COM 192- INTERPRETING CINEMA

5 Film Journal

Kushaan Sethi

2110110300

MOVIE 1 - Tokyo Story

Tokyo Story, a Japanese movie shot in 1953 is a spectacle to appreciate for years and years to
come. Directed by Yaujiro Ozu, the film tells a story of an elderly couple Shukichi and Tomi
who travel from their hometown to a big city of Tokyo to visit their children. The film explores
the deep sentiments of family relationships and provides spotlight to the subtle emotions that
most of us never pay attention to. Throughout the duration of the film, you can see how Yaujiro
Ozu never forces an emotion but focuses more on letting the actors be in their natural element for
the emotion to be felt gradually as the film progresses. Being a silent film, I found it to be a little
slow but later after watching the entirety of the movie I realized why each scene was just let to
play out without any interruption or scene cut.

The camera angles used in the film were extremely interesting. It involved long takes, static
cameras and a number of low angle shots. By not interrupting each scene with a scene cut they
could have the viewers completely involved in the story, creating a sense of intimacy with the
audience. Static cameras helped in having a stationary feel and a stable frame throughout the
film.

The most interesting aspect I found from the camera’s perspective was how the low angle shots
were used to portray a power dynamic between the characters. Along with this, the entire film
involves point of view shots where there is a lot of emphasis given to conversations. The only
scene where you can see almost every character in the frame is in the end when they sit to
reminisce about the loss of Tomi.

From a sound perspective, the background music was extremely minimal and naturalistic as this
was done to focus more on the emotion rather than driving attention away from it. A lot of
scenes had complete silence which at first, I could not understand but later realized how it plays
perfectly with the theme of loneliness and abandonment.
The movie starts off with Shukichi and Tomi traveling to Tokyo to meet their son Koichi who
was a doctor. While picking them up at the train station, he rushes off since he needs to get to
work. He leaves them at the residence of his brother Shige, who oversees looking after them.
Even Shige gets caught up with work and leaves them at the house alone. This scene already sets
the tone of the film as we could see how the children were extremely busy to even spend time
with their parents. The elderly couple struggle to keep a connection with their children in an
unknown city. It highlights the generational gap between the parents and the children and how
busy each of them were in the hustle and bustle of city life.

Koichi being so busy used to delegate the responsibility of taking care of his parents to his wife
Fumiko. Being abandoned by their children, the couple attempt to go sightseeing to visit various
tourist spots in Tokyo, including a temple and a hot spring resort. Although this seems like a
happy scene with the couple enjoying their time, the underlying emotion was of discomfort and
loneliness as they envisioned all of these adventures with their children who were supposed to be
there with them throughout the trip. Eventually the couple go to visit their daughter-in law
Noriko. She is a young widow who is married to their deceased son who passed away during the
war. The only person in the movie who takes the time to converse with and be kind to the elderly
couple is Noriko. She offers them tea and treats while enquiring about their travels. She even
offers to take them on a tour the next day. All of this shows Noriko's compassion and her
capacity to relate to individuals of all ages. Noriko was the only character who showed some
empathy towards the elderly couple and followed her ethics towards her in-laws. Despite the loss
of her husband, she maintains a much more supportive attitude towards the entire family and is
surely the favorite of the elderly couple.

The film inculcates multiple moments that make the viewers extremely emotional with the depth
and poignance involved. One of which is when Tomi is accidentally locked out of the house and
has to resort to sleeping on a nearby bench. This incident highlighted the vulnerability and
helplessness feeling of the elderly mother. In pursuit of support and love from her son, she was
being treated to conditions she never imagined and could see her own family ties breaking with
the generational divide. The miscommunications along with ignorance from the entire family
eventually pushed the elderly couple out of the family, making them separate from the ones they
called their own.

Another incident when the couple after their disappointing trip go back to their hometown, only
to hear the devastating news that their youngest son Keizo has passed away. Shukichi and Tomi
could not bear the feeling of their loved one passing away especially after losing one of their
sons to the war. But personally, I felt that the emotion that superseded devastation was a sense of
disappointment. The incident depicts an emotion of frailty along with the importance of family
being together during the tough times in life. Being completely alone and secluded from the city
of Tokyo, losing your youngest son can be such a big struggle. In times like these, you need your
family to act as pillars for support. Both these incidents portrayed the distance deepening
between the elderly couple and the entire family.

