Battle of Algiers/ French film making – Flashcards
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What is Culture?
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beliefs behavior language experiences interactions
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How do you define Culture?
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norms values history lifestyles
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Culture
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entire way of life of a particular group of people tendencies toward certain way of thinking and viewing the world
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The problem:
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Ethnocentrism
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The solution:
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recognition + understanding: why and how?
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The Iceberg Metaphor: What is Visible
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Food art(music, literature, painting) religion holiday customs facial expressions, gestures dress
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The Iceberg Metaphor: What is not/less visible
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values concept of beauty, fairness, leadership childbearing belief importance of time concept and general view of self nature of friendship views of the world
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Studying Culture
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Claude Levi-Strauss "A society's culture is the language in which it speaks to itself" This conception permits us to see how culture is created by humans rather than as natural organic occurrence: How does a country imagine itself?
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How does a nation define itself?
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National identity is most strongly asserted when a nation perceives itself to be under threat These threats: real or imagined National identity is therefore examined, ruminated and debated in times of upheaval or political uncertainty
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France:La guerre franco-francaise
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shaped by internal divisions and struggles 1789: The French Revolution 1871: The Commune 1940: Resistance vs. Collaboration 1962: The Algerian War 1968: Student Uprisings 2008: Globalization
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The Self:
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invested with positive characteristics
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The other
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invested with negative, defiling traits
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National identity
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explores what it means to be French, who is included in the nation, on what criterion of ethnicity, terriorty or culture; and what relationships are possible within the nation as well as with other nations. The fetishized notion of the Republic and the citizen
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Class identity
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probes divisions within and between socio-economic groups and is concerned with how power, priviledge and disadvantage attach themselves to groups based on property or birth and what might be done to maintain this relationship
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Gender Identity
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Explores respective condition of men and women, asks what the basis is in nature, society or consciousness for the inequality between them in the family and in the community.
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THREE TYPES OF IDENTITY ARE
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Cumulative Recursive Interactive
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Cumulative
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each identity is build on the patterns and traditions that have preceded it
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Recursive
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They recast and reinterpret
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Interactive
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they intersect and inflect one another
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Most importantly with Identity
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Identity is dynamic always changing. Even the past changes
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Why write about film?
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help us to appreciate movies an extension of what we already do can help you understand your own responses to a movie convince others why you like or dislike a film explain or introduce new ideas
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Movie Review
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general public inform and persuade
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The theoretical essay
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specialized public larger concepts and complex structures
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The Critical Essay
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audience has some knowledge: think of your fellow classmates, not the instructor Reveals subtleties that may have escaped viewers
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Theme
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Not necessarily the "message" rather the films larger concerns or patterns Should always intersect with other concerns, such as history or style -film and its relation to the other arts -mise-en-scene -image composition -sound
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Story
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all the events presented on screen
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Plot
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the arrangement of those events
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Classic narrative is characterized by
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-A plot development in which there is a logical relation between one event and another -a sense of closure at the end -stories that focus on characters -a narrative style that attempts to be "objective"
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Characters
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often the center of the movie Separate the onscreen character and the real-life person Characterization:costumes and props, surrondings, manner of speech and gestures Actions: Does the character change? Do his actions or the actions of others change our perception of him?
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Point of View
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-often objective-not aligned with any specific character -closest to "third-person limited" or "restricted consciousness" POV in prose fiction
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Mise-en-scene
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-French term for what is put in the scene -the theatrics of space as the space is constructed for the camera. This use of space-how it is arranged and how the characters and objects relate within it -It refers to all properties of a cinematic image that exist independently of camera position, camera movement and editing
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Image Composition: The Shot
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The single image you see on screen before the film cuts to a different image
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Three photographic qualities
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1. tone 2. film speed 3. perspective -depth of field or deep focus -shallow focus -rack focus
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Framing
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what angle does the frame present the action? is the camera placed at a natural height is the frame canted or skewed? what kind of distance is maintained between the camera and it subjects? The camera is mobile -tilting -pan -tracking or dolly shot -crane shot -hand-held shot
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Editing
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shot scene sequence Continuity Editing -classical invisible hollywood -avoids obvious cuts -confers an illusion of continuous time and space between shots
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Shot/reverse shot
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dialogue, 180 degree rule
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cross cutting
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more visible transitions fade iris wipe dissolve
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sound
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often ignored for same reasons as mise-en-scene direct sound postdubbed sound sound matching
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The interwar years
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1919-1939
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WW1
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followed a long period of peace and relative economic prosperity in France No war between 1871 and 1914 Was meant to be a quick war (only a few months) .....it lasted 4 years (1914-1918)
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France won the war but.....
