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Film studies - Coggle Diagram

- - - - unfolds through multiple perspectives, influenced countless films that followed
    - - allowed multiple planes of action to remain in sharp detail
    - - demonstrated how time and relationships could be conveyed through rapid cuts
        
        exploration of power, media influence and personal isolation remains relevant today
  - - - keeps both foreground and background elements in sharp detail
    - - creates a sense of realism and power dynamics
    - - compresses time while illustrating Kane's personal and professional decline
      - also uses optical printing to seamlessly blend into different visual elements, enhancing its surreal and fragmented stroytelling
  - - - film presents Kane's story through multiple perspectives, each shaped by personal biases
        
        no single account fully captures who he was, emphasizing the complexity of human identity
    - - Kane gains immense wealth but loses emotional fulfilment
      - Childhood innocence, symbolised by rosebud contrasts with his later isolation, questioning whether material success truly equates to happiness
    - - Kane's rise in the newspaper industry and political ambitions highlight how power can distort relationships and personal values
    - - despite his wealth and influence, Kane struggles to form genuine connections
      - his attempts to control those around him ultimately leaves him alone
  - - - used to effectively show the passage of time
        
        E.g. the famous breakfast scene where Kane and his first wife, Emily, grow increasingly distant over a series of quick cuts
    - - Particularly in scenes where different perspectives on Kane's life are juxtaposed
    - - allows multiple layers of action to unfold within a single shot, reducing the need for excessive cuts
    - - used to create seamless transitions between scenes, enhancing the film's dreamlike structure
  - - - Kane's rise and fall illustrate how wealth and control over information can distort the full truth and personal relationships
    - - fragmented narrative, told through multiple perspectives, questions whether a person's life can ever be fully understood
    - - pioneered deep focus cinematography, innovative editing, and unconventional narrative structures that reshaped cinema
  - - - allows multiple planes of action to remain sharp
        
        creates layered compositions that enhance storytelling
    - - often revealed ceilings, adds realism and emphasize power dynamics
    - - Chiaroscuro
        
        contrasts heightening drama and mystery
      - also employs a non-linear stroytelling
        
        uses flashbacks to reconstruct Kane's life through fragmented perspectives
      - Optical printing and montage sequences further contribute to its distinctive visual and narrative style
  - - - this technique emphasizes Kane's dominance in certain scenes while also highlighting his growing isolation
    - - Kane's vast, empty mansion visually represents his loneliness.
        
        the set space dwarfs him, reinforcing his emotional isolation
    - - Snow globe
        
        visual metaphor for Kane's lost childhood and innocence
      - sled
        
        rosebud, used to show Kane's yearning for simpler times
  - - - dramatic contrasts between light and shadow
        
        Creates a sense of mystery and psychological depth
        
        particularly in scenes where Kane's power and isolation are emphasized
    - - Especially used in the newsroom scenes where the journalist investigating Kane's life is often shrouded in darkness
      - Reinforces the theme of uncertainty surrounding Kane's legacy
    - - highlights Kane's emotional decline
      - As his wealth and influence grow, his surroundings become increasingly shadowed, visually mirroring his descent into loneliness.
  - - - cuts movie
      - evoking mood
      - overlapping dialogue
        
        Creates the sense of realism
        
        particularly in scenes depicting Kane's rise in the newspaper industry
    - - Film employs sound bridges
        
        Audio from one scene carries over into the next
        
        creates seamless transitions and reinforce thematic connections
    - - Kane's cast, empty mansion (Xanadu) is filled with Echoes, emphasizing his isolation and loneliness
    - - Films composer
        
        he crafted a soundtrack that blends seamlessly with sound effects
        
        sometimes replaced them entirely to heighten dramatic tension
  - - - mercury productions
    - - Gave total artistic control to O.W
  - - - sensationalist style that emphasized dramatic headlines, scandal and human-interest stories to boost circulation
  - - - high contrast, hard light
    - - mainly eye-level
      - worms eye
- - - - using provocative imagery and fragmented storytelling to challenge conventional cinematic norms
        
        it deliberately subverts narrative coherence, forcing viewers to engage with its symbolism rather than a traditional plot
  - - - the film opens with a documentary-style sequence about scorpions, abruptly shifting to a chaotic love story thwarted by the bourgeois values
        