The most heart-wrenching scene comes into picture when Tomi becomes extremely ill and
passes away. Tomi and Shukichi tried their best to unite with their children not just to make sure
their family stays in touch but to hope to receive that sense of love and affection from their own
children, but all their efforts were in vain. Even after the demise of Tomi, all the children are
preoccupied with their own lives. They give reasons why they won't be at the funeral and leave
Kyoko, the youngest child of the family, to oversee everything. The scene portrays the negative
response the entire family has towards their own Japanese culture of helping their elders
moreover honoring them after their demise. As the family members assemble by Tomi's bedside
(the only time they are all in one frame) to reflect on the significance of her life and family, the
scene connects the plot by showcasing an understated emotion of grief and sorrow. It showcases
the importance of cherishing moments with your loved ones. One might never know how much
time he or she may have and to lose out on these special moments of life can be traumatic.
During the end, they reminisce about old memories but what if Tomi could be there with the
entire family to cherish that moment. The entire plot focuses on how the generational gap has
deepened the distance between the children and the parents. In subtle moments and actions, we
could see how the couple were completely separated from their family.

One of the subtle observations I made was of the facial expression of Shukichi throughout the
film. There is not one instance where we could see him in despair, in a situation of hurt or
disappointment even after how they were treated during their trip. For him, he never really
wanted anything from his family and had barely any demands. The sole fact that his entire family
was in one city together or even simply eating dinner together made him feel happy. The one
person who mattered the most to him was Tomi and after her death he was deeply affected but
only ever showed it in minute ways.

In conclusion, Tokyo Story was a commendable yet confusing movie for me to watch.
Personally, from a cinematic perspective it had everything that signifies it as one of the greatest
films. The scenes and the plot connected well and the one aspect I appreciated the most was the
plain subtlety in the film. The way each emotion was given time and importance is what I
resonate with the most. Each character even with the little screen time they got played a superb
role by bringing out a natural emotion, well at least I felt it was natural. I only wish the film was
not as slow as it was. Even if this might sound contrary to what I liked the most, the retention
rate of a viewer might be lost only if you stretch each and every scene. Considering it was made
in 1953 when Ozu was about fifty years old, I feel the camera angles and the sound styles were
spot on to compliment the slow yet engaging film. I learnt the power of emotions however big or
small they are, it is a must watch and I had a great time rewatching it too. It justifies its place as a
genuine classic of global cinema for years to come.
Movie 2 - Children of Heaven

Children of Heaven is a heartwarming and touching film that depicts the challenges and struggles
of an Iranian family living in utter poverty in Tehran, Iran. The movie is directed by Majid
Majidi who believes that the little moments in life that go by in just a glance matter so much
more. He believes in the power of subtlety and emphasizes on those minute unnoticed details to
give them the utmost importance. The film incorporates two main protagonists who are Ali the
elder brother and Zahra the younger sister. Ali and Zahra share a special bond, a bond of
complete love and purity. Having been forced to face the adversities of poverty and the
challenges that come with it, the two still act much more mature for their age. It is a movie for
the ages, catching the attention of a lot of younger audiences’ depicting the small gestures of life
and giving those little glimpses the spotlight.

The camera angles used in the film account to a key factor in making this movie extremely
engaging and great. The movie uses close-ups to depict the actors' nuanced faces and feelings,
which gives the audience a feeling of closeness and emotional connection. To give the tale a
sense of driving and forward motion, the movie uses tracking shots to follow the characters as
they travel through the scene.

When it comes to sound, the sounds are used to symbolize and reiterate a theme in the film. For
example, the movie frequently uses the sound of a train going by to represent the passing of time.
Along with this, the use of voice-over narration to create a more personal and intimate
connection with the viewers.

The movie begins with Ali going to the shoe repair shop to get his younger sister Zahra’s shoe
repaired. Ali being the elder brother had a lot of responsibility on his shoulders and he was happy
to help her sister out just so she could wear her shoes to school the next day. After having the
shoe repaired, Ali ran a few more errands and, in that process, ended up losing the shoes. After
his attempt to look vigorously for his sister’s pair of shoes he gives up and goes back home only
to see Zahra’s face uplifted as she was expecting her shoes in repaired conditions. Ali starts to
sob in front of Zahra as he fears the scolding from his parents, moreover he feels devastated that
he let his sister down.

