Film W4202 Topics in World Cinema: Latin American Final Assignment

Choose one film (and only one) from among the following list of films: Y TU MAMA TAMBIEN, 2001, Alfonso Cuarn, Mexico MADEINUSA, 2006, Claudia Llosa, Peru LOS MUERTOS, 2004, Lisandro Alonso, Argentina CINEMA, ASPIRINAS E URUBUS, 2005, Marcelo Gomes, Brazil LA VIDA ES SILBAR, 1998, Fernando Perez, Cuba You must choose one film from the above list. Absolutely no exceptions will be made. Please answer all the following questions with regards to the film you have chosen. 1) Place your chosen film historically, both in terms of the period in which it was made and also the period which it depicts. For example, CINEMA, ASPIRINAS E URUBUS was made in 2005 but depicts the 1940stwo rather different moments within the history of Brazil. What are the major political or social themes which the film addresses? 2) For your selected film, discuss the mise-en-scene choices (architecture, settings, costumes, props, acting styles, etc.) which its director has made. Compare the mise-enscene to that of other films screened for the course. 3) Discuss the use of sound in your selected film. 4) Discuss the cinematography in your selected film: focus especially on camera movementor the lack of camera movementas well as on framing and color. 5) Discuss the narrative strategy of your selected filmthe way that the story is toldand the effect that the manner of telling has on your reception/understanding of the film and its major themes. Does the film work to build audience identification with a protagonist, or does it subvert identification? 6) What is your assessment of your selected film? Do you think that it effectively accomplishes what you believe it sets out to do? In your response compare the film to at least two other films screened for the course. Your answer should be in the form of a typed, well-written and correctly-spelled essaysa separate essay for each question answered. The total number of pages for all your answers (together) should be no less than ten (10) pages; graduate students must do one fifteen (15) page paper. You can, of course, write as much as youd like, but you must respond fully to all of the questions. Papers are due absolutely no later than Thursday, May 7 at 12:00 noon in the Film Division office, 513 Dodge. There will be no extensions. Tapes and DVDs for these films will be available in the Butler Media Library. Several of them should also be readily available for rental or purchase at your better video stores or on-line. Remember, the assignment is due May 7.