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Had great losses -material destruction -demographic crisis: -1.4 million dead -over 4 million wounded -France had mobilized 8410000 men between 18-46 73% dead or mutilated -Population less important in 1921 than in 1911
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Women in the War
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women greatly participated to the "war effort" by taking what was traditionally considered "mens jobs"
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Social tensions after the war
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-economic difficulties: prices up, unemployment -political tensions: soviet revolution in 1917 -Gender tensions: divorce rate up, role of women in society
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The Treaty of Versailles
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signed June 28th 1919 treaty negotiated by the "Big 3": France, UK, US. it includes: -France gets Alsace and Lorraine back (lost in 1871) -War guilt clause: Germany admits responsibility -colossal financial reparations paid by Germany -League of Nations set up to keep world peace -occupation of the Ruhr by France
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Culture in the Interwar period
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Very dynamic culturally, especially in Paris -poetry, paintings -literature -music -cinema -parties
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Series of Unfortunate events
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Crash of 1929 -Great depression comes to France in 1931 The rise of fascism -Mussolini in Italy (1922) -Hitler in Germany (1933) Fascists in France: February 6, 1934 -Violent anti-parliamentarist protests by fascists in Paris -16 people killed 200 wounded deputies assualted -counter demonstration by left movements on feb 9th
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The Popular Front
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Unity on the Left: against the threat of fascism: -republican radicals -communists -socialists Workers support the Popular Front -economic difficulties -strikes to pressure the government for social reforms Popular Front wins the election in May 1936! -leon Blum elected
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Accords matignon
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Following strikes and protests: Massive Social and Work reforms -pay raises for unionized workers -trade union rights recognized -40 hr work week -2 week paid holiday -minister of leisure: Leo Lagrange Nationalize arms industries Left is united, "fascist" leagues are dissolved
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The Blum experiment fails
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International woes -Spanish Civil War -Nazi Germany Domestic woes -private investors keep money abroad -strikes -feb 1937: programs "paused" -June 22, 1937: Blum resigns
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Build up to war....
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RIGHT WING DISSENT -vilified in the extreme right-wing press -Better Hitler than Blum PACIFISM AT ANY COST -Novelist Roger Martin du Gard: "I am hard as steel for neutrality. My principle: anything, anything rather than war! Even fascism in Spain...even Fascism in France
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The Drole de guerre ( THE PHONEY WAR)
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Hitler was allowed to have Czechoslovakia to himself after that he invaded Poland During that time in 1939 the "rules of the game out" France enters the war in September 1939 -not much happens for monthes -until German attack in May -June 1940 Hitler troops walked into Paris. French was defeated in a couple days and occupied by the Germans right after -Loses the war in June 1940: less than 1 month the French army is defeated
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La Regle Du Jeu (The Rules of the Game)
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Director: Jean Renoir Screenplay and Dialogue: Jean Renior, Carl Koch Production: Jean and Claude Renior Date of release: 1939 Cast: Marquis Robert de la Chesnay: Marcel Dailo Christine de La Chesnaye: Nora Gregor Andre Jurieu: Ronald Toutain Ocatave: Jean Renior (the director)
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Rules of the Game first viewing
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First opened the initial reception was so bad that apparently a viewer lit a newspaper and tried to burn the theater that was playing it.
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Characteristics of the film
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Deep Space composition: staging an event or film such that significant elements occumpy widely separated planes in the image Deep focus cinematography: all three planes are in sharp focus, use of short focal length lens
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What did Renoir meant the film to be?