Ali decides to share his own shoes with his sister rather than telling his parents about his error.
This minor occurrence serves as the introduction to the main plot of the movie, which follows
Ali and his sister as they engage in several adventures and misadventures while attempting to
share a single pair of shoes.

The two of them decided that Zahra would wear the shoes for her morning class whereas Ali
would wear it for the afternoon classes. Both got into a few scuffles as either one of them used to
get late or affected by this plan. From wearing a worn-out sneaker to school to losing a shoe in
the gutter lane to even wearing a completely wet shoe for school, the two faced several
challenges along the way. The one common activity I could observe was that both used to run as
fast as they could just to make sure the other one didn't face any further problem.

The movie progresses with Ali’s father planning to shift his entire family’s lifestyle to help them
live a better life. He started going on gardening ventures with Ali on the cycle in the hope of
finding a job. To his surprise, young Ali with his confidence and intellect ends up getting Ali’s
father a job at a magnificent job at a big bungalow. All these instances showed how important
Ali was to their entire family and what still astounds me is that he is just 9 years old. To have the
pressure and responsibility from such a young age and living up to those expectations. It was
amazing to see how determined Ali was.

Ali’s ulterior motive never phased out of his head which was to make sure he could buy a pair of
shoes for Zahra. With the announcement of a racing competition where the third prize was a two-
day trip and a pair of sneakers, Ali had set his mind towards participating in the race and
finishing third to get that pair of sneakers for his sister. He impressed his coach, earned a spot on
the team and on race day performed extremely well. Purposefully coming in third place, even
after being tripped by one of his opponents he continued to run as fast as he could because for
him the finish line was a sense of happiness that he could give to his sister. In the moment, Ali
runs so well that he sweeps past all the runners and ends up finishing first. As soon as the race
was over, he was devastated as he wanted to finish third. The look on Ali’s face is shocking to
see as if you compare it to a regular 9-year-old, he or she would be ecstatic, but he had a look of
despair as he promised Zahra a pair of new sneakers and he could not get her those.

The movie concludes with Ali’s father not only purchasing a pair of shoes for Zahra, but even for
Ali which connects to the last scene, a powerful one. There is a beautiful moment when Ali puts
his wounded and bruised feet in the pond. In the closeup, we could observe a school of fish
gather around his feet to nibble on the cuts and wounds. This might be open to interpretation, but
I felt that the fish symbolizes the healing Ali needed so badly. In Ali’s head he was not able to
accomplish his motive which was to get Zahra a pair of sneakers but in that process, he faced so
many obstacles. It is just how subtly the fish give Ali a sense of relief is a moment of grace amid
all the difficult circumstances.

In conclusion, "Children of Heaven" is a masterpiece of cinema as it captures the elegance of

simplicity. It highlights probably every emotion ranging from love and hope to sacrifice and
empathy. The way Majid Majidi utilizes the young performers and restricts his own direction to
let the young actors perform their own true emotions is why this movie grabs the attention of so
many viewers. His direction gives the movie a sense of authenticity and depth that grips the
audience from beginning to end. "Children of Heaven" serves as a powerful reminder that even
in the most difficult circumstances, there is always a ray of hope. It is a must-watch for any
movie buff and a tribute to how moving and inspirational movies can be.
Movie 3 - City of God

Critically acclaimed as one of the best films of the 21st century, City of God is a Brazilian film
that introduced not only the world but even the people of Brazil to the horrific poverty and brutal
life of crime, violence, and drug trafficking in the slums of Rio De Janeiro.  Co-directed by
Fernando Meirelles and Katia Lund the documentary style of the film is based on a real-life story
published as a novel by Paula Lins.
 
The film traces the story of  the slum from the late 60s to the early 80s. It is beautifully  narrated
and presented in chapters from the perspective of one of the main characters who dreams of
becoming a photographer and leaving the slums behind. The first part of the film describes how
the city of god was just beginning to take shape in the 60s when young people, basically
teenagers indulge in petty crime. At this stage the film depicts engaging moments of humour and
light-heartedness. The second part takes place in the 70s when drug trafficking begins and an
emergence of  rivalry between the different gangs to monopolise the trade in drugs. By the 80s 
the film moves into the third part when the city of god has been transformed into a warzone with
indiscriminate shootouts and deaths.
          
