Year Ten English

Wes Anderson: Moonrise Kingdom (2000)

Tasks to complete:
Task 1
Watch Moonrise Kingdom once. In future viewing or through scene selection think
about the following themes.
Watch the 10 clips from the film starting at Moonrise Kingdom (1/10) – Camp
Ivanhoe (2012) https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=JQoNhRN9CiI&list=PLZbXA4lyCtqrQbO7Ze8kasbgX8UeopkSH&index=1
What impression does the director give you about the themes outlined below or
about other themes/ideas/big ideas?

1. The role of the family in constructing the feelings, opinions and lives of
young people;

2. The need for young people to be independent/defy the rules their families
and societies set for them;

3. The need for friends in times of crisis;

4. The conflicts that occur in families;

5. How the restrictions and conditions of one’s society or culture motivate

young people to feel conflicted;

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 6. The confusion and inner conflict caused by young love;

7. The role of religion and conscience in shaping people’s decisions;

8. How the past and one’s family’s values can generate fears, obstacles and
restrictions for young people;

9. The damage that can be created by rash decision-making and strong

emotions.

Task 2
Analysing the WAYS that theme is explored in the film (see below for a list of film
metalanguage and theme vocabulary that will help you construct these analyses).
Think about the themes through sound and imagery, character/s, setting and plot
turns.

The central question you should be asking when you begin your analysis is:

What does the text argue about a theme/idea through the ways they present
character, plot, setting (era and social values) and how do they use the typical
features of the text-type (film) to do so?

Sample analysis of a scene from Moonrise Kingdom

Theme: The conflicts that occur in families

In Wes Anderson’s ‘Moonrise Kingdom’, the protagonists, Sam and Suzy, must
overcome the forces of the adult world. Sam and Suzy are driven apart by their
families (or lack thereof), and the social expectations of the communities that they
live in. When Sam appeals to the Khaki Scouts to let him “disappear” with Suzy,
Redford says, “Well, it’s tempting, but I can’t let you do that.” Similarly, when Sam
and Suzy are caught by the adults, Mr Bishop says, “Be advised, the two of you will
never see each other again.” These moments illustrate that not only are the
characters in ‘Moonrise Kingdom’ affected by conflict but they also fall victim to the
‘herd mentality’, the notion that it is unacceptable for individuals to deviate from the
norm. As Redford says, why should he like Sam if “…nobody else does”?

Use both quotes and specific film metalanguage to ensure you are analysing HOW
and WHY the director, Wes Anderson, created those scenes in the ways he did.

Vocabulary for themes:

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Influence Hierarchy Pressure
Vicariously Oppression Unfair
Asset Intimate Secretive
Benevolence Malevolence Intimidating
Rebellion Comfort Threat
Blackmail Reputation Allegiance
Conflict Confidante Urge
Defiant Role models Embarrassed
Transformation Contentment Tradition
Judgement Discrimination Privileges
Confinement Superficial Appearance
Relegated Façade Escapism
Dichotomy Fanciful Infantile
Inequality Iconography Uncertainty
Legacy Remnant Liberty
Complacent Passionate Aggression
Contemporary Radical Tension
Argument Dilemma Maturity
Hindrance Agency Impasse
Decree Hypocrisy Fatalistic
Furtive Overwhelmed Proximity
Incarceration Entrapment Innocuous

Film metalanguage

Mise-en-scene Camera Angles Close-up

Setting Interior Exterior
Foreground Background Colour
Motif Juxtaposition Contrast
Preceding Succeeding Fades into/out of
Dream Sequence Hypothesis Consecutive
Diegetic sound Non-diegetic sound Editing
Music (but describe: fast/slow/change and how this impacts on the meaning of the
scene)