzed when, * ,T , . . . . r . h- , - r l - le . r

Ilut.le{et }\rnang Us because they thought it was too

j . l - - .J l \ pr f , , . "1f . , - \ - . , -n I .n I [ - lN . . C^ nr o1

.l lew years laler he prolJiblv re.rllzeaL. ho.//..\.er. thtT

norno.rd av or6,sp ^

i . . v i /oddb-

,. .r I .r L^ o5 lh-t !v .- s- l I-

tlq m tlie streets of Cerm;ury

Wor ]::i Clled

El:ner Lotle lle HJ L/rle.] -Scree! Berkele.i Lhr./ olCahIom,l Pless 196! Prnt

Kr.rc,ruet, Sregfr'r.ecl. Ftan) Caliai,lr r ta lTitier Pr ri,cetoDrPlnrceton UP 1', ,147 Plrnt

ii;rllel Jr)hi. E/pi esj,-l.rx-i't New York l4cL:t a\i", llLll lglil.Pint

can't help but think of the mu:derous actions of the

Nazis in the name oflaw and order or ofthe pedectly

ordered crowds oi soldiers vrho becajne ihe maciMes

ofwar )There are, then. a rurnber of double nnages or

dcuble reflections |rt Mlhat seem to muddle the ques-

tlons about a soci.rty in cnsis Where does the crisis

origlnate? Where Is the order, and wher-' is the dls

order) \ 4xat is the nightmarish dream an'f what ls the

I ̂ Jlry'Ttus doublp rmdge dnd the qleshons lt plo

vokes are most apparent m the character ofBecked

specihcally rL the ilLunber ol trnes thal he and the

audience are made to examme hrs image Frequently

Beckert exa]:nules himself and sees hlmself ul mufors,

searching out the madmar that exists somewherejrside hrn. At one polnt Lang shows Becked looking

rn a shop window where the image of Beckert ls con-

tamed in a frame ltrthin the hl'n image-a i ame made

by a reflection of kuves laid out in a diamond shape

insrde the slore Here, the nomal man on the street

becomes a menacing reflection of hrmseif. Later

Beckert discovers he has been found out and exposed

by seerng .r reflection n anolher muror unage that

reveals the teLlta-le M" on his back

What the reflectlois expose in these d.Ifferent shots

and scenes 1s oot exacuy the same t}rrng Yet' in each rl

is the dark side, the drsorder the murderous impulses

of self (ard soclety) that are sought out and discovered

lr most ol lhese n aor images, i.rihemore, the cam-

era places the audience at an anqie so lhat it seems to

-{

l ( ) l t a . \ t , l l : l t . ! \ l \ , \ l ' l ' l (1. \ ( i l t l -5 I ( ) \ \ l t l l l \ ( ; . \ l r ( )1 - l l : l l r l i \ \ l t1 I i l iss \ \ 's t ( ) ! )

ill imd nirrvous. we are hls visual cotlnades, flm,tirrngonq \"/rlL hlm al the p.trrful ten.rron ,r'r']1]rut the Lrreailast

lltual \n/tijle the.ltalogue rem.llr.rs superhcialiy or dindll tbti qrnck e.lttjng betlveeD fac,-s .1!d actions

nakes it clear th,,tt brealfast v,1th this mother is .rltx-rously \,tolent \\hen his mother serves lrtrn French

toilst .rn.l tells hiln tt is hli favorite he quletly says he 19

Dot hurgry and l,v]thout ,1word she whlsks the plate

arvay before a rrlose up shows her vicioLrsiy strtifinE it

clonrl the garbage dlsposal. The father and son can

only react ruth bew.ldennent to tlxs unlrl edlctal-rLe

female, \'rho jn thrs early scene ls already established

as less b.rlJnce.l th:n th€j skittish son

\\rhen lt is obvious that the fam y bredlCast has

L,een de:troyed by the mother the father CidrD llies

to save the sltuatlon by suggrestutq that Conrad bring his

nlale friends home t,r 'plarr louch football oll lhe la."\DHis attempt to rescue one ntual with another is more