The story picks up from the moment the camera rolls and does not stop until the credits roll. The
realism captured in this film leaves little to the imagination. It truly represents cinema verité at
its best. The cinematography, direction and screenplay transports the audience to the world of
crime and gangs. The visual effects are used effectively to create a sense of chaos and
confusion.  The camera work is often handheld giving the film a sense of immediacy and
urgency. The soundtrack consisting of  a mix of Brazilian and international music is yet another
distinctive dimension of the film. The actors are raw and rugged  since they were
nonprofessional actors selected from the residents of the city of god. This has imparted a rare
sense of authenticity to the film.

The film raises the questions of what options do young people who grow up in this environment
have for survival. One of the most shocking and criticised features of the film is its portrayal of
violence executed by young people.  A haunting statement is “I smoke, I snort. I have killed and
robbed. I’m a man“. 

While the key strength of the film is its realism, an important aspect of the manner in which the
film is shot, and a characteristic for which the film has received much criticism, is that of
detachment. Characters are filmed from a distance and the lack of facial close-ups imbues the
viewer with this sense of emotional detachment. Some critics speak about the film as a gangster
movie but in my opinion it is more appropriate to classify the film as a social and crime drama 
 
Police corruption, clearly depicted in the film as integral to the survival of drug rings and
proliferation of access to weapons, reminds one of similar issues related to crime in India.

 "City of God" is a story about two boys who grow up in differing paths. One of the protagonist's
Rocket, hopes to become a successful photographer and wishes to escape the city of complete
violence.  The film follows different paths through a series of short stories, as we learn about the
violent, often short lives of those wrapped up in the dangerous world of drugs and crime.

We can see scenes of complete desperation or poverty as the protagonist Rocket ends up stealing
chickens from a local farm. It gives a correct depiction of Brazil at that time and how every
person had to go to extreme means just to get by with their day. In the beginning, a group led by
Lil Dice (Lil Ze) robs a truck full of gas. This marks the beginning of violence and crime
throughout the entirety of the plot. Lil Ze, a brutal and cunning gang leader who takes over the
drug trade in the City of God, is one of the movie's main protagonists. The movie focuses on his
upbringing and how he got to be who he is now. He discovered a gun when he was young, used
it to demonstrate his dominance over others, and it is revealed that his mother had abused him.
This past lends some empathy to his character while also helping to understand his violent
behaviour.

Another key event in the movie is the outbreak of a gang war between two opposing groups, one
of which is commanded by the charismatic and brutal Li'l Ze with his friend Benny. The other is
led by the more sober and measured Carrot. This episode is noteworthy for showing both the
harsh and pointless nature of gang violence and the intricate social dynamics at work in the
neighbourhood. As the characters are compelled to pick sides it also emphasises the significance
of power and reputation in the society.

During that phase of gang violence and war, Benny falls in love with a girl named Angelica.
Both of them enjoy their time together and decide to spend life together away from the horrific
brutality of the city. Benny decides to move to a farm with his lover but Li’l Ze never approves
Benny’s decision and wants him to stay with him to continue the gang war with Carrot. When
Carrot gets to know that Benny is having a farewell party he sends one of his men or maybe it's
better to call him a boy to shoot Li’l Ze in during the party. In the party, Li’l Ze and Benny have
an altercation which in turn created hassle for the shooter and in the crowd mistakenly shot
Benny. This is a heart-breaking scene as Benny was the one character who even though for
different reasons wanted to change and move away from this life. This sparked a pattern
throughout the entire plot which I observed in the end. Every person who tried to escape the city
of brutality and violence inevitably lost his own life. It almost felt like every person who was in
that city was stuck in a never ending loop wanting to constantly escape from a life like this. 

In the ending, we could see Rocket wanting to escape from the city to leave all the drugs,
violence and brutality behind. They wanted to run away from Li’l Ze’s killing and dominant
power over the entire city.

We could finally see a plot twist as Knockout Ned who was on the quest of killing Li’l Ze for his
brutality towards his younger brother and partner inevitably gets killed by a member of his own
gang. It depicts how the vicious cycle of everyone being roped into the world of killing. The
montage then depicts Lil Ze's outcome. He is taken into custody by the police and displayed
there as a shattered and defeated man. The strong and brutal gang boss we saw during the
remainder of the movie stands in  contrast to this.
The success of Rocket as a photographer is finally evident. He is pictured snapping pictures in
the city, and a newspaper has featured his work. This is a moment of hope because it implies that
there is a solution to the City of God's problems of poverty and violence. It also emphasises
Rocket's tenacity and willpower because of how he overcame obstacles in his neighbourhood and
followed his goal.