        this unpredictable sturcure forces viewers to engage with the film on a subconscious level
    - - rather than relying on traditional cause-and-affect relationships, Bunuel uses surreal imagery- such as religious iconography juxtaposed with eroticism- to convey deeper thematic meaning
    - - characters engage in irrational behaviours, reinforcing the film's critique of societal norms
      - the male protagonist's violent outbursts and the aristocrats' indifference to suffering highlights the absurdity of represion
    - - the film ends ambiguously, refusing to provide narrative closure, this aligns with surrealist principles, leaving interpretation open to the audience
  - - - film critiques bourgeois morality by portraying frustrated love and the absurdity of societal constraints on passion
    - - Catholic iconography is juxtaposed with erotic imagery, exposing the oppressive influence of institutionalized religion
    - - characters engage in irrational acts, highlighting the absurdity of repression and unchecked impulses
    - - the fragmented narrative and jarring imagery force viewers to engage with subconscious symbolism rather than traditional plot structures
  - - - his erratic behaviour- kicking a dog, crushing a beetle, and assaulting a blind man- reflects suppressed impulses breaking free
      - his inability to consummate his love mirrors the film's broader theme of societal constraints
    - - she embodies passive resistance, longing for freedom yet trapped within bourgeois expectations.
      - her calm reaction to surreal moments subverts audience expectations
    - - aristocrats and authority figures remain indifferent to violence, highlighting their desensitization to suffering.
        
        their rigid, emotionless presence contrasts with the protagonists' chaotic enegery
    - - skeletal bishops and grotesque clergy figures reinforce Bunuel's critique of institutional control, portraying religious figures as oppressive rather than moral guides
  - - - film defies linear storytelling, using abrupt cuts and disjointed sequences to create a surreal, subconscious experiences
    - - religious iconography, erotic symbolism and absurd juxtapositions reinforce the film's critique of bourgeois morality
    - - Dialogue is sparse, and sound often contradicts the visuals, heightening the film's unsettling atmosphere
    - - high-contrast shadows and stark compositions enhance the film's themes of repression and desire
  - - - was originally banned for decades due to its anti-bourgeois and anti-religious themes
    - - disruptive editing, provocative imagery and symbolic storytelling
  - - - using shocking imagery and fragmented storytelling to disrupt conventional cinematic expectations
    - - it deliberately subverts narrative coherence, forcing viewers to engage with its symbolism rather than a traditional plot
      - Bunuel was dissatisfied with the positive reception of Un Chien Andalou, so he maked L'Age d'Or more overtly critical of the catholic church and the bourgeoisie
  - - - Film frequently uses static shots that resemble tableaux, reinforcing its dreamlike quality
      - when movement does occur, its often abrupt, heightening the sense of unpredictability
    - - high-contrast lighting creates stark, unsettling compositions, emphasizing themes of repression and desire
      - shadows are used to obscure and distort, reinforcing the film's surrealist aesthetic
    - - the cinematography enhances Bunuel's critique of bourgeois society, with carefully framed shots juxtaposing religious iconography and erotic imagery
    - - the film's cinematography works in tandem with its editing creating jarring transitions that defy traditional continuity.
  - - - her expressions and body language convey a deep yearning for freedom, yet she remains trapped within the constraints of bourgeois expectations
        
        her reaction to surreal moments- such as calmly removing a cow from her bed- subverts audience expectations, reinforcing the film's absurdist tone.
    - - highlighting their desensitization to suffering
      - the satirical portrayal of the upper class adds another layer to the film's critique of societal norms
  - - - the film critiques power structures through costume design
        
