Classic film research - Essay Example

ic film research essay One can see that world renowned film directors make use of literary works as inspiration to express their individual freedom. To be specific, most of the film adaptations are different from their literary sources. So, one must not consider a film adaptation as a visual portrayal of a literary source. Within the context, Ang Lee’s film is noteworthy because he does not try to follow Jane Austen’s literary craftsmanship. Instead, the director attempts to unleash his own individual freedom and artistic craftsmanship. Thesis statement: In the film Sense and Sensibility, Ang Lee makes use of film techniques, (importance given to body language and visual symbols), characterization (changes in the individuality of main characters) and theme (appealing to Austen fans and international viewers/youngsters who like romantic comedy genre), to convey the message of understanding female psychology. Plot summary: The film’s plot is closely related to the lives of three daughters in Mr. Dashwood’s family. To be specific, Mr. Dashwood’s death did not crush the cohesion among the family members because Mrs. Dashwood decided to fight against fate. So, they decided to move to another place, named as Devonshire. Gradually, the plot thickens when Marianne’s (Mrs. Dashwood’s daughter) affection towards Willoughby become futile. Later, she realizes that Willoughby is a fraud and decides to marry Colonel Brandon. On the other side, Elinor’s affection towards Edward creates internal problems in their families. But in the end, Elinor was proposed by Edward. One can see that the major events in the film are interconnected with the internal affairs of Mr. Dashwood’s family. The director provides less importance to the protagonists, but projects the personalities of the heroines (say, Elinor and Marianne). This research work is divided into: film techniques, characters/characterization, and theme. Film techniques: The director very well knew that his film must be appealing to Austen fans and international viewers. So, he decided to provide ample importance to the body language of the main actors in the film. He knew that experienced actresses/actors like Emma Thompson and Hugh Grant can make use of their body language to communicate with the international community. To be specific, he ignored the star value of these mainstream actors and asked them to use their body language to express their emotions. This can satisfy the Austen fans and the western viewers who are interested in melodrama. At the same time, the director was aware that various visual symbols can be used to convey his messages to the international viewers. For instance, the scene in which Elinor is kept alone by her mother and sisters by closing their doors is symbolic of desertion and loneliness. Louise Flavin states that, “A visual representation of the self-indulgence of “sensibility” can be read in the scene in which Marianne, her mother, and Margaret go into separate rooms and slam shut the doors, leaving Elinor alone on the step” (47). To be specific, the closed door is symbolic of miscommunication or internal problems in Mr. Dashwood’s family. Besides, the director knew that he must satisfy both the Austen fans and the international viewers. So, he depended upon film techniques (cinematic techniques) like body language and visual symbols to communicate with his viewers in general. Characters/Characterization: In the film, the director selected Emma Thompson as the main character because she knew the limitations of her leading role. To be specific, Emma Thompson is the mastermind behind the film’s script. She knew that the modern viewers, especially the youngsters, may not accept Jane Austen’s story because the same is not relevant in the modern context. So, she interchanged the behavior traits and beliefs of the main characters, especially the behavior of Elinor and Marianne. Besides, the director chose Kate Winslet as an important character in the film because she was not a familiar actress in 1990s. Cliff Mills states that, “Lee cast Emma Thompson as Elinor, a relatively unknown named Kate Winslet as Marianne, and the very popular Hugh Grant as Edward Ferrars” (68). To be specific, the director very well knew that comparison between Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet (say, comparison between familiarity and non-familiarity) can help the viewers to have deeper understanding of their characters. For example, Kate Winslet’s acting in the song scene (symbolic of the character’s gradual development into a mature woman) and the scene in which Marianne visits Willoughby's estate proves her rapid development as an actress. One can see that these characters helped to reinforce the film's message because the director’s ultimate aim is to expose the hidden areas of female psychology. To be specific, Elinor does not try to go in search love, but she believes that her cordial friendship can transform into an affectionate affair. On the other side, Marianne’s life is full of agony related to broken love affairs. Still, she manages to overcome all the troubles in her private life in the end. So, one can see that the director very well knew that his characters can decide the film’s outcome. The film’s success as an international box office hit proves that the director’s decision is right. Theme: As pointed out, the director never neglects the fact that his film must satisfy the international viewers/youngsters. So he transformed his film into a romantic comedy. Brian Godawa opines that, “A movie that presents a remedy to the romantic obsession with the heart is Sense and Sensibility (1995), adapted by Emma Thompson from the Jane Austen novel” (150). One can see that the director did not attempt to inculcate melodramatic scenes in his film. Instead, he decided to make use of the literary source as an altered plot. Besides, the director redefined the terms ‘sense’ and ‘sensibility’ because the main characters represent the same. Grant Horner makes clear that, “They represent “sense” (wildly emotional romanticism) and “sensibility” (detached, rational control) in life and love” (152). To be specific, the elder sister is symbolic of sensibility and the younger sister is symbolic of sense or sensual pleasure originating from romantic relationships. Elinor did not try to attract her lover because she considered that friendly attitude is important to maintain love affairs. So, the director tolerates the viewers to compare the deeds of the main characters and helps them to attain a satisfactory conclusion. Besides, the director tries to convey an important message to the viewers on life that relationships are based on trust. At the same time, the director beautifully portrays the problems faced by women who are suddenly engulfed by poverty and related issues. Still, the film proves that hopelessness is a temporary stage in human life and unexpected events can transform human life. Summing, the cinematic techniques, characterization, and the innovative theme help the film Sense and Sensibility to be an international success. The director leads the viewers to the realm of female psychology and helps them to have a different angle of view on the same. This film helped me to realize that running behind sensual pleasures cannot help one to be in real life. Instead, rational decisions can help an individual to keep oneself peaceful in real life. But the film provides utmost importance to the female characters and most of the male characters are shadowed by the female characters. I feel happy to recommend this film because the same is symbolic of the strengths of visual media. Besides, one can enjoy this film as the adaptation (say, visual version) of a fictional source and as a romantic comedy. This film confirms that film adaptations need to follow the source materials, but the directors can make use of their individual freedom and communicate with the international viewers. Works Cited Flavin, Louise. Jane Austen in the Classroom: Viewing the Novel/reading the Film. New York: Peter Lang, 2004. Print. Godawa, Brian. Hollywood Worldviews: Watching Films with Wisdom & Discernment. Madison: InterVarsity Press, 2011. Print. Horner, Grant. Meaning at the Movies: Becoming a Discerning Viewer. Illinois: Crossway, 2010. Print. Mills, Cliff. Ang Lee. New York: Infobase Publishing, 2009. Print. Read More