Screening Report 9: Cuba: Chico & Rita

1) Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening.

A woman in our class presented her country report on anime films and its' origin/history just before we watched Chico & Rita. We then discussed the background of Cuba's history as a country and its film history.


2)  Find a related article and summarize the content. 

A.O. Scott started off his film review by stating; "Chico & Rita is an animated valentine to Cuba and its music. Sexy, sweet, and laced with a sadness at once specific to its place and time and accessible to anyone with a breakable heart. This film brings alive an almost unimaginably rich and resonant moment in musical history, switching between Havana and New York City and conveying the blend of soul and scholarship that signifies true jazz devotion. They are a fictional couple, but the star-crossed lovers and sometimes artistic collaborators cross paths with real-life legends such as Dizzie Gillespie, Thelonius Monk, and Chano Pozo, who was a great Cuban conga player. A whole palette of feeling- whimsy and pain, longing and laughter- can be experienced in the music, which combines a few vintage tunes with new compositions by Bebo Valdes, the great Cuban-born pianist, and composer. Mr. Valdes is also the physical and biographical inspiration for Chico, whom the film imagines in his prime and also in dignified old-age obscurity, shining shoes and sipping rum in a shabby Havana apartment. 

3) Apply the article to the film screened in class.

I thought the article did a good job of breaking down the historical and biographical, real-life context portrayed in the film. The film strives for a similar balance, evoking a tradition of showbusiness romanticism, even as it takes note of some of the harsh reality of history. The film helps you understand the importance of both your relationships and career goals because sometimes the two cannot mix together. Chico and Rita, who are Cubans of African descent, must deal with discrimination and exploitation as they pursue fame, fortune, and artistic fulfillment.

4) Write a critical analysis of the film, including your personal opinion,  formed as a result of the screening, class discussions, text material, and the article. 

I thought this film was one of the best movies we watched in as a class all semester long. It was entertaining and even a bit funny from the start, I loved the dialogue between characters. The animation was done very well, in terms of facial features and expressions. I have definitely never seen an animated film that was this graphic in terms of sexuality and nudity, but I think that gave it even more of a real-life feel to it. You can see the character growth and development in each character, from start to finish, as well as the different emotions and feelings they experience. This was a very well put together movie and I enjoyed it a lot. 

CHECKLIST FOR PLAGIARISM 
1) (  ) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class.

2) (  ) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly explain that in the paper.

3) (  ) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used indentation and citation within the text.

4) (  ) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper.

5) (  ) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read.

6) (  ) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way. I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography.

7) (  ) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality.

8) (  ) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper.

Name: ___Cameron Beall___________________________________  Date: _______5/10/18_____________________

Screening Report 8: Iran: Persepolis

1) Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening.

Prior to watching Persepolis in class, we discussed the current state of the country of Iran and how its past effected where they are as a country now. It's war-ridden history played a big part in where they are today, as well as its western ideologies. This relates back to Iran's view on western music, because Marjane was a person of her own, listening to music and wearing clothing that she knew was looked down upon by most of her country. 

2) Find a related article and summarize the content. 

In A.O. Scott's review of Persepolis, he specifically focused on the role of the female characters in the film. Them being Marjane, along with her mother and grandmother. He mentions the matriarchal power, which was rare at the time, and the effect it had on Marjane's character by the end of the film. 

"Ms. Darriuex's grandma is the sturdy matriarchal anchor of "Persepolis", a source of humor, advice and moral guidance for young Marjane, and also an embodiment of the film's no-nonsense feminism. Like her grandmother, Marjane is a natural rebel, someone who takes freedom as her birthright and dares the world to challenge her." 

Marjane grows up in a family of intellectuals who suffer first under the Shah's dictatorship and then, turn on their allies under the rule of mullahs. This political history is conveyed with impressive economy and visual wit. 

 3) Apply the article to the film screened in class. 

I definitely agree with the points Scott made about the strong focus on the role of female characters and the power of matriarchal influence on young women. I like how he mentioned that Marjane went against the forces of intolerance and superstition, and following her grandmother's example, takes a stand as a champion of enlightenment. While he focused on the matriarchal influence, he also mentioned the slight role of patriarchy as well. When bother Marjane's mother and father send her to Austria, where she experiences alienation. The choice was essentially up to her though, she could either be more or less "free" in Austria and give up her home, or she can return home at the cost of her freedom and individuality. 

