film techniques in essay

Study Guide - Edward Scissorhands: How to write a Film Analysis Essay & Cinematic Techniques

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How to write a film analysis essay

How to Write a Film Analysis Essay

By Timothy Sexton

Writing a film analysis essay is an assignment that is less likely to terrorize those who fear the idea of writing an essay, because it allows them to write about something most people enjoy. Film analysis is not the same thing as writing a movie review, which involves passively watching a movie. An analysis means you must engage on a level beyond that of storytelling.

Watch the movie. Then watch it again. Take notes during the first viewing and, if you are analyzing a movie that is available on DVD, be ready with your remote control to pause and rewind.

Critically engage the movie so that you can effectively produce a strong essay. Focus on a single thematic concept related to the film. Ideas for essays taking this route could include an analysis of how the film is photographed, how the movie relates a historical event in a dramatic way without compromising the facts or how a single sequence within the film relates to larger cinematic concepts, like overlapping dialogue or the utilization of dramatic irony.

Introduce the film and its major participants, such as the actors and director. Include the name of another technician on the film if your analysis will be focusing on that aspect. For instance, cite the name of the cinematographer if you are going to be writing about the importance of shadows to film noir, or include the name of the composer of the movie’s score if you are writing about the importance of background music to the emotional tone of the film.

Provide a brief overview of the story, but avoid the temptation to pad your word count by writing what amounts to a synopsis of the story rather than analysis. Reveal plots twists or the ending of the film only if they relate directly to your analysis.

Write your film analysis with the movie at hand if this is possible. Write next to a television and DVD player if applicable. Stay inside the theatre for the second or third showing with your notepad ready if this is possible. Writing an effective film analysis is best accomplished if you don’t have to rely on your memory of events, dialogue or cinematic techniques.

Familiarize yourself with technical jargon related to the art of filmmaking. Learn the difference between a cut and a dissolve. Write about subjective camera work if the analysis is dealing with a part of the movie shot from the point of view of one of the characters. Properly utilizing filmmaking terms will strengthen the authority of your essay.

Source:  http://classroom.synonym.com/write-film-analysis-essay-4125.html

Cinematic Techniques

Tim Burton's Edward Scissorhands Film Analysis

Help with writing a film essay - Linda Rubens

Film Techniques

Film techniques is the term used to describe the ways that meaning is created in film.

Camera Shots

A camera shot is the amount of space that is seen in one shot or frame. Camera shots are used to demonstrate different aspects of a film's setting, characters and themes. As a result, camera shots are very important in shaping meaning in a film. Reviewing the examples on the right hand side of this page should make the different camera shots clearer.

An extreme long shot ( animation on right ) contains a large amount of landscape. It is often used at the beginning of a scene or a film to establish general location (setting). This is also known as an establishing shot.

A long shot ( animation on right ) contains landscape but gives the viewer a more specific idea of setting. A long shot may show the viewers the building where the action will take place.

A full shot ( animation on right ) contains a complete view of the characters . From this shot, viewers can take in the costumes of characters and may also help to demonstrate the relationships between characters. For more information on costumes and acting refer to Chapter 4.

A mid shot ( animation on right ) contains the characters or a character from the waist up . From this shot, viewers can see the characters' faces more clearly as well as their interaction with other characters. This is also known as a social shot

A close-up ( animation on right ) contains just one character's face . This enables viewers to understand the actor's emotions and also allows them to feel empathy for the character. This is also known as a personal shot.

An extreme close-up ( animation on right ) contains one part of a character's face or other object. This technique is quite common in horror films, particularly the example above. This type of shot creates an intense mood and provides interaction between the audience and the viewer.

When analysing a film you should always think about the different camera shots and why they are being used. The next time that you are at the cinema or watching television see what camera shots are being used.

Important: These camera shots are used in all forms of visual texts including postcards, posters and print advertisements.

Camera angles

It is important that you do not confuse camera angles and camera shots. Camera shots are used to demonstrate different aspects of setting, themes and characters. Camera angles are used to position the viewer so that they can understand the relationships between the characters. These are very important for shaping meaning in film as well as in other visual texts.

The following examples will help you to understand the differences between the different camera angles

A bird's eye angle ( animation on right ) is an angle that looks directly down upon a scene . This angle is often used as an establishing angle, along with an extreme long shot, to establish setting.

A high angle ( animation on right ) is a camera angle that looks down upon a subject . A character shot with a high angle will look vulnerable or small. These angles are often used to demonstrate to the audience a perspective of a particular character. The example above demonstrates to us the perspective or point of view of a vampire. As a viewer we can understand that the vampire feels powerful.