In conclusion, the movie "City of God" illuminates the harsh facts of life in a way that is both
dramatic and thought-provoking. It highlights the true depiction of the world full of brutality,
violence and drugs. Personally, this was the movie that grabbed my attention the most. Each
scene further intrigued me in the story. I feel that it would be a little too intense and gory for the
regular audiences but the way the reality of the city was portrayed is what appreciated the most.
It is a must-watch movie that provides an insightful look at the complexity of daily life in Brazil.

  
Movie 4 - In the Mood for Love

A gem of Hong Kong cinema, In the Mood for Love was directed by Wong Kar-wai. This
visually magnificent movie, which takes place in the 1960s, tells the tale of two neighbours
named Mr. Chow and Mrs. Chan who come together unexpectedly after learning that their
spouses are having an affair. The film portrays a feeling of deep love and depicts how the two
protagonists never want to act like their counterparts. Even after knowing that their partners were
cheating on them, the moral of staying true to oneself was on them and they did not want to lose
their own integrity. In the entirety of the plot we can see such deep and impactful emotions
which explains the complexity of the two characters and how they were affected by the
situation. 

The movie's visual aesthetic, which is characterised by vivid colours, rich textures, and attractive
compositions, is among its most striking features. The movie has visual motifs that give it a
sense of unity ,  from the opening scenes of Mrs. Chan's dress blowing in the wind to the
recurrent shots of stairs and hallways. 

The camera angles and cinematography is essential in making the movie more deep and
impactful. The use of techniques like slow motion shots and close up shots help elevate the film.
Shallow focus, which helps to blur the background and emphasise the actors' expressions and
body language, is a distinctive feature of the film's cinematography. Through this technique, a
sense of intimacy is created by focusing the audience's attention on the characters and their
interactions. Close-up shots to help convey the inner thoughts just through the characters facial
expressions is another technique they took advantage of. Along with this a number of low angle
shots to depict a sense of loneliness during the scene.
This most interesting aspect of the film is of a repetitive tune that plays throughout the movie in
most of the scenes. The melody that always played made me wonder why it was used constantly.
Even though I found the tune to be overused and annoying, later I understood that the same tune
was used to break off a number of silent moments. It happens suddenly and goes unnoticed but it
grabs the attention of the viewers and personally made me feel that it helped in engaging the
audience with everything that was going on in the scene. The sound design played a key role in
making the movie a great success. 

The movie starts off with the two protagonists having to be neighbours at a rented
accommodation. At first I felt that there was very little interaction between the two but as the
film progressed we could observe how close they actually got. They are shown at the same time,
but the camera frames them separately, emphasising their individuality and distance from each
other. We see them both as lone people in a crowded, busy city as they both go through a life
transformation by moving into new residences. The camera work in this moment is important
because it conveys a sense of loneliness and separation between the two individuals through its
slow pan and framing. Even with their minimal interaction, both look out their window to check
out each other’s apartments.

The initial scene sets the stage for the rest of the plot as we can see the two get closer to each
other with every passing day. Later in the film we get to see how their partners end up having an
affair and betray them. Both Mr Chow and Mrs. Chan plan to give their partners a bag and a tie
respectively. To their surprise, all Mr Chow’s wife Su could care about was the expensive bag
but what’s even worse is that Mrs Chan’s husband couldn't care less about the gift and continued
to stay preoccupied with his work. With this we could see a clear distance being made between
each of their partners. Later, both of them get to know that their partners are having an affair and
are cheating on them. We can see an expression of betrayal, despair and utter shock. Through the
use of clever and careful camera work, the entire scene incorporates a number of emotions by
using very little dialogue. The dialogue is conveyed through their facial expressions and body
language. 

