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With reference to the films you have studied for this topic, how far can it be said that different kinds of documentaries offer different kinds of spectator experiences?

The spectator experience is dependent on a number of factors including environment of reception for example (where it is seen) and specifically purpose, whether to entertain, inform, educate or persuade. Documentaries are diverse in content and can suggest degrees of realism. Mediated content is often apparent in terms of the selection and...

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Students can find studying spectatorship challenging.  There are many theories of spectatorship, but starting with the theory can lead students to list theoretical ideas rather than engage with the texts. Let’s not forget this A2 Film Studies unit is about “emotional responses” more than critical ones.

This is a good place to start with students. What is “emotion”? What is “popular film”? And what elements of the film experience trigger emotional responses?

Emotion and Popular Film

The term emotion,...

Associated Resources

• GCSE Film Studies Paper 2 Non Hollywood High Level Exemplar.doc
• GCSE Film Studies Paper 2 Non Hollywood B Grade Exemplar.doc
• GCSE Film Studies Paper 2 Non Hollywood C Grade Exemplar.doc

Book A Half or Full Day Revision Workshop in Your School

Programme Details

• FilmEdu provides visually dynamic, interactive Revision Courses on the Superhero film genre and Films from outside Hollywood dedicated to, and focusing on specification requirements.
• Pupils will study for Paper 1 Superhero Films and be fully prepared for unseen analysis. Focus will be on micro and macro elements including film language, genre and narrative and also a complete understanding of marketing and promotion (including audiences, film production, technology,...

Paper 2 | Non-Hollywood Film | Yasmin

Synopsis

The opening of Yasmin reveals a Britain where racism prevails. Khalid and his son (Nasir) open the shutter of the family shop, which has been coated in racist graffiti. Nas proceeds to sing morning prayers – his voice echoes over the city and surrounding hills through the loud speaker - calling everyone to prayer. Several Muslims are seen hurriedly preparing, except one - Yasmin. In a field, just outside of town, she swaps her hijab for skinny jeans and black heels. Then takes to her convertible...

Institutional Factors | Distribution

Submarine was written and directed by Richard Ayoade and released at UK cinemas in March 2011 after significant critical success at festivals including the London Film Festival (LFF) but particularly the Toronto Film Festival. Toronto success secured the film a distribution contract with the Weinstein Company (formerly Disney owned Miramax) – Bob and Harvey Weinstein’s company in essence can be described as a ‘Mini Major’ film distributor, large enough to cope with the distribution of academy...

In both the exam and in the coursework, candidates will be asked to study English Language Texts. They are NOT able to study the same texts for both sections and will prepare for this in different ways. For example, the coursework will act as a catalyst for their creative work in their portfolios. In the exam, students will have part of a two hour exam to answer a specific (unseen) question on an aspect of the film.

Both the coursework and examination texts will have shared aspects. This is mainly the understanding of both the micro and...

Urban Stories | Power, Poverty & Conflict | Case Study 2 | La Haine (Mathieu Kassovitz , 1995)

Synopsis

La Haine (Hate 1995, France) focuses on a single day in the lives of three twenty-something friends from immigrant families, living in an impoverished and multi-ethnic French housing project. The housing project, or la banlieues (ZUP - zone à urbaniser en priorité), hosts a riot after a young man is shot by a policeman. The film follows the young trio in the immediate aftermath of the riot. Vinz, who is Jewish, is filled with rage. He...

Paper 2 | Non-Hollywood Film

Synopsis

8 year old Bruno doesn’t have a care in the world as he pretends to be a plane flying through the streets of Berlin, on his way back from school. He is blissfully ignorant of the terror happening around him – Jewish families being rounded up and transported out of the city. When he returns home however, his family are preparing for a celebration. His father, Ralf, has received a promotion that means they must all leave the capital; a move that will change Bruno’s life forever.

At his new stately...

Synopsis and Character Profiles

Milk is a film based on a true story (narrative fact) about openly gay civil rights activist, Harvey Milk, who eventually - after many struggles and defeats - finally serves in public office as a San Francisco Supervisor in the Mayor’s Office. The film ends with his assassination in 1978 by political nemesis, Social Conservative Dan White.

Played by Sean Penn, the film opens with 40 year old Milk in 1978 narrating and recording a monologue “only to be played in the event of my death”.

He is openly gay...

Synopsis

A television news report provides the prologue / chorus for Romeo and Juliet, introducing the tale of the “star-crossed lovers”. The city of Verona is divided by a feud between the two wealthiest businessmen - Lord Capulet and Lord Montague.