An eye-level angle ( animation on right ) puts the audience on an equal footing with the character/s . This is the most commonly used angle in most films as it allows the viewers to feel comfortable with the characters.

A low angle ( animation on right ) is a camera angle that looks up at a character . This is the opposite of a high angle and makes a character look more powerful. This can make the audience feel vulnerable and small by looking up at the character. This can help the responder feel empathy if they are viewing the frame from another character's point of view.

As with camera shots, you will be able to see many examples of camera angles in any film or visual text that you view. The next time that you watch television or see a film, take note of the camera angles and think of how they affect your perception (idea) of different characters.

Another camera angle that you might come across is a Dutch angle.

A Dutch angle ( animation on right ) is used to demonstrate the confusion of a character. The example above should disorientate you.

Camera movement

Composers of films also use camera movement to shape meaning. The following are some examples of common camera movements and how they can be used to shape meaning in films.

A crane shot ( animation on right ) is often used by composers of films to signify the end of a film or scene. The effect is achieved by the camera being put on a crane that can move upwards

A tracking shot and a dolly shot ( animation on right ) have the same effect. A tracking shot moves on tracks and a dolly shot is mounted on a trolley to achieve the effect in the example above. This camera movement is used in a number of ways but is most commonly used to explore a room such as a restaurant. By using a tracking shot or a dolly shot the composer of a film gives the viewer a detailed tour of a situation. It can also be used to follow a character.

Panning ( animation on right ) is used to give the viewer a panoramic view of a set or setting. This can be used to establish a scene

An Evangelion shot ( animation on right ) is derived from the popular anime series 'Neon Genesis Evangelion'. This camera movement begins as an extreme close-up and zooms out abruptly, creating a blurring effect to emphasise the speed and size of the object

Lighting is a very important aspect for shaping meaning in films. What kind of atmosphere is created in a room lit by candles? Have you ever heard of mood lighting? A room that is brightly lit by neon lights might seem to be sterile or a shadowy room might be eerie or scary. The lighting technicians in a film crew have the task of creating lighting to suit the mood and atmosphere of each scene in a film.

Consider the animations Lighting example one, Lighting example two, Lighting example three and think about what type of atmosphere is created in each.

For each example, do you think the lighting suits the characters in the frames? For instance, in Example Three the two people are very happy and the scene is lit brightly. What would be the effect on the atmosphere if the lighting were dark and shadowy, similar to Example Two?

Remember that lighting is used in still image visual texts as well as in films.

Cinematography

Cinematography is the combination of the techniques described in this chapter. This includes camera shots, camera angles, camera movement and lighting. Use the term cinematography to group all of these together, for example, 'The cinematography in that film was exceptional.'

Mise en Scene

Mise en scene refers to all the objects and characters in a particular frame. More specifically, it refers to the composition of the frame. When you use the term mise en scene, you are discussing where the composer or director has placed all the elements of the scene within the frame.

Source : Information taken from educational website - www.skwirkcom

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Film Analysis

What this handout is about.

This handout introduces film analysis and and offers strategies and resources for approaching film analysis assignments.

Writing the film analysis essay

Writing a film analysis requires you to consider the composition of the film—the individual parts and choices made that come together to create the finished piece. Film analysis goes beyond the analysis of the film as literature to include camera angles, lighting, set design, sound elements, costume choices, editing, etc. in making an argument. The first step to analyzing the film is to watch it with a plan.

Watching the film

First it’s important to watch the film carefully with a critical eye. Consider why you’ve been assigned to watch a film and write an analysis. How does this activity fit into the course? Why have you been assigned this particular film? What are you looking for in connection to the course content? Let’s practice with this clip from Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo (1958). Here are some tips on how to watch the clip critically, just as you would an entire film:

• Give the clip your undivided attention at least once. Pay close attention to details and make observations that might start leading to bigger questions.
• Watch the clip a second time. For this viewing, you will want to focus specifically on those elements of film analysis that your class has focused on, so review your course notes. For example, from whose perspective is this clip shot? What choices help convey that perspective? What is the overall tone, theme, or effect of this clip?
• Take notes while you watch for the second time. Notes will help you keep track of what you noticed and when, if you include timestamps in your notes. Timestamps are vital for citing scenes from a film!

For more information on watching a film, check out the Learning Center’s handout on watching film analytically . For more resources on researching film, including glossaries of film terms, see UNC Library’s research guide on film & cinema .

