Assignment Question
Compare and contrast the film, Padre Padron (1977 free on Tubi) to the film, Umberto D. (1952 on HBO Max & AMmazon Prime).
Choose a perspective or two. Examples of perspective (the way you are looking at the films) include but are not limited to your perspective on the works, such as: genre, like comedy or horror; art movements, like German Expressionism or “the New Reality;” historical fact vs. film’s portrayal of the period; portrayal of gender roles; portrayal of colonialism/post-colonialism; where and how they fall on the representation spectrum (from “realism” to formalism); modernism and post modernism; portrayal of war and anti-war movements; First, Second, and Third Cinemas; portrayal of economics/governments; politics; portrayal of the family; Use at least three examples of form from each film, as seen through one or two perspectives. As usual, be sure to include outside sources (books, articles) to support your analysis. I will not grade papers that do not include research sources in them. These need to be film/art peer reviewed sources, not from other disciplines. Your end goal: a four- seven page paper (not shorter, could be a bit longer) that analyzes, through a chosen perspective on both or the group of films, comparing and contrasting them. The paper should be spaced 1 and ½ (not double spaced). MLA citation style is fine. Citations/sources on the last page. Better to be generous in attributing sources- makes you seem smarter here’s an example of what I mean: “Richard Milhouse discusses this very idea in Cinema Journal, wherein he says: “the mise-en-scene of Pierrot Le Fou is as absurdist as the story” I would take that a step further and say… Regarding perspectives: if you are writing about the Bicycle Thieves, in addition to using the information presented about neorealism, you might also do research about Italian cinema history and other films in the post-World War Two period. The film might be paired with a recommended work like Rome: Open City to make the comparison. How did neorealism appear in each film? How did it change? How do these fit in the evolution of the movement? Here are some examples: Comparing Bicycle Thieves with another Italian Neorealist film.
You might view it through Neorealism and Italian film history, or even actual history and gender. You choose your perspective, but it should be relevant. What film forms do they share? What are the issues that each explores and how are they similar? An auterist study of the director Fritz Lang (auteurist perspective) via discussing M and one or more of his other films like his early German film Dr. Mabuse, the Gambler (1922) and/or the Hollywood period film Rancho Notorious (1952). You would talk how his work is auteurist and why. What do you see in each film (visual style, themes, and two more)?
Explore the French New Wave. You could start with Pierrot Le Fou and do vertical study of the works of director Jean Luc Goddard or compare and contrast to other films from the module Please send me a short paragraph (a few sentences) about the specifics what what you will be comparing and contrasting. Contact me if you have any more questions, or if you need help accessing the films.