exdcil'f , attempl io re!-rlace lerltdle trouble wlth rnale

bondmq Calltn rnvokes a whole team of males t.j

relrlace llle shaneted scerre resulnnq ion the nloiher's

prn1itrve .,lolence At this lj.ou-tt tr) O]"dtr.rliPeopJ€'. how

ev-ar. her lrlesence is Idt t.ja, st crng and lfre reu]]ton oi

the f.rther and the son must be delayed through a full

serr,as of harralve,6ncout)ters aDd revel.tllons

The mother's presence assens itseli.igarl sjhortly

,rt1er the bleakiast scene lhis ttDle tn .1irrrllter sL-ener,'rviclly underline.l by the styltsti.is oI the lilrn ThF

sc-ane oper$ wlth a medtuJn lonLt shot th.rr gradually

tr.rcks m through a dining rooln.loonvaT The irhcl rs

Malcla L Fergxson

The Not S., a)rdr|irry \\t!rrn-6n oi Jl dlr.:J7 Peol"':

Or cltlarv People is rnteLhgentlY lcted -'vell

scrpled ard critlcilly and hnanclally srrcces'j[]] 11 ls

app;1l-ontly .Ln honelst look at uppet middle class

Anlenca presentell as an irnparhal recor'l of one

famLLf s emotion.rl ttLrmoll and Lllti]n.'rte collapse Yet'

seei from.lnother perspedjve thls 'jupposedly hollast

an.l Lmpadiirl movie can be nev/e.l .is ; c.rleirll

construction of women as .ll]ents of 'llsast'6r or failure'

\ ,hen examned from this point of 'JLew. thF women rn

O/_dr!a-ay Pe'ople ale consNlently s€:en and lrhown il om

a rn.ie persllectlve Ln lvhiah they irxlction nlamly Tc

de,j.1state and .lisrupt the already -qhaky st'lte ofthe

film s prota.Jonlst Cotua.l T^rreti

Male bondlng peFr'ades tllls movre but Is always

ove!shadovred by the tlrleat L]fu]'n'hous fernales espe-

cially the ch ling chdtacter of the molher Beth The

force of thii tl,Jeal ls ll.nlicula!lj- er^:lent clr-umg the

darly rituals of eatmg that domestic sphere traditionally

corll Dl]e.l .nlil orchel',ialed by-wornen exiled tc ihe

kjtchen AJoul.l an.l withlll these eatmg rituiLls we best

see llre suille "'lalerlce aril ill,lr]irulalion on lhe pali ol

the mother Early m the film ior example Coffad

stuggles tc retu lar 'norlndi l l ie affcr hls sDlclde

attempt and subse.-Fent stay m a mental hospital A

c.rs!al call lrarm hrs lalher 1o come to brea!3ist p'xxcs

Conra.l an,l a s."uft sequorLce ofshots intenveaves his

dtslress anLl th-o nra)lh-or s efhclent machxlellke prepa

ratxrn of fof.l By the tnne he enterit the kitchen. loolug

,.-

I | ( ) r ' l t , \ l ' l l l t I s l \ , \ t , l , t t ( ) \ct lLs - t ( ) \ \ t { l l l ( , , \ l } ( ) t . ' t t ; f l _\ !

li1lrturl otl rtgtally ltalance.i as llle fuame ol the doof r.)v hnes up

lLso.itt<l perfcctly,,\1th the srdes of th,- f m fuirne and the),, , , | , t t l

d . r rLo I n r l o t . .n ' . - r lu. l lv | - r . tJ

-r . ,1ol the fr.rme The mother rs at .rne si.le of tht- table

Conrad ;rt ihe other. imd the father ]]1 the center \\'lthin'h, . LJ".r edl l , r .J l 'h- o ' r - 'no,p" o ' tv*r . .

ti.n Coru.td seem.s safe 'fhe rn')lher beglns t)r.,ugh

to press hjm about hts totn shln." iflcl he rmme(liately

shrul}.l from her gaze \\hen he ans\,/ers anolher

t t . . , , , t . , J r r u. l . ' lq p-s ' r Lovs.rJrh-I .n p"r- l " r r . - .