        e.g. in one scene, Mallorcan's arrive on an island dressed in a strict social hierarchy, visually reinforcing societal divisions
    - - skeletal bishops appear as blasphemous figures, using shock tactics to critique religious authority
      - this grotesque imagery aligns with Bunuel's rejection of institutional control
    - - film's abrupt shift in location - from an island to imperial Rome- disorient viewers, enhancing its dreamlike quality
      - these transitions reject traditional spatial continuity, reinforcing the film's surrealist aesthetic
    - - mud serves as a dual symbol- representing bourgeois perceptions of sex as dirty while also embodying primal desires (EROS and the ID)
      - visual metaphor deepens the film's critique of repression
  - - - reinforces the surrealist themes and challenge conventional storytelling
    - - forces the audience to engage with the film on a subconscious level rather than relying on traditional cinematic coherence
    - - heightens the film's dremalike quality
      - scenes shift without clear cause-and-effect relationships, mirroring the irrationality of dreams and subconscious impulses
      - aligns again with the surrealist ideals, rejecting linear storytelling in favour of emotional and symbolic resonance
    - - links seemingly unrelated images to create new meanings
  - - - where overhead lighting isolates them against the pale earth, emphasizing their vulnerability and danger
        
        this contrasts mirrors the film's boarder themes of oppression and rebellion
    - - for instance, moments of intimacy or passion are often lit in ways that feel cold or clinical, subverting traditional romantic lighting techniques
        
        this approach reinforces the film's critique of bourgeois morality and societal contraints
  - - - often disrupts the audience expectations, creating a disorienting effect that enhances the film's dreamlike quality
    - - this approach aligns with the surrealist principles, rejecting conventional storytelling in favour of subconscious expression
    - - moments of quiet are placed to create tension, forcing the audience to engage with the imagery without auditory guidance.
      - the lack of synchronization between sound and image reinforces the film's critique of societal norms, mirroring its thematic rebellion against authority
  - - - shadows and stark contrasts create an unsettling atmosphere, reinforcing the tension between desire and repression
    - - religious iconography juxtaposed with eroticism to critique institutional authority
    - - this choice mirrors the film's thematic exploration of irrationality and suppressed impulses
        
        the performances, often exaggerated or detached further contribute to the surreal tone, making characters feel like manifestations of subconscious desires rather than conventional protagonists
- - - - Antoine defiance against authority, from schoolteachers and his parents
        
        Reflects the turbulence of adolescence and the struggle for autonomy
    - - Antoine is constantly misunderstood and neglected
        
        Leading to a deep sense of isolation from both family and society
    - - Antoine navigates his harsh reality, he gradually sheds his childhood naivety, culminating in his arrest and placement in juvenile observation centre
    - - film contrasts between moments of fleeting joy and escape with the oppressive forces that seek to control Antoine's life
    - - Antoine's love for movies serves as a refuge from his troubled life
        
        Mirrored Truffaut's own childhood experiences
  - - - Employs a documentary-like approach, using handheld shots to create a sense of realism and immediacy
    - - film avoids artificial studio lighting, embracing natural light to enhance its authenticity and emotional depth
    - - instead of controlled studio environments, Truffaut films in real Parisian streets and apartments, reinforcing the film's neorealist influences
    - - the film features extended takes
        
        particularly in Antoine's escape sequence, where the camera follows him fluidly, emphasizing his isolation and yearning for freedom
    - - final shot of Antoine staring into the camera is one of cinema's most iconic moments
        
        leaving his fate unresolved and reinforcing the film's themes of alienation and uncertainty
  - - - Truffaut's use of handheld cameras, natural lighting and on-location shooting helped establish a more intimate, realistic style that influenced filmmakers worldwide
    - - film introduced Jean-pierre leaud (Antoine)
        
        creating one of cinema's most unique character studies
    - - its raw unsentimental portrayal of adolescence paved the way for later films exploring youthful rebellion
    - - Film remains a staple in discussions of auteur theory
        
        Often cited as a defining work of personal filmmaking
  - - - makes it a poignant statement on youth and freedom
  - - - Gives the film a documentary life feel, heightening its authenticity and emotional immediacy
    - - Paris is captured in its natural state, reinforcing Antoine's isolation within a vast, indifferent city
    - - Scenes unfold organically, allowing the audience to experience Antoine's world without excessive cuts
    - - Shadows and contrasts emphasize the film's melancholic tone, reflecting Antoine's struggles
    - - Famous final freeze-frame, where Antoine reaches the beach, is a striking moment of unresolved tension
  - - - maintains sense of fluid movement, especially in scenes where Antoine runs through Paris, creating a seamless sense of space and times
    - - used to emphasize Antoine's chaotic life, particularly
  - - - Paris itself becomes a character with its cramped apartments and rigid school environments contrasting with the open strrets
        
