French Impressionist Cinema (1918-1929) Friday, March 11, 2011

1) Find two images for French impressionist paintings.

Give brief caption with name, artist, date. Explain briefly the important characteristics of French Impressionism.

Characteristics of Impressionist paintings include visible brush strokes, open composition, emphasis on light in its changing qualities (often accentuating the effects of the passage of time), ordinary subject matter, the inclusion of movement as a crucial element of human perception and experience, and unusual visual angles.

- Van Gogh’s A Starry Night (1889, near the mental asylum at St. Remy, France.

 

  

- Van Gogh Still Life Vase with Zinnias 1888. 



2) Three outside factors that influenced the rise of French Impressionist cinema?

Explain in your own words.

After WW1 there was an economic decrease in France (and all the rest of the world) which led cinema went down, so French Impressionist movies had to come up with new ideas to make this theme popular worldwide.

3) Describe three or more important technical aspects of French Impressionist Cinema (i.e. use of camera, editing, sets, lighting, narrative, etc.)

Camera use: different angles were used such as a close ups. High and low angles and movement.

Mise-en-scene: low lighting, use of shadow shots. Also arrangement of movement in a specific subject.

Optical Devices: such as the use of magic, mirrors. Enfficise significant details that gave the film key meanings and details to think about.

4) Find information on two important film directors in French Impressionist Cinema from 1918-1929: name, photo, major films, interests or concerns shown in films.

Name: Abel Gance.

Major Films: Victoire de Samothrace, La Digue (ou Pour sauver la Hollande).

Interest in sound films when came out, interested in telling stories, for example filming Vénus aveugle  after the invasion on France in 1940, to give hope to the French.

Name: Jean Renoir.

Major films: On purge bébé (Baby's Laxative, Le Crime de Monsieur Lange).

Grand Illusion (La Grande Illusion) one of his best known films. It was about series of escape attempts by French POWS. It was very successful, but became more successful because it was banned from Germany. He was very opened and filmed all over the world.