A2 FILM STUDIES FM4 SECTION A URBAN STORIES Lesson 8 Comparative & thematic analysis of case study films

Director, year released & country of production Context of time & place how can time of production &
time of setting be seen in the sequence

Representation of The City - How is the city seen as a

defining presence? Are there any examples of general struggle, crime or alienation? Are there strangers, hedonism, familiar landmarks?

Critical Perspectives is the city as a place full of

strangers? the pursuit of pleasure & hedonism? landmarks that identify the City?

Representation of power - Authority, control,

domination, force, strength.

Representation of poverty - Penniless, destitute,

disadvantaged, under privileged, deprived...

Representation of conflict Confrontation, disobey,

battle, clash, oppose, incompatible, dispute...

A2 FILM STUDIES FM4 SECTION A URBAN STORIES Lesson 8 Comparative & thematic analysis of case study films Narrative structure Can you see any of Propps stock
characters? Does it follow Todorovs linear narrative of equilibrium, disruption, resolution? Are there any action or enigma codes? Is it a Restricted or Omnipresent narrative? Does the director employ an open or closed ending?

Construction of characters? Who are the main

characters? How are they constructed as the protagonists? Do you like them? What issues are they seen to have in relation to the main themes? How are they seen to be the product of their urban environments? What kind of struggle do they have? Do they belong to any k ind of community?

Stylistic features Camera Are there any specific camera shots, angles or movement used by the director to help represent the urban environment or the main thematic issues? Are there any devices or signature styles used by the director to communicate their ideas about what it might be like to live in city for the characters? Stylistic features Editing - Are there any specific
editing featuers used by the director to help represent the urban environment or the main thematic issues pace, filters, special effects, ellipses etc? Are there any editing devices or signature styles used by the director to communicate messages about what it might be like to live in city for the characters?

A2 FILM STUDIES FM4 SECTION A URBAN STORIES Lesson 8 Comparative & thematic analysis of case study films Stylistic features Sound - Are there any specific
features of the sound both diagetic and non-diagetic used by the director to help represent how the urban environment sounds or feels, set a tone around the main thematic issues or reflect the context of time and place? Are there any sound motifs used by the director to communicate messages about what it might be like to live in city for the characters? How does the use of sub-titling affect our understanding of the dialogue. Are there any elements of the script that are particularly important?

Stylistic features MES - Are there any specific aspects

of the mes location, setting, costume, proxemics, props, performance used by the director to help represent the urban environment, set context of time and place and reinforce messages about the main themes of power, poverty & conflict? Are there any motifs used by the director to communicate messages about what it might be like to live in city for the characters? How does the use of MES help the audience to understand the characters, plot development and the themes expressed?