, . t , , i , . , , , r , , , , u, , l - r r i . - B-Ll :n"o l . . l ' \ - ) l dor, o) h. . j ,t t r " t t i t : t r . r r . 'una /o rs-rao, dpo-. Lng Ln rsud..r , rnr6d 6mr r''tt"tlr t,,rlitl! an.l tall .ts the camera holds otl her hom a low angle

J^ntltrrt \t lor .r xoliceaL,l)' lon!,i 1 -ne ln lh-- hrcl:E[ou]rd of thellr t r t t t r l t r r1 . . . t , . ) . . . t . , t t . sh i . l l .a ' ' lor o l i ]n r smal l r rd , , o.ro J . - \

' , , , t ' IOto r ' .Uro. . to j6-Ll .6n,pr r . o h r lnai .gxl , il t ,n t t , t r t t t t t t t rlii,,t,\ 'td t,' 4t | , b.llamce of ihe scene vr'a-q met ely dellLyrniJ tlte h dg!,,/,, nn,.ntdtion lt ar1 first .]isguts--d

- J, . lJ l "o". , -a l -psroL.ro ^

rr tu . r u. ' r^

wd-ke oi the rr.rther s aggressrve atra.k (wluch $

e:{.r.tll,' iraw thrs ordjn;u_}, momerl l pollr.tye.i) He

& tril. i|\r,ttn,tt asks Conrdd the najne of lis female fi iend from lh"l, r t ) t r . t I t l. . , ' . , , , . I p, J l . o ' . o l l v ro Ih dLal 'n 'kro^. s n,o _rdJ. l

t..t..t:'lt',\ t,!r Io CoDt.r,l Beth tlien rnlrllediatcly anL,:urrces lteitir\tniri'l rlr' [o],rlicj1 L_-ontrol of t]te sc-aDe by leavjng th-6 labl-o .ts lf ta

ttL.xlttn\ t,\,t) alardon the distasielul topic (and probably the competl . t l t ) t , ur , lt t . , . . . t t . t t t t t t nof uol ' i lon.-- ' . I roni n. l L, r ' 'n.1. . .

' ' ' ' , ' : ' . l l \s . d- . . r r r ' -n l ' r mrlr - or ' . - . /6r ' . r / r . r . r ' , otr tn\ | | t \ ) t t . l

tnbrl otl rhn trol as she oversees the two males i'crm lhe bac!: oithF

irtt l)t.tntirtl sliot. Kncwing this they exchange s ent bul mei|'1nlqful

sAIll'LE ESS \'S I I I

glances the only rea.l conmunication the camera hasso ldr allowed them whjle Lnder the \rarmical eyes ofthe mother

These examples do not it must be emphasized.descnlce simply a tale about one bad woman andmother. All the females in OrdIr.jjypeop/e are ineptall women fail Conrad. His meetutg 1r1lh Karen, thetr lend hom Ino hosotldl ls. oesp.re tts ptonxja especiatly drsappoirltjng She carefilly derues the friendship they fomed ar the hospttai by concentratmg iheconversallon (appropriately rn a restaurant) on helnew appeaLance of nolTnalty and her adjustment to anordmary world A school play ls much more fnpor

tant than any intimacy she ard Conrad Dtay haveshared m the hospital That was the hospltali this js thereal world. She exudes a cheerfL.tlness anci enthusl_asm ihat Corx-ad s troubled spirit caiiot malch au.l ulmary ways. she seems to be becoming a r,^plica ofConrad's mother, rnterested only jn appearances andunable 10 respond to male substance.