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He meant the film to be a criticism of the bourgeoise, and the ignorance to the state of affairs while war was on the the brink. The film was so controversial that it was banned by the French government when it was first released
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Mise en scene in the film
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-Gevoines apartment convey wealth drew a contrast between her and Chrisitne. Genovien dressed nicely perfectly fits the scene situated in sheek town in France. Incredibly wealth this class has. -objects in the foreground i.e. mechanical toys establish the wealth of the characters.
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End of Rules of the Game?
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Octave wants to be with christine but andrea comes when they are out in the green house and is shot.
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Au Revoir les Enfants (Goodbye, children)
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Director: Louis Malle Screenplay and dialogue: Louis Malle Production: Mk2 Production Cinematography: REnato Berta Date of Release: 1987 Cast: julien Quentin: Gaspard Manesse Jean Bonnet/Jean Kippelstein: Raphael Fejto Mrs. Quentin: Francine Racette Francois Quentin: Stanislas Morier Joseph: Francois Negret Mrs. Davenne: Irene Jacob Father Michel: Francois Berleand
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Fiche Technique
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Festival de Cannes: 7 oscars -best film, director, screenplay, cinematography, sound, set design, and editing Oscar 1988: nomination for best foriegn film venice film festival 1987: Lion D'or
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Summary of Au Revoir Les Enfants
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Malle Fins catharsis for an experience that has haunted him since the German occupation. At age 12 he was sent to catholic boarding school near Paris that was a refuge for several Jewish students. One of them was Malle's rival for academic honors and his friend. A kitchen worker at the school with a grudge became an informant. The priest who was the principal was arrested and the Jewish students were sent off to concentration camps
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objective Pov (omniscient POV)
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The camera sees all and shows all. it has a complete or unlimited perception of what the filmmaker decides that will be seen and heard on screen. Camera shot is not dictated by any identifiable character's physical position. Most common POV
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Subjective POV (restrictive POV)
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the spectator sees and hears like the character. The POV can be auditory, meaning that the sounds are usually amplified for psychological effects. See Lady In The Lake for an extreme example
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World War II
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The defeat Vichy The Occupation
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The "phony war"
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No major military operations and battles -between France and Germany -The maginot/siegfried lines -From september 1939 until May 1940 -sense of "normalcy" in France -Life goes on in streets and cafes -But rationing begins
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The Debacle
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May 1940: German attack -mass exodus in France -Germans enter Paris on June 14th 1940 -French Government flee to Tours, then Bordeaux -Armistice signed on June 22nd 1940 -occupation June 1940
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France under German Rule
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-France divided in 2 occupied zone (north) "free zone" (south) -Vichy government (southern zone) all powers to marshal petain on July 10th 1940
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A divided France: Occupied France
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german rules german adminsistration
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A divided France: Vichy government
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french administration collaborating with the Germans own initiatives beyond german recommendations After November 1942 all of France is occupied
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Vichy Government
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Responsibility of defeat -> Vichy blames: -Politicians and the Popular Front (esp. Blum) -Liberals and Progressives (the Left in general, esp. communits) -materialistic society -jews Vichy Governments ideology: The "National Revolution" -paternalistic, hierarchical society -xenophobic -anti-parliamentary, anti-democratic, anti-liberal -catholic schooling -peasant values (return to the "soil") -youth organizations
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Transformation from Liberty, equality, fraternity...