        his home feels suffocating, reinforcing his isolation
    - - objects like Antoine's Balzac shrine symbolize his longing for intellectual freedom, while the bars of his juvenile detention centre visually trap him
    - - Antoine's school uniform represents the oppressive system hes trapped in, while his casual clothes signal moments of fleeting freedom
    - - Natural lighting enhances realism, while shadows and contrast heighten the film's melancholic tone
    - - famous final freeze-frame captures Antoine's uncertainty leaving his fate unresolved
  - - - film frequently employs handheld shots, particularly in outdoor sequences
        
        creates an immersive, documentary-like feel.
    - - Truffaut rejected artificial studio setups, opting for real Parisian streets and interiors.
      - The use of natural lighting reflects the films authenticity making Antoine's struggles feel tangible
    - - Film often frames Antoine in confined spaces, classrooms, apartments, detention centres
        
        Visually reinforcing his entrapment
      - The final freeze-frame captures his fleeting moment of freedom, leaving the audience in a state of unresolved tension
      - Contrast between order and chaos
        
        The mise-en-scene juxtaposes rigid institutional settings with the chaotic energy of childhood
        
        Contrasts particularly evident in the classroom scenes
        
        Antoine's rebellious spirit clashes with the strict environment
  - - - Became one of the most iconic in cinema history
    - - Made him feel deeply sympathetic and a relatable character
    - - especially in the psychologist scene
        
        Antoine speaks directly to the camera, revealing his inner turmoil
  - - - film prioritizes ambient sounds
        
        Street noise, footsteps, and distant conversations
      - Immerses the audience in Antoine's world
      - Enhances the documentary-like feel making Paris both vibrant and indifferent
    - - the music plays a crucial role in shaping the films tone
      - the melancholic piano theme recurs throughout, subtly reinforcing Antoine's isolation
      - The score functions as a closure device, providing emotional resolution even when the narrative remains open-ended
    - - Truffaut avoid excessive exposition, letting silence and environmental sounds speak volumes
      - the restrain makes moments of dialogue more impactful
  - - - reinforces the documentary-like feel
    - - Shadows often frame him in moments of isolation, visually reinforcing his alienation
    - - opting for a more gritty atmospheric approach that mirrors Antoine's struggles
    - - shows an extension of Antoine's turbulent world
  - - - He is shaped by neglect and societal indifference
    - - Antoine's mother is emotionally distant
        
        She prioritized her own desires over her son's well being
      - Is stepfather, oscillate between moments of warmth and frustration
        
        Betrays Antoine by handing him over to the police
    - - particularly Antoine's schoolteacher and the juvenile justice system
      - Teacher embodies rigid discipline, failing to recognize Antoine's intelligence and creativity
      - Legal system, rather than rehabilitating, further isolates him.
- - - - low-angle shows and warm lighting to mimic a child's viewpoint set a precedent for how films could immerse audiences in youthful wonder
    - - E.T blended the extra-terrestrial themes with deep emotional storytelling
        
        paved the way for films that focus on human-alien relationships
    - - Film's imagery remains some of the most recognizable in film history
        
        e.g. Elliott and E.T flying across the moon, E.T's glowing heart
    - - Spielberg's commitment to practical effects over CGI influenced later filmmakers/
      - the animatronic E.T set a standard for creating lifelike creatures
  - - - indoor scenes use soft, diffused lighting to create a sense of warmth and nostalgia
      - In contrasts with the cooler, more sterile lighting in the GOV facility, reinforcing the divide between childhood innocence and adult control
    - - the famous bicycle flight sequence
        
        Elliott and e.t soar against the moon, is a perfect example of how backlighting enhances the film's dreamlike quality
    - - mimics a child's viewpoint, reinforcing Elliott's innocence and sense of discovery.
      - makes the adults appear distant and imposing, emphasizing the film's themes of childhood vs authority
    - - Film employs tracking shots and handheld camerawork to create a sense of immediacy, particularly in moments of excitement or tension
    - - Film juxtaposes warm, natural lighting in Elliott's home with the harsh, sterile lighting of the GOV facility.
      - contrasts visually reinforces the divide between childhood imagination and adult control
  - - - childhood and innocence
        
        film is told largely from Elliott's perspective, emphasizing the purity and wonder of childhood
        
        his bond with E.T represents the unfiltered empathy that children possess
      - Friendship & belonging
        