Even the most redemptive female chaJacter, hisnewly fo!r.1d girlfriend Jearuine, ultlmately abirnclonshrm Agaul at a restaLfant she tentatively re.]ches outto )1]m by asking hrm aboui his suicide aftempt Heresponds by say[tg she ls 'the fu st person 1() asksuch a question and he begins to answer her rn whatapp€ars to be the fust therapeultc act of conrmLjl]lcahon m the movie. Just then, they ale jntenupled by arowdy group of males (mostly the athletes whodescr ce another theme in the fil,n) she reacts by

I l2 ct l , \ t ' t t - i l l .+ s lx, \ l ' l 'R() , \ ( l l t l i5 l ( )wl t r r lN( i \ t l ( ) ( l l ' l l - \ l sAt\ l>t_l: l :ss,\ \s I l . t

.{.,{.iv. Ordirlry peolrle are lhereiore nen wfLo are strong,

.r:!tt,tt,.,it' but do nol krow jt.]nd women whc ial those men by not,nt td l lc , , rL,r . ,1, , , , , . , , . , , ,1, d l l \1r ( : ' : l -n-r b nd" 'm'r L.L] ' rdD-rv \1 'o l\..tr'.n.t \tktt thjs moue the fu/o shot ofrnen conrrrluniaalmg

becomes il)e lorrged lor godl ofthe movle (aftarned atthe conclusion) ind ut one of the mcrst revealing scenesm the mi1le. ,ir'hen ihe father prepares to take a snap-shot a hvo-shot ofmother andson the mother reiJsesto pani.lpate. TI]e pornt is ob\,'rous, even unu]tentionalllf an intimate two shot \&1th a male ls ihe iest of ar honestre,thty, ]rl Or.]]ra,?-People wonen are cleatly exclucledh-om lt and tte reality it represents

Exercises1. It lentif\ ' the approach or rretLori that seeurs lrost rppropriirt(l

lor a specil ic Hlrrr. \tr 'r-ite tlrrec or lbur palrqraphs tlrat rl iscrrssthlt f i lrrr accrrnlirrg to that rirethod.

9. Selctt a single f)lr ir to dis<:nss fi-orn tle arrgles ol hrrr clif l irerrtrleth(xls. Dcvote twr) piiritgrirphs to each methorl ancl sliclv lror.each oUers dillerent 1x:r'spcctives on that filrn.

qrgghng.ind .rlowing them 1o pul her liom the table.

thus .leslroyrq lfie polentral bon(l belv/'oen her and

Conra(l. , 'ho is \,'lsibly shiken by the mcrdent. ln the

logr'r ollhls scene she ts ciedrly lhe one v,tho has id ed

Coruad after he op-ons up to her. and later sne rles to

explam lt by salu)g she laughed oul ol enlbarl.lssmenl

at berng smqled aut by a group oi males ln effect. she

hke the other lema]es ul iie mcr.'-1e, s.lcrlirces Co acl

' . aso al l - i r - r r . lx , lo. - lseof l lopt ian

.n Odnary People llxs sense ol propnely

becomes aligned wlth a feminne weakress thet s seen

besl rn fie subplot of the lather's rebrli as a mar' Lo lns

con€rsatlon unth a busmess palher (both iogginq ath

letes) he regrets his u]abrllty to hre i.ncompelent lemale

secretaies rvho (rrack guln lr '/our fdce " And when he

tur-ns lo Coruad s psychtatr$t while lookrng fbr a wdy to

.)ed wlti tu- u,'Ie s. .dn_. s F eomps 'w.y L r tl-lr.

neu'm,le bond realdng how weatr lDs \^,-lfe has made

hlm by domLnanng him w'1th her ienimmry (She made

hlln chinge hls shft the day .rl ther son s funeraL

bec.ruse it d]dn't look nqht.) The fathelJrscovers that

he needs 10 be stronq thal he no longer loves hls lde

because she may be 'beautili and 'unpredlctallle

but rs nol slroDgf not gl\,'irrg Corrad drscovers

through the same psyclxatn-cl ivld his coniionialDn !!1L\

I ' re w-dJ sr!- ldo o Kdpn hdl n- h.rs s l l , ' r iol

str-onqh lvtuch is wlLy he su!.,ived the boalmg accldel{

That sr engrth N what findtly allows the men to barxsll the

wea]a ancl desiruclive mother, 3lld lr'Jiih her .fepirllu e

they are free lo bond lll a male enbrace