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to work, family, nation
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The Occupation
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-Businesses are opened Rationing Curfew -Heavy censorship books newspapers arts (music,plays,paintings)
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Anti-Semitism with VIchy
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Anti-semitic laws enacted without German pressure: -ban jews from public employment -prevent Jews from owning businesses, etc. -Defines "race" in a new, strict way
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Vel'd'hiv "Spring Breeze"
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July 16, 1942 12,000 jews gathered to be sent to concentration camps french police and militia
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The collaboration
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French actively working with the Germans -Intellectual collaboration -business collaboration -horizontal collaboration -denunciation (of Jews, resistance Fighters) -Fight alongside Germans -military involvement -creation of the French militia -arrest and deport jews -arrest, torture, deport, execute members of the resistance
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The STO: Mandatory Work in Germany
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Laws to send French workers to Germany in 1942-3 over 600,000 workers sent to Germany between July in 1942 and July 1944 late 1944: 2 million French in Germany
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Two types of French resistance
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1. The exterior resistance: The "Free France" De Gaulle to the French via the BBC radio on June 18th 1940 2. The Interior Resistance: Spontaneous movements, no central authority
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the exterior resistance
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FREE FRANCE -based in London -led by General De Gaulle -Proclaimed and reconginized by Allies as the French Authority -Fights alongside the Allies -Prepare the political construction of postwar France with an assembly -Work alongside the interior resistance to unify the different movements under De Gaulle and the Free France
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The Interior resistance
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-spontaneous movements created by people in France -at beginning very small people wanted to do something -organize into complex movements -by 1942 strong movements emerge -new recruits from the STO -unifications in the Southern zone in 1943 -creation of the National Committee of the resistance in early 1944 -many ideological currents: in the resistance -communists, royalists, christian-democrats, socialists -socialist consensus
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Resistancialisme
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Discourse claiming that most French supported the Resistance -inaccurate: less than 2% active in the Resistance -also a civil resistance: myraid of different positions that are neither collaboration nor resistance
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The Vichy syndrome
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French society unable to deal with Vichy until the 70's in the 1970's the myths about the vichy years collapsed -avoiding the memory of the occupation -costume or contemporary dramas -le cinema de papa
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Liberation in France
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August 1944 -several weeks of street fights -De Gaulle seen as the hero -Resistance movements take control of the administration in cities and villages -women get the right to vote
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The Purge
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9,000 executions 126,000 detained most visible punished -petain (imprisoned), Laval, Brasillach (executed) -As time passes, sanctions are less severe
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may 8, 1945: the armistice! IN FRANCE
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celebration all over france celebrating peace new constitution being prepared
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may 8, 1945: the armistice IN ALGERIA
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a french colony -celebration of peace -22,000 african soldiers died -11,000 from the Maghreb -algerians not considered full citizens -during a march independent Algerian flags are waved
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May 8, 1945 in Algeria
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massacres of setif and Guelma victims -100 french -between 15,000 and 40,000 algerians
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4th Republic 1946-1958
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New constitution parliamentary power over executive power many different governments rapid return to old politics -the ambitions and objectives of the resistance fade - but some principles remain: nationalizations, planned economy, social security, etc.
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Indigenes: Days of Glory
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Movie has historical consequences changed the perception of people law about war benefits
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Days of Glory
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Director: Rachid Bouchareb screenplay: Rachid Bourchareb and Oliver Lorelle music: Armand Amar and Khaled Date of release: 2006 cast: Abdelkader: Sami Bouajila Said: Jamel Debbouze Yassir: Samy Naceri Larbi: Assad Bouab Messaoud: Roschdy Zem Martinez: Bernard Blancan
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Days of glory cnt
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Festival de cannes: -best actors: Debbouze, Naceri, Zem, Bouajila, Blancan -best orginial screenplay -academy awards: nominated for best foreign film
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Days of Glory FILM MUSIC
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when considering sound as a category think about: -sources -types of sound Music is a type of sound Film music provides cues to the viewer for interpretation and meaning helps tell a story and develop characters raises expectations expresses a POV Enhances or contrasts a visual image creates continuity,emphasis, rhythm anticipates and comments
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Summary of Days of Glory
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In WWII, the muslims from French colonies fought for their motherland France. IN the 7th battalion commanded by the tough Sergeant Roger Martinez, tho soldier Abdelkader has leadership with the troop and seeks promotion and recognition from the command, said Otmari is a servile and illiterate private, happy in serving his sergeant: Messaoud Souni is the sniper of the group and has fallen in a corresponded love with the French Irene, and Yassir is fighting together with his brother to raise some money. Along the campaign in Italy, France and Alsace, they realize that French soldiers are promoted has better food and have leaves to visit their families, while the Arab soldiers are shamefully discriminated and treated like 2nd ranking soldiers.