        E.T and Elliott's relationship transcends species, highlighting the universal need for companionship. Their connection is built on trust and understanding
        
        Contrasting with the adults' fear-driven approach
  - - - film follows a linear structure, progression chronologically from E.T's arrival to his departure.
      - Adheres to TODOROV'S narrative theory
        
        moving through equilibrium (Elliott's normal life), disruption (E.T's arrival), recognition (GOV intervention), repair (Elliott's efforts to save E.T), and restoration (E.T's departure leaving Elliott changed)
    - - frames the story largely from Elliott's viewpoint, limiting adult perspectives
        
        creates the sense of wonder and mystery, as the audience learns about E.T alongside Elliott rather than through omniscient exposition
    - - film employs binary oppositions such as childhood vs adulthood, freedom vs confinement, and natural vs artificial environments.
      - the GOV facility contrasts starkly with Elliott's warm, cluttered home, reinforcing the theme of innocence vs. control
    - - narrative is rich with symbolic moments, such as E.T's glowing heart representing connection and life. The final scene, where E.T leaves but remains spiritually connection to Elliot
        
        provides emotional closure to Elliott, provides emotional closure while reinforcing themes of friendship and transformation
  - - - he embodies childhood loneliness and curiosity.
      - his bond with E.T is more than friendship- is a reflection of his own feeling than friendship.
        
        Is a reflection of his own feelings of isolation
      - His red hoodie becomes a visual marker of his heroism and emotional growth.
    - - he is characterized as innocent and empathetic.
        
        his glowing heart serves as a literal and symbolic representation of his emotional connection to Elliott
    - - Elliott's siblings provide contrast
      - Michael starts as sceptical but grows protective, while Gertie's childlike openness allows her to embrace E.T immediately
    - - portrayed as a faceless authority figure
      - Later reveals a more nuanced side- he's fascinated by E.T rather than purely antagonistic
  - - - shows how fear can lead to alienation while empathy fosters a connection
  - - - Spielberg frequently uses low-angle framing to mimic a child's viewpoint, reinforcing Elliott's innocence and sense of discovery
      - this technique makes adults appear distant and imposing, emphasizing the film's themes of childhood vs authority.
    - - film employs tracking shots and handheld camerawork to create a sense of immediacy, particularly in moments of excitement or tension
    - - one of the film's most iconic visual techniques is its use of silhouettes
      - the famous bicycle flight sequence, where Elliott and E.T soar against the moon, is a perfect example of how backlighting enhances the film's dreamlike quality
    - - film juxtaposes warm, natural lighting in Elliott's home with the harsh, sterile lighting of the GOV facility.
      - contrasts visually reinforced the divide between childhood imagination and adult control
  - - - her wide-eyed wonder and comedic timing add warmth to the film
  - - - Film juxtaposes the warm, cluttered interiors of Elliott's home with the sterile, clinical environment of the GOV facility
    - - film frequently uses silhouettes and backlighting
        
        creates a dreamlike quality
      - the glowing red heart of E.T serves a powerful visual motif, symbolizing life, connection, and emotional warmth
    - - Elliott's red hoodie becomes an iconic visual maker. emphasizing his bond with E.T.
      - The use of bicycles as a mode of escape reinforces the film's themes of freedom and adventure
    - - Spielberg often employs low-angle shots to mimic a child's perspective, reinforcing the film's themes of innocence and discovery.
      - adults are frequently framed from the waist down, making them feel distant and imposing.
  - - - film balances moments of wonder, tension and sentimentality through carefully timed cuts
    - - connection between Elliott and E.T is reinforced through cross-cutting, particularly in scenes where their emotions and physical states mirror each other
    - - rapid cuts and shifting perspectives heighten the tension, culminating in the breath-taking moment when the bikes take flight
  - - - indoor scenes, particularly in Elliott's home, use soft, diffused lighting to create a sense of warmth and nostalgia
      - Contrasts with the cooler, more sterile lighting in the GOV facility, reinforcing the divide between childhood innocence and adult control
    - - Film juxtaposes natural light with harsh artificial sources
        
        e.g. GOV lab is bathed in stark, clinical lighting, making it feel cold and oppressive, while the forest scenes embrace soft, organic illumination
    - - shadows play a key role in hiding E.T from authorities and reinforcing the film's themes of secrecy and protection.
        
