This assignment is due to be posted on your individual blog by 5 pm, Monday, March 24. It will consist of a detailed description and analysis of a scene from one of the films from the first half of the course, excluding "A Page of Madness." The total amount of text should be 1000 to 1500 words.
Pick a scene from one of the films. You will probably want to pick a pivotal scene, but it could be any scene. Do a shot-by-shot analysis of the scene, as you see in Sikov pages 71-73, but also include discussion of sound (see pages 84-88), and then write a summary analysis that contextualizes the scene within the film and interprets it both in terms of its significance to the overall meaning of the film, but also in terms of its meaning for you in your analysis of the film. If the scene is rather long, your shot-by-shot analysis can cover a part of the scene.
An easy way to write it would be to first write it in a Word document, and then copy and paste it into your blog. You should record the clip/scene that you discuss, using VLC, and you will probably find it useful to make screenshots (also using VLC).
Please start thinking as soon as possible about the scene that you'd like to analyze. Two or more people should not analyze the same scene. Therefore, I am asking you to reply to this post and describe the scene that you will analyze and briefly state why. When you are ready to post, make sure that no one else has already claimed the scene. You must post your scene by 10 am Thursday, March 6. I also advise you to make your clip before you leave for spring break.
(By the way, although the format doesn't follow Sikov's model--which is what I'd like you to follow--Dudley Andrew has some nice analyses of the kidnapping scene from Sansho the Bailiff on pages 52-55, along with shorter scene analyses in subsequent pages).
P.S. The next long assignment will be a critical essay on a film by Ozu, Kurosawa, Mizoguchi, or Ichikawa. Tentative due date is April 14. There will be more writing--on your blog and on the discussion board--due at the end of the semester.
I'd be interested in writing on the scene up to and including when Anju commits suicide in Sansho the Bailiff as I found it to be among the most tragic and beautifully composed shots that I've ever seen in a film.
ReplyDeleteI would like to write about the scene where Anju and Zushio are collecting wood (for the second time) to keep their dying companion warm because it is a pivotal scene in the plot and Zushio's character development, and I found Mizoguchi's use of sound, camera angles, and other techniques very impactful emotionally as an audience member.
ReplyDeleteWhen you do this will you be covering the part where Zushio picks up Namiji? I'm asking because there is this really bizarre thing in the foreground where there is water dropping down a tree trunk, and then the soundtrack picks up the rhythm of the water drops. This is also in very sharp focus and high contrast. I wanted to show it in class but there wasn't enough time.
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DeleteI was not planning to initially because I thought that might make my scene too long either in presentation or file size, but if that's not the case I'd consider it.
DeleteEDIT: I just read Florrie's scene request. I was planning on focusing more on the gathering of sticks and grass, as well as the sound of the mother calling their names, as a sort of nostalgic reflection of the scene earlier in the movie.
Thank you, Hale, for your flexibility. It will certainly be interesting to analyze this repeated scene.
DeleteI would like to do the final scene in Seven Samurai (after the fade at the conclusion to the battle) because this scene holds a lot of very powerful imagery and implications.
ReplyDeleteI would like to writ aout the last scene in Sansho the Bailiff. When Zashio goes to find his mother at the Brothel up until the end of the movie. I feel this scene is one of the most important parts with in Sansho the Bailiff.
ReplyDeleteI would like to do the scene where Shino's father is trying to cut her hair in Seven Samurai. I just think this scene has a lot of interesting aspects to it, both content and camera wise.
ReplyDeletei would like to do the scene from seven samurai when they are preparing for battle and ind the armor that the villagers had saved.
ReplyDeleteI would like to do the scene from Seven Samurai when the samurai arrive, and Kikuchiyo rings the alarm.
ReplyDeleteI am going to write about a scene from "I Was Born, But...," the second day when the boys go to school with their father, in comparison with the first day.
ReplyDeleteI would like to use the "Atami" spa scene in Tokyo Story, when the couple are in the hotel and they cannot sleep due to the noise.
ReplyDeleteI am interested in writing about one of the final scenes of Tokyo Story where Father Hirayama attempts to thanks Noriko for her help but she admits to not being such a good person.
ReplyDeleteI would like write about the first scene/couple of shots of Tokyo Story with the travel motif because it sets up the movie and almost tells you the entire story in a few shots.
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to add that Caroline and I talked about her project, and we decided that it would be interesting to analyze the last shots as well (after Shukichi's last sigh).
DeleteI would like to take the scene in Seven Samurai where Kikuchiyo runs off the burial mound and takes the flag and places it on the roof of the building. I want to look at the moments before he does this and then moments following this action.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe anyone requested this, I would like to analyze the final battle from seven samurai, possibly beginning from the flag raise and ending with the fade to black. Although, since someone else wanted to do the flag raise, I might instead focus more on the scenes from the final battle itself.
ReplyDeleteI would like to analyze the scene in Seven Samurai in which several of the characters raid the bandit's camp and encounter Rikichi's wife.
ReplyDeleteI would like to analyze the scene in seven samurai which is the last night before the final battle from the drinking party of the peasants to the dawn of the night.The contrasts of actions of people are interesting for me.
ReplyDeleteI do not think anyone has requested this particular scene yet, but I would love to analyze the scene where the three older men in Tokyo Story are at the bar discussing the current lives their children are leading. This scene meant a great deal to me both times watching the film.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to write about the last scene of The Burmese Harp for its particularly moving composition and content as well as its significance to the film as a whole.
ReplyDeleteIn the film "I Was Born But..." by OZU, I would like to focus on the first fight between the school children.
ReplyDeleteI would like to write about the death scene of Gojira as I think Godzilla and Serizawa are presented simultaneously in an odd way one would not expect of a monster movie.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to analyze the scenes where Kikuchiyo breaks down. Its such an intense scene and its where we finally se what eats at his soul.
ReplyDeleteSam, just to be clear, do you mean the scene where Kikuchiyo rescues the baby from the burning mill? I ask because he sort of breaks down several times, and I want to avoid duplication. Thanks.
DeleteYes, I was going to watch the scene where he holds the baby. Sorry about not specifying.
DeleteOne of my favorite scenes of all time. Never fails to bring a tear to my eye. No pressure, of course.....In particular, the language is amazing in its simplicity: "Koitsu wa, ore da." "This is me."
DeleteI'd like to look at the scene where Zushio and Anju bring Namiji to the mountain to die. Specifically the part where Zushio and Anju collect wood to cover Namiji (paralleling a scene from when they were kids) and the part where Zushio picks up Namiji before leaving and Mizoguchi includes the dripping water in the shot. I'd love to analyze the significance of the water dripping and how it relates to other aspects of the plot.
ReplyDeleteI would like to do the scene in Seven Samurai when we are first introduced to Kambei where he saves the child from the criminal.
ReplyDeleteI would like to do the scene from a Tokyo story where Shukichi and Tomi are sitting at the park waiting to leave Tokyo.
ReplyDeleteI would like to analyze Gojira, specifically the opening scene, up until there is a close up of the telephone.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to analyze, from Seven Samurai, the duel between Kyuzo and nameless samurai; beginning from end with maybe a bit afterwards on the reactions from Kanbei and Katsushiro?
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