Question.2238 - What is a Comparative Analytical Film Essay? A comparative analytical film essay is an essay in which students compose by either comparing, contrasting, or compare and contrast two different films. The two films must be from the list assigned during the class and not the films you picked for last assignment. Guidelines for Essay: Your essay must start with your thesis. This thesis should be relevant to both films. Provide equal weight to each side as much as possible. DO NOT write a review of each film, this should be an essay. Do not write what the movies are about but rather how they compare and/or contrast with each other. We all know what each film is about! If your essay reads as a review in any way, it will not be accepted. Your essay should be about the reasons behind these films not the production side. Write about what these two films are trying to convey, what their messages are, attack their themes, did they depict reality, and how successful were they? What do they try to teach or tell us? Please dig deep! And support your claims. Focus on differences, similarities, or both and support them with examples from the films. You may refer to other films we watched during the course, but your focus should only be on the two films you choose. You must compare or contrast at least 3 different points. Use characters’ names. DO NOT use the main character, the hero, or the protagonist strictly in place of their names. Identify who you are talking about. You may use he/she later if you establish clearly who you are talking about.
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A Bicycle, A Jury, and the Wheels of Justice? ? Lawrence Butts San Jos? State University? (The Department of Film and Theatre) RTVF 111-85: Alternative Cinema Professor Yasser Shahin May 17th, 2024 ? A Bicycle, A Jury, and the Wheels of Justice A Clash between Similarities and Differences The essay intends to compare the Italian film "The Bicycle Thieves" (1948) and the Russian film "12," the underlying reason for choosing these two films is that - they both tend to depict influential social commentaries by exploring the core theme of justice?in a subtle way, all that within varied human condition settings. While De Sica's neorealist masterpiece examines the struggles of post World War II in Italy, Mikhalkov's contemporary courtroom drama delves into the complexities of modern Russia. Nonetheless, both films expose the fragility of justice systems and the desperation of individuals caught within them.? In terms of exploring some of the similarities is how it positions ordinary people as the Antonio who is exposed to harsh or extraordinary circumstances, for instance, considering "The Bicycle Thieves," wherein Antonio Ricci's desperate search for his stolen bicycle is a microcosm of the struggles faces by countless Italian post World War II; drawing parallels, the film "12" tends to tell the story of twelve jurors grappling with the fate of a young Chechen man who?was accused?of murder, wherein the narration in this film?is directed?towards reflecting on the deep-seated prejudices and societal tensions of contemporary Russia.? But?the narrative structure of both films differ, as "The Bicycle Thieves" tends to employ a linear narration, keeping the audience at ease trying to engage them with the plot, creating the feeling of desperation by utilizing Antonio's quest for his bicycle involving family and societal trouble in chronological order; setting a tone for straightforward structure mirrors the relentless nature of his struggle emphasizing the cyclical nature of poverty and limited options available to him. In contrast, the film "12" establishes a non-linear narrative by interweaving flashbacks of the trial with jurors' present-day deliberations, which has resulted in fragmenting the structure of the film, enabling the director to have a deeper exploration of the film characters' motivations and biases, which?is revealed?through the complex interplay of personal experiences and societal influences that shapes our understanding of justice.? Another similarity that goes unnoticed is how - both films bridge the relationship between poverty and desperation; for instance, in the film "The Bicycle Thieves," after the bicycle?is stolen, the protagonist is further subjected to humiliation; another instance, the film fails to engage women characters or give them equal importance, although this is unintentional, given the societal facts during post world war II was different.?While on the other hand, in the film "12," the jurors'?personal?struggles, along with?biases are exposed by weighing the evidence against poverty and societal inequality in terms of wrapping one's sense of justice.? Visual Language Considering the visual language employed in the film, in the film "Bicycle Thieves," De Sica's neorealist aesthetics, along with on-location shooting using lengthier shots representing it all in a monochromic color tone, tends to give a sense of immediacy to Antonio's plight that is devoid of romanticization.?But?in contrast, film "12" utilizes a modern take; the film appears to be stylized yet sustains a claustrophobic setting, which has given the director the scope to play around with the?serious suspicious?tone of the film, with varying intense closeup shots and unlike the "Bicycle Thieves," "12" has employed artificial lighting to instill a sense of tension of the jury's deliberations; one observation that deserves credit how Mikhalkov's utilizes hand-held camera during key moments adds a sense of urgency but not like the actual dramatic or sorrowful feeling felt while watching "The Bicycle Thieves."? Sound Mix In terms of exploring the sound engineered into films, firstly, considering the film "12," the sound mix is kept mellow and dramatic at just the?right?levels to elevate the sounds of a closed courtroom drama while capturing the small sounds like sitting down or even the use of desk that elevates the silence even further instilling a sense of claustrophobic tension among the audience. On the contrary, the "Bicycle Thieves" utilizes diegetic sounds of bustling city streets that are?really?not reduced in editing but rather employed in a raw documentary form; also, the mournful strains of accordion music create a melancholic atmosphere that underscores Antonio's despair, but in?certain?scene's?the sparse employment of non-diegetic music enables the audiences to connect with the simple emotions interplayed between Antonio and Bruno separated in the rain.? Editing In terms of editing, in?"The Bicycle Thieves," De Sica has minimalist editing; since there are several lengthy shots, it takes time for the scenes to make sense, but it enables the audience to observe and absorb the characters; in contrast, Mikhalkov's 12" utilizes jump cuts between the jurors arguments and also during the flashback moments which constantly reminds us of the conflicting evidence and the jurors' personal biases. Performance Lastly, considering their performance in "The Bicycle Thieves," Lamberto Maggiorani's portrayal of Antonio is a masterclass in understated acting, conveying a spectrum of sentiments through subtle gestures and facial expressions while his son named Bruno, played by Enzo Staiola, made us feel his innocence and resilience forced to confront the harsh realities of adulthood. While the film "12" is no less, as it delivers a tour-de-force of acting, each of the jurors brought in their?own?distinct forms of acting, but unlike "The Bicycle Thieves," which provides cinematic narration, "12" narrates the story emphasizing dialogues alone. Conclusion However, both films diverge in?their depiction of?the legal system and its ability to deliver justice in distinctive ways. In "The Bicycle Thieves," the police are portrayed as indifferent and ineffectual, highlighting poverty, unable to help Antonio recover his stolen bicycle, with the intent that justice needs money, which only the higher socioeconomic class can afford, forcing the poor to rely on their?own?resources;?while?the film "12" intends to take on the contrary viewpoint by exploring justice from uncorrupted legal proves suggesting that justice is attainable through careful considerations and open dialogues.? In conclusion, both films offer varied cinematic experiences with little similarity to cherish, drawing parallels between justice and human conditions and differing in how they intend to expose?the?fragility of justice systems and?the?desperation of individuals (who were ordinary people) caught.More Articles From Film and Movies
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