Mr. Chow and Mrs. Chan start spending time together and discussing their different problems
after learning that their spouses are having an affair. As they spend more time together, their
relationship deepens and their attraction to one another grows. Both of them are married,
therefore they are reluctant to act on their emotions. Here is where the most interesting part of
the film comes into place where we can see the two enact and pretend to be their spouses. They
try to imitate their partners' behaviours, act upon their likes and dislikes. They even try to order
food that their partners would prefer for each other. It is almost like they want to experience the
feeling of betrayal from the giving side of the spectrum compared to the receiving end which
they were already used to. Mr. Chow and Mrs. Chan use this role-playing to stay in touch with
their partners and attempt to comprehend their perspectives. As they can only communicate with
each other by acting like someone else, it also highlights the emotional gap they have with their
partners. It is the perfect example of how love can be powerful and even destructive. It can push
people to make decisions without actually understanding the gravity of what has been done. 

As the film progresses, there is also a scene where both of them end up going to a hotel room
repeatedly whilst still pretending to be their spouses. The scene ends on some sort of cliff hanger
as it is not known to the audience what happened in the hotel room or even if they were intimate
with each other. Even with the confusion in the scene, the one aspect that was the most clear was
that it was an attempt by both the individuals to seek comfort with one another. It might feel
desperate but ultimately both of them knew that they could not continue this act together. 

With the passage of time, both Mr Chow and Mrs. Chan end up falling for each other. In the
pursuit of understanding their partner's point of view and also trying to become each other’s
partner’s affairs’ they end up falling in love with each other ( the classic romantic moment).
They start to get closer, take extra effort for one another. One example is when Mrs Chan made
Mr Chow his favourite sesame syrup when he was unwell. Both of them understood how wrong
it was for them to be together and to create some distance. Mr Chow plans to go to Singapore to
run away from his feelings. This instance demonstrates how want and love can be both liberating
and limiting, inspiring people to seek out new experiences and adventures even as their feelings
and attachments prevent them from doing so. 

In the end, the love that technically should have prevailed ended up losing its time and value.
Years later, Mr. Chow makes a trip back to Mrs. Chan's apartment in the hopes of running into
her. He is listening to a neighbour play a song on a violin as he stands outside the building,
which brings back memories of his time spent with Mrs. Chan. Mr. Chow walks away by himself
as the scene comes to a close. This scenario is bittersweet because it both acknowledges that the
past cannot be reversed and serves as a reminder of what might have been. 

Throughout the film, we could see the motif of holes which appear in various forms. In one
scene, for example, Mr. Chow drills a hole in his apartment wall so that he can spy on his
neighbour's activities. Later the two of them through a small hole in a wall to enter a chamber.
The hole becomes a symbol and a hint to the entire plot. My favourite scene was the absolute last
one where we could see that early on Mr Chow speaks to one of his friends and tells him how
one could protect a secret or an emotion by speaking into a hole. There is a complete cycle and
the movie ends with Mr Chow sharing his feelings about Mrs. Chan into a small hole. It almost
felt like all the dots in the film were connected and how life cannot always be fair to each
individual. Even if the two loved each other so much, their morals and ethics never let them take
a step towards the other direction. This completely depicts that love can be both powerful, strong
or even tragic, hurtful. They are constantly reminded of what they cannot have, making the
emotion of love even tougher to comprehend. The movie also highlights how societal
expectations and norms can impact love. 

In conclusion, “In the Mood for Love" is a remarkable work of art that examines the
complexities of interpersonal relationships and the desire for connection. The movie's universal
themes of love, sorrow, and lost possibilities make it a timeless classic that viewers will continue
to enjoy for years to come. Personally I really enjoyed the film and the intricacies within the
whole plot. I still wished that the two got together but I loved how the film was able to depict the
unfortunate side of love. The movie did not hesitate to share the reality of each situation which
made the entire plot even more interesting and convincing. A must watch for everyone and
maybe a recommendation for people “in love”. 
Movie 5 - Glas (1958)

The 1958 release of "Glas" is a brief documentary directed by Bert Haanstra. The movie shows
the many noises and rhythms of the city while giving an inside look at the lives of Amsterdam
residents. Even though it is nearly 60 years old, "Glas" is nevertheless an intriguing and current
glimpse at city life.

Instantly as the film begins, we see the view of canals and bridges. The film starts to give a
proper tour of the city  with a significant emphasis on sound and rhythm. We can hear the bells
of cycles, construction work and the sound of people having conversation.  