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Post war France
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1. time of transitions: form a rural, empire-orientated, catholic nation to a fully industrialized, decolonized urban place 2. Modernization: a process, the perception of something 'new' 3. occupation: deprivation 4. post war france: appetite The Glorious Thirty France became a consumer society
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Rise of consumerism: American style mass consumption
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1. automobile 2. household appliances 3. The home priviledged site of individual consumption 4. Christian Dior: The new look 1947 5. Statistics: a. household appliances in 1954: 7.5% of french households had refrigerator 10% had washing machine 18% had vacuum cleaner b. from 1949-1957, this consumption grew 400% c. Expenditures grew at a rate of 15% a year d. Automobile i. in 1951 only 1 of every 17 inhabitants had a car e. women, as typical housewives, were target of the advertisements that would suggest buying the 'new' products for home to help them to handle the household 6. Redemptive Hygiene: a. Roland Barthes: Mythologies 1957 i. "Decay is being expelled from the teeth, the skin, the blood, breath: France is having a great yen for cleanliness"
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Mon Oncle "My Uncle"
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Director: Jacques Tati Screenplay: Jacques Tati, Jean I'Hote sets: Henri Schmitt sound engineer: jacques Carrere date of release: 1958 Cast: monsieur hulot: Jacques Tati monsieur arpel: jean-pierre zola madame arpel: adrienne servantie gerald arpel: alain Becourt monsieur pichard: lucien Fregis madame pichard:adelaide danieli neighbor dominique: marie georgette
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My uncle awards
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festival de cannes: 1958 jury special prize for best director academy awarys: 1959 best foreign language film won other prizes and awards in the us and europe
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Sound effects
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a sound artificially created for the soundtrack that has a definite function in telling the story keywords: editing and mixing -soundtrack: a sepaarate recording occupied by one specific type of sound recorded for a movie 1. to fill in the soundscape of the movie and enhance the versimilitude 2. to create hyper-reality 3. to convey important narrative and character information
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My Uncle as a silent film?
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appeared to have many silent era "Chaplin-esque" themes in which dialog was not stressed and visual comedy was relied upon. The various amlified sounds heard throughout the film (clicking of the heels, the opening of doors, the fish fountain) helped imply early on that the movie intended to be comical. 1. This film is more a satire then a comedy 2. The characterization in this film is not achieved throught the conversations, but through actions, costumes, their setting
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Through the movie the music is played louder then the conversations.
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To show the sounds were more important to tati then actual dialogue
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The home
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the modern home is empty of anything that could be considered homey or comfortable, is this supposed to be an indicator of the lack of emotion present in the family? One thing i've noticed was that Gerard could not be a kid in his house. The modernization of his home denied him his childhood.
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My uncle and how the title represents the film
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One would have expected that the relationship between the uncle and his nephew would be heavily explored in this film. There a couple of scenes that explore the relationship, such as the scene where the uncle takes his nephew out and the scene where the uncle and the nephew get into mischief at the garden party. But there as never enough look into the life of the uncle and his nephew
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France's dirty war
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1. The algerian war for the independence from France: 1954-1962 brought about the end of Forth French Republic 2.1958: return of De Gaulle 3. Algerian war turned out to be a single most repressed event of 20th century in France end of the 4th republic very violent on both sides
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Historical Background
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1830: Algeria is conquered by the French 1834: Algeria becomes an official colony 1865: Creation of the code de i'indigent or Indigenous code a: "the indigenous muslim is French: however, he will continue to be subjected to muslim law. He may be admitted to serve in the army and the navy. He may be called to functions and civil employment in Algeria. He may, on his demand, be admitted to enjoyed the rights of a French Citizen: in this case, he is subjected to the political and civil laws of France" mission of French is to civilize Algeria Les pieds-noris-Algerian born French men or women
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French Government
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1. Guy Mollet-President of the new 5th republic a Negotiates with the Nationalists b Crisis of 1958 followed by the return of De Gaulle
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Revolution
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1. A war of independence 2. part of a worldwide movement 3. the birth of the FLN 4. Ben Bella and Boudiaf: the use of violence to create social unrest 5. Guerilla warfare promoted the use of torture widespread 6. Created uncomfortable identification 7. Sartre: Torture defoms and mutilates the torturer as much as the tortured 8. De Gaulle: "one doesnt imprison Voltaire 9. Feb, 1962 Charonne protests 10. bombing attempt on Andre of Culture 11. April 1962 the generals putsch
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The harkis
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Algerians who sided with the French during the war