        Spielberg often places lamps strategically to illuminate faces while keeping the rest of the frame in darkness
  - - - Amplifies the film's sense of magic and adventure.
        
        shifts between tender, mysterious and triumphant, mirroring E.T's journey
    - - Created using a mix of human and animal sounds
        
        makes his feel both alien and human, linking the two together
    - - begins with eerie, atmospheric sounds in the forest as e.t and his fellow aliens explore Earth.
      - contrasts between the gentle hum of their spaceship and the sudden intrusion of human voices and vehicles shows the tension between the two worlds
    - - Then they form the telepathic bond, the sound design subtly reinforces their link.
    - - The sterile, mechanical sounds of the lab contrasts sharply with the warmth of Elliotts home.
      - The beeping monitors and hushed voices create an unsettling atmosphere, emphasizing the cold, clinical nature of the adults
    - - As E.T prepares to leave, the sound design shifts to emphasize the emotional weight of the moment
      - his heartbeat represented by a glowing red light- becomes a cue for his life force, and the swelling music underscores the bittersweet farewell
  - - - creating a nostalgic yet immersive experience
    - - Film often uses soft, diffused lighting, particularly in indoor scenes, to create a sense of warmth and intimacy
      - This contrasts with the cooler more dramatic lighting in outdoor sequences such as the GOV. facility scnes
    - - One of the film's most iconic visual techniques is its use of silhouettes
      - The famous bicycle flight sequence, where Elliot and E.T soar against the moon
        
        It is a perfect example of how backlighting enhances the film's dreamlike quality.
    - - Spielberg and Daviau employ fluid, low-angle shots to mimic a child's perspective
        
        reinforces the themes of innocence and wonder
        
        Camera moves dynamically, following characters closely to heighten emotional engagement.
    - - films colour scheme shifts between warm, earthy tones in Elliott's home and cooler, sterile hues in the government facillity.
      - Contrasts visually reinforces the divide between childhood imagination and adult control
- - - - this clinical illumination strips away aesthetic distance, making the violence feel disturbingly real.
        
        the extreme close-up of the eye, lit with stark clarity forces the viewer into a kind of visual complicity
    - - soft-lit moon and the gleaming razor are filmed with a dreamlike softness lulling in the viewer into symbolic expectation
      - jolted by the sudden, grotesque realism of the eye being cut
        
