Two Little Boys - Landscape in World Cinema

Two little boys is a film set in New Zealand, in the Catlins, and is about a guy who accidentally runs over a backpacker, and asks his best friend to help him, because he does not want to go to jail. The two best friends travel to the Catlins to try and get rid of the body and make sure that they do not get caught. The landscape within this film is utterly spectacular (obviously it is beautiful because it is set in New Zealand). The landscape of the Catlins creates a symbolic connection, for the main character Nigel. It is about him and the fact he hasn't changed in such a long time, and that he wants to be free, and become so much more confidence in himself, because he does not feel like he is a strong person. What the landscape does in the film, is it creates drama, and allows Nigel to think about the things in his life. With the breathe taking views, and the placement of each scene, it is hard not to catch a second glance. The landscape may seem isolated, but in closer look, there is so much to take in, and the characters do not feel so isolated, and they feel much more free, because the landscape allows them to. The landscape adds to the emotion of what Nigel is feeling throughout the film, and allows each character to grow in his own way. It pushes each character to its limits, to test them, in order to free them from the isolation and stress they have been feeling within their lives, and pushing it onto the other people, not allowing any of the characters grow.

The Third Man - City in World Cinema

Within the film 'The Third Man', the city portrays so much, and if you read between the city lines it becomes much more clear on what those things are. The Third Man is set in Vienna. What The Third Man does within its view of the city, is that it sets it out to be a place where not many people come and go to. It has a trapped and also most prison feeling, especially within the day time, with all of the guards from the different countries, surrounding the city, and patrolling the areas. It also had people smuggling and trying to get things to each other without the authorities to know. The main character is also very politely interrogated by a guard, before he enters Vienna, and when he comes in the station is surround by a fence, so that people do not or cannot run away. Vienna is set post-war so it has an unsettling feeling to it, especially those times where you do not see anyone else around but one character. It shows the city as a place that is not seen as a tourist spot, considering the circumstances. It shows theme parks empty, during the day time, and night time to be very scary and ominous. Not many people came out in the night, and so it creates a feeling of fear, because of the lighting and lack of people within the city. The city in world cinema, has two sides to it; it always begins with a sense of hope, and excitement because the character is in a new place, with more people, and so much more to see because they grew up in the country or suburbs. Then it turns into the city, being a trap, and isolating people with the sense that they are not going to get out, and instills danger within the character and the audience as well.

Hard boiled 1992 - H.K Woo

Hard boiled is film about a police officer who morns the death of his partner, after a shooting that took place in the beginning of the movie. He is assigned to a case that is extremely dangerous, involving one particular group who has no mercy for other, with an undercover cop by their side. This film is very much about loss, because of the events that follow the shooting at the beginning. The main character in the film is a extremely tough cop, that does everything in his power to make sure that the bad guy is caught, whether it be dead or alive. He has lost so many things in the film such as; his communication with his girlfriend, which might have suffered because of his loss of feeling and showing emotion to other people. He had lost his partner which resulted in him being even more tough, and loosing his sense of empathy for other people. Not to mention throughout the film itself, it has a sense that people within the film has lost their humanity, not caring whether people live or die, especially the evil guy in the film Johnny. The undercover cop has lost his sense of identity, because of the things he has to do in order to keep his cover from being blown, which leaves him in a very emotionally vulnerable state. The tough cops girlfriend has lost the idea of having a family until the end of the film, because of the unstable connection of their relationship. The lines are crossed very often in this film, especially when it came to the hospital scenes, where Johnny's men begin to kill the patients in the hospital, and shooting the police officers outside the hospital, not to mention the innocent bystanders who are watching it happen. Politically for the film, it means that everything is out of order, and their is no boundaries or rules that people follow, especially when it comes to the innocence of others. Culturally it is a big deal because of the amount of issues it faces. The final scene in the hospital was a little bit strange, because of the fact he had a baby in his hands and he was still killing people. But what the baby added to the film that seemed to be missing, was that perception of purity and innocence, which everyone in the film had lost. There was also humor added when the baby came into the film, which is not seen before hand. Hard boiled is similar to almost every single action film from the 1990's up until now. It has explosions, innocent people dying, a cause to fight for, and the main character has a strong personality and background. It is a important film to the action genre, because it is like a set out blue print for all the action films from then on. There is nothing about the film that makes you feel like it isn't an action film, because it never has a break, and it leaves you wanting more, but with a resolution at the end.  

