FM4 World cinema

What the WJEC board say. (c) Specialist Study 1: Urban Stories - Power, Poverty and Conflict The expectation is that candidates will choose two principal films representing life in difficult urban environments, and that these will be supplemented by two further films studied more briefly. The challenge of this topic is to compare and contrast films which may come from very different social and cultural contexts.

What is world cinema? Discussion Tasks Define world cinema. Make a list of world cinema films you have seen and or have heard of? Do you have a favourite world cinema film? What countries have the films you have seen been from? Why would you go and see a world cinema film as opposed to Hollywood film?

World Cinema crossovers

World Cinema - Associations In groups brainstorm all the word associations that you have with the following national cinemas: Bollywood French cinema Asian-oriental films

Perceptions of other cultures The films from a particular country can lead you to understand that country in particular ways. They can give you an insight into customs, habits, politics, lifestyle, economic situations, history, leisure pursuits and so on. This can often lead to stereotyping (both positive and negative!) as certain films from certain cultures are more easily viewed than other types of film TASK: Watch a clip from this film, what do you learn about the customs of another country/culture from it? Pay particular attention to the mise en scene.

Differences to British and Hollywood film Discuss and make notes: In what ways can world cinema films be seen as different to those of Hollywood? Not in English! Subtitled. Artistic value vs Hollywood commercialism. More limited distribution and exhibition. Different representations of gender. Different character types. Slower paced, narratives told differently. Films from different nationalities are often described as having “different sensibilities”. What does that mean? However is it right to label all films from outside of the US and Britain as sharing the same characteristics?

US cultural imperialism The debate in film over world cinema is centred around the notion of American cultural imperialism. What does this mean? US cinema dominates the market making it increasingly difficult for films made outside of Hollywood to be commercially successful. Why? The Academy Awards have an award for best foreign language film. Why and is that right? Some countries have a film quota system such as France which only allows a certain limited number of non-French films to be shown. Why? Task: have a look at this films listings page for current London cinema releases. How many are world cinema films? What cinemas are they being show at? http://www.timeout.com/film/listings/

Hollywood the magpie? Films from other cultures have influenced Hollywood greatly in recent years, particularly films from oriental Asia (Japan, Hong Kong and Korea). Both in their visual style and also in the form of straight remakes. Can you name any Hollywood films that are remakes or are based on films from other cultures? Why does Hollywood do this? http://www.examiner.com/x-1378-LA-Foreign-Movie-Examiner~y2009m1d26-Swedish-vampire-flick-to-be-remade-in-Hollywood