        this bait-and-switch lighting strategy mirrors the film's surrealist ethos: seduce then subvert
    - - such as the calf's eye made to resemble human skin through intense lighting techniques
      - this manipulation of light blurs the boundary between human and animal, real and artificial, again echoing surrealism's obsession with the uncanny
  - - - film often uses domestic, upper-middle-class settings not to comfort but to critique.
      - these familiar spaces are invaded by irrational acts, mocking the bourgeois values and exposing the fragility of social decorum
    - - objects like the box worn around the man's neck or the ants crawling from his palm aren't just bizarre- there loaded with psychoanalytic weight
      - box for instance, has been interpreted as a container of repressed trauma, while the ants evoke violent impulses and decay
    - - films mise-en-scene thrives on contradiction : a severed hand in the street is calmly poked by a cane; a woman's armpit hair morphs into a sea urchin
      - visual non-sequiturs create a dreamlike atmosphere that resists logical interpretation and invites symbolic free association
    - - films visual language often encodes sexual tension and repression
      - iris shot of the hand in the street has been read as a visual innuendo for masturbation and punishment, reflecting bourgeois pushiness towards sexuality
  - - - these transformations undermine any stable sense of self, aligning with surrealism's aim to disrupt rationality and bourgeois norms
    - - suggesting a tension between objectification and egency
      - her shifting role sometimes passive and sometimes assertive, mirrors the film's refusal to settle into fixed meanings
  - - - film avoids coherent stroytelling
      - anti-narrative approach reflects the surrealist aim to disrupt bourgeois expectations and challenge the viewers need for meaning
    - - inspired by dream logic of Freud and the automatic writing of the surrealist
      - film operates like a stream of unconscious thought
    - - there is a strong undercurrent of psychosexual tension
      - infamous eye-slicing, armpit hair turning into a sea urchin, and the male character's aggressive pursuit of the women all point to repressed desires, voyeurism and the violence of erotic obsession
    - - images of decomposition such as the dead donkeys on the pianos suggest a fascination with morality and the grotesque.
      - these symbols often serve to undermine romantic of idealized notions of life and art
    - - Bunuel and Dali were openly hostile to middle-class values.
      - film mocks social conventions, religion and traditional gender roles- often through absurd or shocking imagery that resists moral interpretation
  - - - ensures that no scene followed logical cause-and-effect relationships
      - rejects traditional storytelling in favour of dream logic, free association and symbolic dissonance
    - - challenges the viewers comfort with cinematic norms
      - visual rebellion, a game that breaks the rules of cinematic language to create a new, subversive form of play
  - - - films editing deliberately fractures time and space, creating that dreamlike, subconscious experience
      - Scenes shift without logical connection, reinforcing the film's surrealist ethos
    - - Bunuel links seemingly unrelated images- such as the cloud crossing the moon and a razor slicing an eye- to create unsettling visual metaphors
    - - film rejects traditional cause-and-effect storytelling, instead presenting a series of provocative vignettes that evoke emotion rather than coherence
    - - time is fluid, with characters appearing in different locations without explanation. Editing style mirrors the irrationality of dreams
- - - - Key figures
        
        Jean-Luc Godard
        
        Key aspects
        
        Innovating editing
        
        pioneered techniques like jump cuts, disrupting traditional continuity
        
        Political and philosophical themes
        
        His films often explored Marxism, existentialism and social critique
        
        Meta-Narratives
        
        He frequently broke the 4th wall
        
        Experimental sound design
        
        He played with disjointed dialogue, abrupt music shifts and silence
        
        Auteur theory
        
        He embodied FNW belief that a director should have complete creative control
        
        Francois Truffaut
        
        Key aspects
        
        Autobiographical elements
        
        Many of his films were drawn from his own childhood and personal experiences
        
        Love and romanticism
        
        his films often explore the complexities of love, blending realism with idealism
        
        Cinematic homage
        
        he admired directors such as Alfred Hitchcock and Jean Renoir, incorporating stylistic tributes into his work
        
        FNW aesthetics
        
        embraced handheld cameras, jump cuts and natural lighting
        
        (rejected traditional filmmaking conventions)
        
        intense character studies
        
        films focus on psychological depth portraying characters with emotional complexity
        
        Love for childhood
        
        He had a deep affection for childhood themes, portraying innocence and vulnerability with sensitivity
        
        Auteur theory
        
        Championed the idea that a director is the author of their films, shaping their work with personal style and beliefs
        
        Jean-Pierre Leaud
        
        Key aspects
        
        became the symbol of FNW
        
        Embodied its rebellious, introspective spirit
        
        Collaboration with Truffaut
        
        Work with FNW direcots
        
        Improvisational acting
        
        Avant-garde influence
        
        innovative, experimental and unconventional works
        
        henri Decae (cinematographer)
        
        key aspects
        
        Natural lighting
        
        Preferred available light, creating a raw, documentary-like aesthetic
        
        Handheld camera work
        
        His cinematography embraced mobility
        
        Collabs with FNW directors
        
        Innovative editing
      - Influences
        
        Auteur Theory
        
        Idea that directors should have complete creative control over their work
        
        Allows audiences to feel like they are watching a film
        
        Jump cuts
        
        Whip pans
        
        Breaking the 4th wall
        
        Long takes
        
        Experimental editing
        
        FNW introduced techniques like jump cuts, handheld cameras, long takes
      - Objective
        
