2. Themes – Existentialism
• The main theme of my film is
existentialism.
• On a philosophical level
existentialism can be explained as
‘knowledge that is gained through
experience, and the self defined not
as substance but as a lived relation
to that which situates it’ (Shearson
1975: 135, 138).
• On a more basic level existentialism
refers to the meaning of life as
relating to the individual.
• Associated with Nihilism, a
philosophy that proposes there is
no meaning to life.
• ‘Existential Crisis’
3. Existentialist Cinema
• Examines the human condition and
our attempts to attach meaning to life
on an idiosyncratic basis.
• Characters exist in the framework of a
society but regularly feel
disconnected, lost, alienated and
disillusioned.
• A very famous example of
existentialist cinema is The Matrix
(The Wachowskis), while lesser known
works include Winter Light (Ingmar
Bergman), Eclipse (Michelangelo
Antonioni), The Tree of Life (Terrence
Malick).
• Emphasis on tone and nuance as
opposed to narrative and character.
• Characters can seem opaque at times.
4. • ‘The Phenomenological focus of
existentialism on temporally situated
‘lived experience’ and it’s recognition
of the spectacular dynamic of self and
other relationships are highly relevant
to the study of cinema’ (Boule, 2012:
32)
5. Existentialist Style and Tropes
• Long takes.
• Events that can seem random,
disconnected or
inconsequential to the
narrative.
• Naturalistic aesthetic and feel,
through lighting and
cinematography.
• A sense of space, and slow
pacing which can be described
as minimal (the films of Kelly
Reichardt, Lars von Trier).
• Little dialogue compared to
many films, i.e. The Turin Horse
(Bela Tarr).
6. Themes – Social Realism
• Social Realism refers to works that represent
the ordinary lives and struggles of ‘normal’
working class people.
• Origins are in Italian Neo-surrealism and
films such as Bicycle Thieves (Vittorio De
Sica).
• This then led to the British Social Realist
Movement, which produced films as a means
of bringing attention to issues that have
been caused and exasperated by unfair
social conditions.
• Common themes include crime, poverty, the
negative effects of capitalism, and families.
• Notable directors include Mike Leigh (Secrets
and Lies) and the Dardenne brothers (Two
Days, One Night).
7. Social Realism – Style and
Tropes
• Social Realism involves natural ‘authentic’
sounding dialogue, sometimes improvised.
• Stories often contained to a specific region
or community, usually poorer or lower class.
• Cinematography tends to feel natural, with
handheld cameras known to be used (Lars
von Treir).
• Can have a documentary feel to it similar to
cinema vérité.
• Aspires to portray the reality and ‘truth’ of
life.
• ‘Naturalism has taken it’s place in the critical
vocabulary as an extreme form of realism, in
which observation and the reproduction of
detail are often seen rather derogatorily, as
ends in themselves…. Naturalism aims at
versimilitude as an end in itself’ (Hallam,
2000: 18)
8. Synopsis
• Emily is 25 and doesn’t really know what to do with her
life. She isn’t passionate about anything in particular
and has no aspirations involving a career or
motherhood. She feels like she should be doing
something however, a feeling exasperated by her
nagging mother. She decides on a whim to blackmail
her married lover with the intention of coercing a decent
sum of money out of him. However this backfires, when
he doesn’t want to play along. So she then begins
working as a door-to-door carpet saleswoman. But no
one really wants to buy carpets from her. And she
discovers through work, that work is hard and boring,
and really not for her. Emily doesn’t have much success
with anything, in fact things always seem to go wrong
for her, most often when she’s trying her hardest to
make them go right….
9. • My film will display realist and existentialist influences in
both style and content.
• The story focuses on a woman without direction in her life,
searching for a role because it’s the ‘normal’ and expected
thing to do.
• It shall be shot in the naturalistic style found in realist
cinema.
• Locations may include characters’ homes, a bar, a forest
etc
• Characters shall include Emily, her Mother the School
Principal she is attempting to blackmail, his Wife, and a
Potential Customer that Emily tries to sell a carpet to.