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The French Republic
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history of inequality and repression: -pacifications unequal status -tortures killings, violence wants to keep Algeria French strengthens military presence, sends reserve soldiers -military service is lengthened 30 months -paratroopers (red beret) by 1956 4000.000 soldiers are in Algeria to "maintain order"
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The FLN
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national liberation front -created in Cairo by Ben Bella Considered the most extreme liberation party -killings, tortures -extremly well organized central role of women
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The OAS
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secret army organization -paramilitary organization created in 1961 -extreme right ideology -directly opposes the FLN Algeria is French and will remain French violence -torture bombings in Algeria and France public places or directed attacks
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The War in France
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Repressions and suspicions of Algerians living in France OAS plant bombs and terroirize French population -target intellectuals and politicians FLN and others fight for the support of Algerian workers living in France peaceful protests in France violently repressed by the french police
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French Public Opinion
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Opposition to the war -new left: intellectuals and communists -writers (camus, sartre) and journalists Public Opinion Shifts -Revelation of the horrors of the war -French soldiers keep dying -intense use of torture by French forces De Gaulle's decision to end the war -referendum approved by 90% of French
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The end of the war
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Evian Accords: -18 March 1962: Independence of Algeria, signed between France ( De Gaulle) and the temporary Government of Algeria -After De Gaulle signs the Evian accords -OAS intensifies the bombings -De Gaulle -Sartre _Malraux
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The Battle of Algiers
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From January to March 1957 All powers to General massu -seeks to dismantle the FLN -constant use of torture on civillians FLN vs. French Army -attacks on population vs. arrests, tortures, killings
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Legacy of the Algerian War
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massive migration majority of Pieds Noirs traveled back to France Algerian and French societies changed Jean-Marie Le Pen -extreme right party leader
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The two distinctive locations in The battle of Algiers
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One side is ery old community with small narrow streets, house with wells and very gritty, while the other side is very modern, clean with clubs and bars. You can tell very well where each shot were taken place. Cazban: slum French: pretty, clean, town, baloncies
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The director of The Battle of Algiers
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Pontecorvo 1966
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Sound in The Battle of Algiers
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in the beginning giving up when french blow a hole in the Cazban also when the algerians set three bombs music plays a strong roll of tying human suffering together music plays after these events parallel
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Gillo Pontrervo had a very interesting visual style the "The Battle of Algiers"
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the entire movie was filmed in Black and white (when color was available) and with interesting lighting techniques. Overall, it gave the movie a newsreel or documentary type feel. created as a work of fiction but it looks like a documentary especially with the dates and black and white Does not feel super styleized but it actually is shows the beginning of the war
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Pontecorvo identity of characters
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Denies the French army of any close-ups or even hint of personality, making them all caricatures. The Algerians, on the other hand, are seen as humans who respond to the tragic events. Seeing their faces and eyes in close-up allows the viewer to emotionally react with them.
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The Main Character?
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Started and ended with Ali La Pointe, but there were often chunks of the movie where it seemed like someone else was the focus.
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Women in war
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Women played an equal role in the war. In fact, in this closing scene they showed a women yelling and fighting off soldiers. This is interesting because during war women are usually portrayed as the nurses or care givers. Yet, The Algerian women were just as much soldiers as the men.
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What was Col. Mathieu mission
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called "Champagne" and he seemed sympathetic at points for the natives. He even goes so far as to be pleased to have captured Jaffar alive.
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Opening scene of The battle of Algiers
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One of the strongest scenes. See an Algerian man with a face that is heartbreaking sad being tortured into divulging information about his fellow Algerians. This is unlike most torture scenes as the face of this man resonates with the audience throughout the rest of the film. Feels shockingly real, and sets the tone of the film very early on.
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Algerian women
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shot in a shadow of a male character dark and sweaty
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French women
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very white dry a lot of light around her