        Reject studio filmmaking
        
        Emphasizing on personal expression
        
        Challenge narrative structure
        
        Innovating cinematography
        
        Critiquing social and political issues
        
        Many FNW films explored themes of Alienation, rebellion and existentialism
        
        Championing the auteur theory
      - History
        
        Origins
        
        Movement was born out of dissatisfaction with mainstream French cinema
        
        Influences by Italian neorealism and Hollywood auteurs
        
        Young critics from cahiers du cinema became filmmakers themselves
        
        Francois Truffaut, Jean-Luc Godard, Claude Chabrol
        
        Truffaut's manifesto
        
        1954, Truffaut criticizes the "tradition of Quality" in French Cinema which prioritized literary adaptations over innovation
        
        Breakthrough films
        
        FNW gained international recognition
        
        Through 400 blows and Breatheless
        
        Introduced radical techniques
        
        Jump cuts, handheld cameras, fragmented narratives
      - Constraints
        
        Limits
        
        Budget
        
        Francois Truffaut- 400 blows
        
        Made on modest budget but gained international acclaim
        
        Jean-Luc Godard- Breathless
        
        Had a budget of around £90,000 which was extremely low compared to mainstream films at the time
        
        Contacts in industry
        
        Francois was banned from a film festival
    - - On location
        
        Gorilla filming
        
        No permission to film in the streets
        
        Makes the film more life like
      - Natural lighting
      - Direct sound
      - Portable cameras
      - Small crew
      - Improvised dialogue
      - Long takes
      - Fragmented narratives
    - - Themes
        
        Existentialism
        
        Many FNW films grapple with questions of identity, freedom and the absurdity of life, influenced by philosophers like Sartre and Camus
        
        Alienation and rebellion
        
        Characters often struggle against societal norms, authority figures or personal constraints, reflecting youth disillusionment
        
        Love and relationships
        
        FNW films frequently depict unconventional romances, emphasizing emotional complexity over traditional love stories
        
        Cinema as self-reflection
        
        Many FNW directors used film to comment on filmmaking itself, breaking the 4th wall or incorporating meta-narratives
        
        Political and social commentary
        
        Movement engaged with contemporary issued, including class struggles, feminism and post-war anxieties
        
        Fluid morality
        
        often reject clear-cut heroes and villains, presenting morally ambiguous characters and situations
      - Narrative
        
        Fragmented storytelling
        
        FNW often abandon linear plots, using disjointed sequences, flashbacks and open-ended conclusions
        
        Character driven narratives
        
        FNW focuses in psychological depth and personal experiences
        
        Existential themes
        
        FNW explore alienation, rebellion and identity crises
        
        Improvised dialogue
        
        Conversations often feel spontaneous with actors encouraged to deviate from scripted lines
        
        Meta-narratives
        
        Frequently comment on filmmaking itself
      - Characterisation
        
        Narrative Experimentation
        
        Often feature nonlinear storytelling, open-ended conclusions and fragmented plots
        
        Technical innovation
        
        Directors used jump cuts, handheld cameras and long takes
        
        Realism and authenticity
        
        FNW favoured location shooting, natural lighting and improvised dialogue
        
        Auteur-driven filmmaking
        
        The movement emphasized the directors personal vision
        
        Lead to deep autobiographical and experimental works
        
        Social and political themes
        
        Many FNW explored alienation, rebellion and existentialism reflecting post-war France's cultural shifts
        
        Breaking the 4th wall
        
        Characters sometimes addressed the audience directly, disrupting traditional cinematic immersion
    - - Revolutionizing editing
        
        Introduced Jump cuts, handheld cameras, fragmented narratives
      - Influencing Auteur filmmaking
        
        Movement championed the auteur theory emphasizing the director's personal vision.
        
        Inspired filmmakers like Martin Scorsese, Quentin Tarantino and Wong Kar-wai
      - Shaping independent cinema
        
        FNW proved the films could be made outside major studios
      - Expanding narrative possibilities
        
        FNW proved that films could be made outside major studios, encouraging independent filmmakers worldwide
      - Impacting global film movements
        
        FNW influenced New Hollywood, British New Wave, and Japanese New Wave
    - - Books
      - Screenplay is written by auteur
      - Deemphasized narrative
      - Lead character is often in conflict/on outskirts of society
      - Youth
        
        How does it appeal to young people