4) Write a critical analysis of the film, including your personal opinion,  formed as a result of the screening, class discussions, text material, and the article. 

Not being a huge fan of animated films, I at first thought the film was a bit odd. But as it progressed, I began to appreciate it and see the historical importance and context it was portraying. The animation of it is done very well, as I don't think I've ever seen an animated film quite like it. The facial expressions and movements they were able to give the characters were amazing, especially the way it was able to create images of war. Marjane is a great example of a powerful female anime character in a film, which I have not seen much of before. 

CHECKLIST FOR PLAGIARISM 
1) ( x ) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class.

2) ( x ) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly explain that in the paper.

3) ( x ) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used indentation and citation within the text.

4) ( x ) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper.

5) ( x ) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read.

6) ( xx ) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way. I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography.

7) ( x) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality.

8) ( x ) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper.

Name: _Cameron Beall_____________________________________  Date: ______5/9/18______________________

Screening Report 7: South Africa: Tsotsi

1. Relate what was discussed in class or in the text to the screening.

There has been a lot of speculation throughout the years (at least that I've heard) that South Africa's population is mainly filled with white African. According to the statistics (79% black African) and after seeing the movie Tsotsi, it is clear that this is not the case and it is in fact mainly black African that reside in South Africa. South Africa is a rather small country, as it is less than twice the size of the state of Texas.

2. Find a related article and summarize the content.

Tsotsi won the best foreign film award at the 2006 Oscars. Directed by Gavin Hood, it is an earnest film about South African shantytowns. The film comes from a 1980 novel written by Athol Fugard, which was at the heart of the apartheid era. The film shows how little things have changed from that era, but also how certain things certainly have. Such as the two cops being one black and one white man, as well as making the wealthy families in the gated communities black families (such as the one who Tsotsi steals the car and baby from). The word "Tsotsi" means criminal or gangster, and the character who plays Tsotsi has forgotten his own real name over time, and now only goes by Tsotsi. He is the leader of his group of criminals: Boston, Butcher, and Aap. He meets up with his crew most nights at the local shebeen, where they drink and smoke and plan their next criminal activity. After Tsotsi shoots the woman and steals her car along with her baby in the backseat (which he doesn't realize until miles later when he crashes the car), Tsotsi keeps the baby in his own small room, for reasons he can't even initially fathom. The story of how this baby changes Tsotsi unfolds with what looks like the psychological ending of his life of crime. He has been driven by need and fear, factors that this baby exposes in him more clearly. The presence of the baby stops Tsotsi's violence because it has now become a distraction. When he forces his way into a young mother's home at gunpoint, demanding her to breastfeed the baby, it is clear his criminal past has not prepared him for a situation like this. Tsotsi is a positive movie with a message of redemption and shows that the shantytowns of South Africa have communities where poverty does not rule out the possibility of doing the right thing.

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2006/mar/17/2

3. Apply the article to the film screened in class.

I thought this article gave a good, solid breakdown of the film. It touched on the apartheid era in South Africa, what has changed since then and what has remained the same. It mentions the original book which was published in 1980, during that apartheid era. It talks about Tsotsi's growth in his character and just as an all-around person, and how the presence of the baby brought back memories of his own childhood and mother. I loved how the article said how the baby stopped Tsotsi's violence and criminal ways, not just because of some spirited miracle, but because his criminal life had become a distraction to his new priority, caring for the baby.

4. Write a critical analysis of the film, including your personal opinion, formed as a result of the screening, class discussions, text material, and the article.

Out of all the films we've watched so far in this class, I felt this one was the best one yet. It just has so much meaning and you can really see the character growth and development throughout the film. It shows that good can come from bad situations. While shooting a woman in the process of stealing her car with her baby in the backseat obviously was not a good deed by any means, but some good did come out of it in the long run. It showed a soft side of Tsotsi, a loving, caring side. A side that he had never seen before. Sometimes you need to make a bad decision or be put in a bad situation to grow and realize certain things in life. One of the scenes after Tsotsi had beaten up one of his own friends, his friend was saying that Tsotsi had no sense of "decency". He didn't know right from wrong, and what was morally right or wrong. But by the end of the film, I believe Tsotsi certainly found his decency in life.