The film is a photographic masterpiece that captures the beauty and complexity of the glass-
making process. The camera work in "Glas" is extraordinarily accurate and precise, capturing
every step of the glass-making process in breath-taking clarity. The camera follows the workers
as they perform their duties, capturing the heat and intensity of the manufacturing setting.
Haanstra also employs a range of camera angles and techniques to depict the many steps of the
glass-making process. In one shot, for example, the camera zooms in to record the molten glass
as it is shaped and moulded by the craftsmen. The camera then pans back to show workers
carrying finished goods away from the production floor. 
Haanstra also adopts a variety of experimental tactics to increase the visual impact of the picture.
Slow-motion shots of the workers' motions are included, as well as time-lapse photography that
condenses the glass-making process into a few seconds. These techniques contribute to the film's
visual drama by emphasising the beauty and complexity of the glass-making process.

The movie is a wonderful illustration of how sound may be used to improve the viewer's
experience from a sound viewpoint. We can hear the raw ingredients being melted in the furnace,
the raw materials being shaped and moulded into glass, and the whooshing and blowing of the
machinery that helps make the glass. The spectator will have a sense of immersion and realism
as if they are physically present in the plant with the employees thanks to these noises. The usage
of music as sound in the movie is another intriguing technique. Haanstra rarely utilises music,
but when he does, it always has a profound impact. For instance, a jazzy melody that creates the
mood for the movie and energises the audience can be heard during the opening credits.

The movie is set at a glass factory in the Netherlands and depicts the entire process of making
glass. The procedure is introduced in the opening scene with a barge delivering soda ash and
sand docking at the mill. The scene shifts to the factory's interior, where we witness employees
sorting and sifting raw materials. Haanstra's camera stays on these workers, recording their
gestures and motions as they competently carry out their duties.

The raw components are turned into molten glass, which is then shaped and moulded by the
workers as the film advances. The camera zooms in to capture the heat and intensity of the glass-
making process, with the molten glass burning red and orange as the workers shape and mould it.
The workers work fast and deftly, shaping and moulding the glass before it cools and solidifies
with tongs and other instruments. The colours and patterns of the glass are visible as it is formed
into various shapes, ranging from simple drinking glasses to elaborate vases and bowls. The
close-up images and intricate sound design provide an immersive experience, making the viewer
feel as if they are right there in the factory, watching the glass being created.

The one aspect I appreciated the most in the film is how even though the task they are
performing is extremely monotonous and repetitive, the way the film has focused on worker’s
personal lives and interests is what I found to be extremely unusual and nice. Although the film
is mostly about the process of making glass, it also highlights the personalities and quirks of the
people involved. One worker, for example, is shown taking a break to light a cigarette, while
another is shown stopping to converse with another worker. The way these moments were used
to give the short film a personal touch was impressive. Throughout the movie, the work that they
are doing is given the spotlight but the fact that they included little snippets like these indicated
that the film was much more than just making glass. I felt that the director kept the perfect
balance between including the main scenes from the factory whilst also showing a few scenes
that could instil a sense of respect or even empathy while watching them work.  

The thing that I felt went unnoticed was how nobody really understood the gravity of how
serious the actual work is. Workers are shown handling molten glass that is extremely hot, and
they must be careful not to burn or hurt themselves. The scene is a remarkable metaphor for how
humans attempt to shape their surroundings, even at considerable personal cost. It also highlights
how in that day and age there was no industrial or technological change and how these beautiful
intricate glassware was made by skilled labourers. 

There are various instances where the workers' camaraderie and teamwork are highlighted. The
employees are depicted as a close-knit community working together to achieve their common
objective of producing beautiful glass items. One memorable scene is a group of workers moving
a giant piece of glass across the factory floor. Because the glass is too heavy to be carried by one
person, the employees must coordinate their motions to guarantee that the glass is transferred
securely and without harm. This provides emphasis towards teamwork and unity amongst all
workers. Workers are depicted laughing, joking, and speaking with one another during these
scenes. These simple acts of empathy help to humanise the workers and make them accessible to
the audience. It is a very wholesome moment that gives a glimpse of unity. 

In conclusion, "Glas" is a visually spectacular and engaging documentary that allows us to

appreciate the beauty and complexities of the glass-making process. "Glas" explores deeper
issues about human nature, industrialization, and the value of human labour through portrayals of
the glass-making process and the workers that carry it out. The film asks us to consider how we
shape the environment around us, as well as the risks and rewards that come with that process.
Personally I feel that the movie was extremely intriguing. I had a number of observations and
undertakings in only a 10 minute film. It is a beautiful, artistic beauty which would be
appreciated for years to come.