Spirited Away - Hayao Miyazaki 2001

Spirited away is one of the most magical, and beautifully crafted films I have watched. Spirited away is a typical Miyazaki films in the sense that it has all the elements that he likes to use within his own films such as; strong female characters. The little girl in the movie, Chihiro, also known as Sen, did not start out as a strong female character. She began as a scared little girl who did not want to do anything that was unfamiliar to her. As the film progresses, as an audience member, you can see the change from a little girl, to a strong young female. Most of the progression and the strength came out of the love for Haku, which really illustrated how caring, and loving Chihiro is to the people around her. Even though in the beginning she was afraid, she got through the fear, and did not stop fighting for what she wanted, (her parents who had turned into pigs). You can even see the strength of Chihiro, nearing the end of the film, when she walks towards the evil witch Yubaba, and she stands tall, and unafraid, because she believes in herself. And with everyone cheering for her, it also makes the viewer, feel like they are also cheering for her, and evokes that urge to also be strong because she is. There were two other main females that show strong character. Obviously one, and or two of them were the witch twins; Yubaba and Zeniba. They both are all powerful, and stop at nothing to get what they want. They have juxtaposing personalities, but they are both strong in different ways. Zeniba has compassion for others, and is loving, which makes her strong in the sense that she has much more to give to other people, and Yubaba controls everyone in the bath house, and that part of the land, which makes her strong in the sense of power instead of compassion. The last female character who was very strong, was Chihiros, or at this point, Sen's mentor and friend. She was tough during the entire film, and she never backed down, even when she was being treated like dirty from the frogs, she stood up for herself, which felt like a huge part of Chihiro/Sen's progression. Not only that but Miyazaki loves the connection of the land, the new and old Japan, Janapese mythology, spirituality and flight. Which all of these things had in the film. The landscapes were absolutely breathtaking in the way it was crafted, and the details were amazing. In terms of Japanese mythology and spirituality, they both intertwined especially when you see the particular type of 'Gods' that come in and out of the bath house. It is quite a spiritual thing, in itself to go to a bath house, because in a way it is kind of like meditation, and within who ever comes into the bath house; such as no face, Japanese mythology creeps up on you, within the viewing of the films. There was a lot of flying, especially the scenes where Haku is a dragon, and Chihiro is on his back, and they are riding through the sky, with the clouds in gorgeous detail, as the moon shines upon them, and the shadows appear. That is truly a magical scene. And the new and old Japan intermingle with the houses, and building you see in that section of the town, and from where Chihiro came from, and he does that to allow people to get the understanding of, without the old there is no new. Everything about this film draws me in; from the scenery, the characters, the relationship between the characters, the storyline, and the details to the animation itself. Miyazaki's style of work is beautifully done, because of the fact he starts with the drawing itself; to retain a personal feeling towards the character. Creates a inter-textual collage, bridges the two worlds of traditional Japanese anime with western. Makes sure the images are very well detailed, also has the backgrounds in a complex formation, so that the relation is later known, and pans the camera to suggest the movement of a chatterer. Miyazaki creates such amazing animated films, with in depth storylines, captures the heart of each character, and makes it seem so seamless within the direction of the film itself. Miyazaki is truly one of the best animated film makers in the world.

The 400 Blows - Truffaut 1959

The 400 Blows, is a film set in Paris in 1959, and is about a boy who has trouble at school, a mother who does not want him, and a father who is not really his father. This is a 'New Wave' french film, in the way it does not convey a Hollywood style narrative, where there is a beginning, middle and end. The film begins with a sight seeing tour of Paris, but not a particularly glamours one, that we see in the modern day films, or even from a tourist point of view. It is the side of Paris that not many people see, the side that puts you in the place of the children, and people who lived in Paris at the time of the 50's and 60's. It portrays the life of what people had, and the not so beautifully painted picture, that people have always had, when they think about Paris. The film illustrates the struggle of childhood, and how children need that sense of direction, and guidance, and support, otherwise they will turn the other way, and do things that affect their lives, and not to mention the lives of others. The child in the film, is lost, and does not have the support or trust, of his parents or his teachers. He feels as if no one will believe him, so he lies straight away, which makes his teacher think he plagiarized his essay. The child goes through so many experiences, and they all have to do with choice. The final freeze frame, feels as if it comes full circle, because he has come to the beach, somewhere he has always wanted to go, and that final realization that he has to go back, because there is nothing to take him away, and escape from what he is leaving. Reality sinks in and he realizes that life isn't that easy. He must go back, and face the consequences, otherwise he will become exactly what other people thought that he was, and would become. The film was interesting in the way it ended, because it didn't really explain anything to the audience of what he actually became, but it left the audience wondering, which was a better reaction that no reaction at all.

OSS117 - Lost in Rio

The film Lost in Rio, was a very interesting and, complex film, in terms of the overall themes.
It has so many different elements to it, that sometimes it is hard to really focus on one of them,
but for some reason it all works together. There are the elements of racism, it is obvious in the first scene, where the Chinese men come in, and agent OSS 117 make quite a remark, that leaves the audience unsure whether to laugh or not, because of how offensive it is. But what makes it funny, is that fact that agent OSS 117, does not know of his stupidity. This is the main feeling of the film, where the audience does not know what to do, in terms of reacting to what he has said, or even does within the film. What this does for the genre of the film, is make it a spy, cold war parody. Usually it spy and cold war films have a certain aspect to them, that makes them feel like they are pushing the boundaries of the truth to the world, this film does the complete opposite of what it is doing. It takes a 'James Bond' type character, and makes him into someone who, in fact, is not even good at the job of capturing the bad guy, and making him arrogant and racist. The film captures, a bit of the essence, of the war, and how Nazis, were the enemy and must not take over, because of the implications, of what has, and happened in that era. In terms of the Jewish rising up, I think that it was not said very much, throughout history, but it makes out them to be strong, and hopeful people, which, I do not doubt that they are. It was wonderful to see that strong Jewish influence, especially within such a strong woman. It is not seen very much from the 1960's, but women were rising, and men seemed to not see why they were. Now in this day in age, it is quite empowering, to see more women rise, even it is in a film. All in all the film was extremely entertaining, using quite big concepts from the world, and adds humor, even though in a way that makes the audience feel a little uncomfortable.