CHECKLIST FOR PLAGIARISM 
1) ( x ) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class.

2) ( x ) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly explain that in the paper.

3) ( x ) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used indentation and citation within the text.

4) ( x ) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper.

5) ( x ) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read.

6) ( x ) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way. I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography.

7) ( x ) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality.

8) ( x ) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper.

Name: _Cameron Beall_____________________________________  Date: _______________4/18/2018_____________

Country Report: Italy

   Italian Cinema by Cameron Beall on Scribd

Screening Report 6: China, Not One Less

1.  Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening.

Motion pictures were first introduced in China in 1896, with the first film being created in 1906. In the mid-1980's is when Chinese cinema took off, with the rise of the so-called fifth generation of Chinese filmmakers. Two notable Chinese films discussed were Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and A Woman, A Gun, and A Noodle Shop. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon had a lot to do with the widening popularization of Chinese films outside of a Chinese audience. The film achieved massive success at the Western box office, as it featured prominent actor Jet Li. This film definitely helped popularize Chinese cinema. A Woman, A Gun, and A Noodle Shop had a different effect on Chinese cinema. It shows the wide range of differences in Chinese cinema.


2. Find a related article and summarize the content.  (on the film, director, studio, actor/actress, artistic content, etc.) You can use the library or the internet.  Cite the article and copy the link to your journal entry. Summarize in your own words the related article but do not plagiarize any content.  Make sure your link is a true hyperlink that will connect to the article you are referencing. 

Roger Ebert review of Not One Less covers the film as a whole, his personal feelings on it, as well a deep dive into relating the film to life in China at that time. He mentions that the cast is made up of nonprofessional, untrained actors (similar to Italian cinema in the 1950's/60's). There are normal Chinese citizens, who are acting in roles even using their real-life name. He goes on to talk about how the film will relate to both Chinese and outside (westerners) audiences. He states that the film will be seen from a dramatic perspective by Chinse viewers. By outsiders, it will be viewed as a battle between the upper-class and the lower-class, poor people in China. 


https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/not-one-less-2000

3. Apply the article to the film screened in class.  How did the article support or change the way you thought about the film, director, content, etc.?

Roger Ebert and I definitely shared some similar opinions on the film. The film definitely felt raw and real, a great depiction of the life of a Chinese citizen. The fact that they hired regular citizens and untrained actors to star in the film made it feel even more true to itself. Each character played a role that they "play" or live, in their everyday lives. Certain parts of the film seemed to go by slowly, as stated by Ebert. I definitely agree that people outside of China and westerners would view the film much differently than those from China who viewed the film.

4.  Write a critical analysis of the film, including your personal opinion,  formed as a result of the screening, class discussions, text material and the article.  I am less interested in whether you liked or disliked a film, (although that can be part of this)  than I am in your understanding of its place in film history or the contributions of the director.

This film takes a deep dive into the desire to protect the education of children and their growth. A code of honor is evident when Wei protects her students and finds Zheng after he runs away. Zhang Yimou, the director, attempts to tell the story as realistically as possible. He highlights the differences between the upper and lower class in China. Yimou's past in real life was definitely a huge inspiration for this film, and for the mill laborers in China.

CHECKLIST FOR PLAGIARISM 
1) ( x ) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class.

2) ( x ) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly explain that in the paper.

3) ( x ) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used indentation and citation within the text.

4) ( x ) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper.

5) ( x ) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read.

6) ( x ) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way. I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography.

7) ( x ) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality.

8) ( x ) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper.

Name: ___Cameron Beall___________________________________  Date: ___________4/11/18_________________

Screening Report 5: Italy: Cinema Paradiso

1. Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening:

 At the end of the World War II, Italy became a tramautized country that was wrecked by extreme poverty and political turmoil. Italian filmmakers responded to these conditions with a new style of filmmaking known as neo-realism. They used non-professionally trained actors, real life locations and footage to tell stories about the harshness of reality in Italy. One of the first notable neo-realism films was the Bicycle Thief (1949) which was directed by Vittori De Sica, and the main character in the film was a steelworker, not a trained actor, who brought his son along to act in the film with him. Giuseppe Tornatore is a well-known Italian director, he directed Cinema Paradiso, winning an Oscar in 1989 for Best Foreign Language Film. Cinema Paradiso is a bit more modern version of a neorealism film, but takes place in post World War II, and definitely shows the reality of life for the lower-class people in Italy.