As the Montagues arrive in a petrol station, they are met by the Capulets. Whilst Benvolio (leader of the Montagues) tries to maintain peace, Tybalt (leader of the Capulets and “King of Cats”) cannot be persuaded and leads them into battle. Tybalt shoots one of the Montagues as they drive...

Section C: American Comparative Study

Synopsis

Kym awaits the arrival of her father and step mother, Carol to pick her up from rehab. When she arrives home the house is chaotic amidst her sister’s wedding arrangements. Kym and her sister, Rachel reminisces about their childhood and appear to have a close relationship.

Paul, Kym’s dad, will not let her borrow a car because of a past incident, so Kym has to cycle to attend her addicts’ meeting and drugs test. When she returns and is introduced to the groom and best man, she recognises...

Section C: American Comparative Study

Synopsis

It is Harlem, 1987. Precious dreams she is handed a red scarf by a beautiful woman- she wants to be on television. Precious is suspended from school because she is pregnant. Her principal advises her to go to an alternative school called ‘Teach One, Each One’. At home though, her mother has other ideas. She beats Precious, knocking her near-unconscious. Whilst passed out, Precious has flashbacks of her father raping her and dreams of her being at a Premier, dressed glamorously. Mary,...

Paper 1 | Superhero Films Case Study | The Dark Knight

Synopsis

The Dark Knight opens with a bank robbery in which the Joker kills his accomplices. A news report then explains that public opinion of Batman is decreasing, yet when Batman tries to stop some gangsters a number of ‘copycat’ Batmen try to help him.

At home, recovering from his wounds, Bruce Wayne (Batman) pines after his lost love Rachel, who is now going out with Harvey Dent, Gotham’s new District Attorney. Harvey and Rachel lead a prosecution court case, after which...

Paper 1 | Disaster Movies Case Study | Titanic

Synopsis

The credit sequence shows archive footage of the real Titanic taking off for its maiden (and only) voyage.

An excavation team, led by Brock, search the Titanic wreck for Hartley’s chest, but when they find it, it does not have the treasure they were looking for- a necklace: the heart of the ocean. However, they do discovered a drawing of a woman, Rose, which they advertise on the news. Rose, aged 101, sees the news programme and contacts the team. She travels to their boat and tells...

Production Context & Key Notes

• Written and Directed by Shane Meadows (UK)
• Shane Meadows films include Once Upon a Time in the Midlands, Dead Man’s Shoes and Northern Soul
• Produced by EM Media (East Midlands)
• Distributed by Optimum (Independent UK Distributor : Brick, Vera Drake, Dead Man’s Shoes, 9 Songs)
• Additional Funding – Film4 and UK Film Council (£668,000 – New Cinema Fund, £90,000 P and A Fund)
• Theatrical Release: April 2007
• Independent British Film
• Genre/Tradition: Social Realism
• Critical Success: Film Festival Awards
• UK...

Paper 1 | Disaster Movies Case Study | The Day After Tomorrow

Synopsis

The Day After Tomorrow starts with a view of the Antarctica, segments of ice float in the sea in this beautiful natural landscape. A team of American scientists led by Jack are drilling in the ice, suddenly the shelf splits and they are separated from their equipment.

At a UN Conference in New Delhi Jack tries to warn the world’s leaders, but they refuse to the threat of global warming seriously when he states it could happen anytime- 50, 100 or more years’ time. The...

A2 Film Studies Section C: Close Critical Study

Synopsis and Character Profiles

Fight Club is based on a surprisingly short novel by Chuck Palahniuk, where it is suggested the desire for meaning drives civilisation. The film takes this as it essence, but offers a broader range of more complex representations.

In terms of narrative, the film is initially about the life of a disillusioned office worker - played by the narrator, Edward Norton – he works for a car insurance company, who appraise accident damaged vehicles in terms of costing....[ read full article ] »

Urban Stories: Power, Poverty and Conflict

Synopsis and Character Profiles

Amores Perros is a film about a three interconnected stories in Mexico City that borrow from, or arguably make, intertextual references to Pulp Fiction in terms of the non linear narrative.

A car crash is the pivotal scene that involves, and effects, all three narratives and serves as a narrative arc – in Story 1 (like Pulp Fiction chapter headings are used) Octavio and Susana fall for each other, but not before Susana leaves Octavio’s brother, with whom she has...

Associated Resources

• Screening Questions Pre-FM4 Close Study of Fight Club.doc

For each of the following films, you will need to be able to make notes on, compare and explain the following texts in relation to Fight Club.

Using American Beauty / Being John Malcovich / The Matrix you need to be aware of both the micro and macro features in relation to:

• Narrative and Narrative Themes, Ideology
• Changing Representations of Masculinity
• Genre and Genre Conventions
• Audience Responses, Critical and Commercial Success

These questions will help...