2. Find a related article and summarize the content:


As a young boy in the postwar 1940's, Salvatore, better known as Toto, has a strong love for movies and builds a close friendship (almost father-son like) with Alfredo, the projectionist at the Cinema Paradiso. Toto slacks as an altar boy, but his presence is consistent at the Cinema. He loves to hang around the projection booth, where Alfredo is screening films for Father Adelfio, the local film censor. Adelfio makes sure that nobody that comes to the Cinema ever sees a movie kiss on screen. Toto ends up getting his hands on a collection of kiss scense that were cut from the screenings, and it ends up catching fire at his home underneath his bed and nearly burns down the cottage that he shares with his mother and sister. Cinema Paradiso is stuffed with dozens of clips and moments that evoke the heritage of cinema, aiming to celebrate the icons of cinema. The film, however, evokes nothing more substantial than sentimental B-movies made by hacks in Hollywood and abroad, and which go unrecognized by Giuseppe Tornatore in his anthology of clips. The 8 year old Toto ends up growing into Salvatore, the world-class movie director.

http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9C0CE1DB123FF931A35751C0A966958260



3. Apply the article to the film screened in class:

I thought the article was like a mixed bag of chips. The critique by Vincent Canby was a bit too one sided. Some points I agree on, while I also think he missed some key aspects of the film. He touched on the historical aspects of the history and heritage of cinema in Italy. He failed to touch on some themese of the film, such as sacrificing and guidance from a father-like figure. This article did not much support how I perceived the film.

4. Write a critical analysis of the film, including your personal opinion, formed as a result of the screening, class discussions, text material and the article:

The director of Cinema Paradiso did a good job of mixing in the historical aspect of Italian cinema with themes of life lessons. When young Toto grew up into the young man that is Salvatore, he falls deeply in love with Elena, the new girl in town whose family is wealthy. After being saved from the fire that caused him to go blind and a new cinema to be built, Alfredo notices Salvatore's interest in Elena. Alfredo advises him to stay clear of love because it only causes pain, and to focus on himself. Elena eventually feels the same way for Salvatore as he does for her, but her father does not approve and keeps Elena away from him. Salvatore ends up joining the military due to an Italian law requirement that all young men serve a period of time in the army. When he returns home, he notices that a lot has changed and he has a difficult time adjusting. Alfredo urges Salvatore to leave and never return. He ends up becoming a successful filmmaker. When he does return for Alfredo's funeral, he talks with Elena and finds out that it was Alfredo who convinced her to leave him. It is in that moment that Salvatore realizes the role Alfredo played in shaping his life into what it now is. Alfredo knew that if he stayed there and chased after Elena, he would have never got to pursue his passion for film and become a successful filmmaker in Rome. He learned that is sometimes a necessity to sacrafice someone you love for something you love. And he also realized while he was without his biological father throughout his life, he had a great father figure in Alfredo. I found this film intriguing because all the Italian-related films I have seen in the past were Mafia-related (GoodFellas, The Godfather, Casino). It was nice to watch a film related to the history of Italian cinema.



Citations:
http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9C0CE1DB123FF931A35751C0A966958260
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/cinemaparadisonrhowe_a0b255.htm
https://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2013/dec/09/cinema-paradiso-25th-anniversary

CHECKLIST FOR PLAGIARISM 
1) ( ^ ) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class.

2) ( ^ ) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly explain that in the paper.

3) ( ^ ) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used indentation and citation within the text.

4) ( ^ ) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper.

5) ( ^ ) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read.

6) ( ^ ) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way. I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography.

7) ( ^ ) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality.

8) ( ^ ) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper.

Name: ____Cameron Beall__________________________________  Date: _________3/1/18___________________

Screening Report 4: Taiwan: The Wedding Banquet

1. Relate what was discussed in class to the text or screening:

Ang Lee, the director of The Wedding Banquet (1993), is one of the most notable and celebrated Taiwanese film directors in their history. He has directed some very popular movies such as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), Hulk (2003), Brokeback Mountain (2005), and The Life of Pi (2011). Similar to the Wedding Banquet, his film Brokeback Mountain was another excellent film that was about two male homosexual lovers. It starred the late Heath Ledger. Lee was nominated for Oscars for The Wedding Banquet and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. He won an Oscar in 2012 for Life of Pi.


2. Find a related article and summarize the content:

Wai-Tung is a gay man born in Taiwan but now a naturalized American who speaks fluent English. He has agreed to the request of his lover, Simon, to marry Wei Wei, who is a part-time waitress and painter, as well as one of Wai Tung's tenants. She is marrying him in order to obtain her green card, but she also finds Wai-Tung very attractive. On the other hand, Wai-Tung is marrying her at the request of Simon in order to get his parents off his back about marriage and to keep his true love life private. Wai-Tung's parents fly over to New York City from Taiwan once they heard the news about the wedding. The two lover's, Wai-Tung and Simon go to extreme lengths to conceal the extent of their relationship. Upon arriving at their home, it had to be redecorated to make it seem like Wai-Tung and Wei Wei lived there together, and not Wai-Tung and Simon. Simon is introduced to Wai-Tung's parents and roommate (which I'm surprised didn't raise any suspicion then). The lies continue to pile on, Wei Wei serves everyone dinner every night during the parents' two-week stay that is actually cooked by Simon (Wei Wei does not even know how to fry an egg). The film starts off as a light comedy but gradually becomes a bit dark as it goes along. After the solution to Wei Wei's pregnancy between Simon and Wai-Tung, it leaves the five main characters wiser and more compassionate than how they started out. The most touching character of the film was Wai-Tung's mother, whose existence seems to be tied to the pursuit of social convention. The film has a sense of history built into the plot. Wai-Tung and Wei Wei's marriage can also be viewed as a symbolic reunion of mainland China and Taiwan. The fact the future of their family line is dependant on this suspect marriage based on convenience to both parties gives the film an extra sense of comedy.

http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9F0CEFDB1431F937A3575BC0A965958260

3. Apply the article to the film screened in class:

The article supported and differentiated how I thought about the film. I definitely see the bit of history built into the plot with the idea that Wai-Tung and Wei Wei's marriage can be viewed as a symbolic reunion of mainland China and Taiwan, given that the director is from Taiwan. However, I felt that Wai-Tung's father was the most touching and thoughtful character in the film (not the mother), with Simon being a close second. Once Wai-Tung told his mother the truth about the marriage and his true lover, they both made it clear that they were to not tell his father under any circumstances and go on with the lie up until they left to return to Taiwan. They thought he would decide to disown Wai-Tung.But the father ended up using his own judgment and found out the truth on his own. He told Simon in a discrete way in their conversation by the river. And when they said goodbye before boarding their plane, he kindly thanked Simon for taking care of his son. He wasn't thinking of himself, but of his son's own well-being and happiness. Simon is also very thoughtful and caring for deciding to help raise Wei Wei and Wai-Tung's baby after she decided to keep it.


4. Write a critical analysis of the film, including your personal opinion,  formed as a result of the screening, class discussions, text material, and the article. 

The film overall was very well put together. It was certainly the most entertaining since we watched the film from Scotland. It was a perfect mix of drama, romance, and comedy. The theme of understanding and acceptance by the parents after learning the truth about their son was perfect. I definitely thought they were going to take that much worse than they did. However, Wei Wei becoming pregnant the night of the wedding banquet at the fancy restaurant seemed a bit unrealistic. Wai-Tung clearly wasn't looking for sex but Wei Wei in a way forced herself upon him. But for her to become pregnant off of having sex just one time seemed far-fetched.

CHECKLIST FOR PLAGIARISM 
1) ( ^ ) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class.

2) ( ^ ) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly explain that in the paper.

3) ( ^ ) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used indentation and citation within the text.

4) ( ^ ) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper.

5) ( ^ ) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read.

6) ( ^ ) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way. I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography.

7) ( ^ ) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality.

8) ( ^ ) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper.

Name: ___Cameron Beall___________________________________  Date: _______2/21/18_____________________

Citations: 

http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9F0CEFDB1431F937A3575BC0A965958260

https://www.empireonline.com/movies/wedding-banquet/review/

http://thepolitic.org/film-review-the-wedding-banquet/