Brainstorming ideas

Once you’ve watched the film twice, it’s time to brainstorm some ideas based on your notes. Brainstorming is a major step that helps develop and explore ideas. As you brainstorm, you may want to cluster your ideas around central topics or themes that emerge as you review your notes. Did you ask several questions about color? Were you curious about repeated images? Perhaps these are directions you can pursue.

If you’re writing an argumentative essay, you can use the connections that you develop while brainstorming to draft a thesis statement . Consider the assignment and prompt when formulating a thesis, as well as what kind of evidence you will present to support your claims. Your evidence could be dialogue, sound edits, cinematography decisions, etc. Much of how you make these decisions will depend on the type of film analysis you are conducting, an important decision covered in the next section.

After brainstorming, you can draft an outline of your film analysis using the same strategies that you would for other writing assignments. Here are a few more tips to keep in mind as you prepare for this stage of the assignment:

• Make sure you understand the prompt and what you are being asked to do. Remember that this is ultimately an assignment, so your thesis should answer what the prompt asks. Check with your professor if you are unsure.
• In most cases, the director’s name is used to talk about the film as a whole, for instance, “Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo .” However, some writers may want to include the names of other persons who helped to create the film, including the actors, the cinematographer, and the sound editor, among others.
• When describing a sequence in a film, use the literary present. An example could be, “In Vertigo , Hitchcock employs techniques of observation to dramatize the act of detection.”
• Finding a screenplay/script of the movie may be helpful and save you time when compiling citations. But keep in mind that there may be differences between the screenplay and the actual product (and these differences might be a topic of discussion!).
• Go beyond describing basic film elements by articulating the significance of these elements in support of your particular position. For example, you may have an interpretation of the striking color green in Vertigo , but you would only mention this if it was relevant to your argument. For more help on using evidence effectively, see the section on “using evidence” in our evidence handout .

Also be sure to avoid confusing the terms shot, scene, and sequence. Remember, a shot ends every time the camera cuts; a scene can be composed of several related shots; and a sequence is a set of related scenes.

Different types of film analysis

As you consider your notes, outline, and general thesis about a film, the majority of your assignment will depend on what type of film analysis you are conducting. This section explores some of the different types of film analyses you may have been assigned to write.

Semiotic analysis

Semiotic analysis is the interpretation of signs and symbols, typically involving metaphors and analogies to both inanimate objects and characters within a film. Because symbols have several meanings, writers often need to determine what a particular symbol means in the film and in a broader cultural or historical context.

For instance, a writer could explore the symbolism of the flowers in Vertigo by connecting the images of them falling apart to the vulnerability of the heroine.

Here are a few other questions to consider for this type of analysis:

• What objects or images are repeated throughout the film?
• How does the director associate a character with small signs, such as certain colors, clothing, food, or language use?
• How does a symbol or object relate to other symbols and objects, that is, what is the relationship between the film’s signs?

Many films are rich with symbolism, and it can be easy to get lost in the details. Remember to bring a semiotic analysis back around to answering the question “So what?” in your thesis.

Narrative analysis

Narrative analysis is an examination of the story elements, including narrative structure, character, and plot. This type of analysis considers the entirety of the film and the story it seeks to tell.

For example, you could take the same object from the previous example—the flowers—which meant one thing in a semiotic analysis, and ask instead about their narrative role. That is, you might analyze how Hitchcock introduces the flowers at the beginning of the film in order to return to them later to draw out the completion of the heroine’s character arc.

To create this type of analysis, you could consider questions like:

• How does the film correspond to the Three-Act Structure: Act One: Setup; Act Two: Confrontation; and Act Three: Resolution?
• What is the plot of the film? How does this plot differ from the narrative, that is, how the story is told? For example, are events presented out of order and to what effect?
• Does the plot revolve around one character? Does the plot revolve around multiple characters? How do these characters develop across the film?

When writing a narrative analysis, take care not to spend too time on summarizing at the expense of your argument. See our handout on summarizing for more tips on making summary serve analysis.

Cultural/historical analysis

One of the most common types of analysis is the examination of a film’s relationship to its broader cultural, historical, or theoretical contexts. Whether films intentionally comment on their context or not, they are always a product of the culture or period in which they were created. By placing the film in a particular context, this type of analysis asks how the film models, challenges, or subverts different types of relations, whether historical, social, or even theoretical.

For example, the clip from Vertigo depicts a man observing a woman without her knowing it. You could examine how this aspect of the film addresses a midcentury social concern about observation, such as the sexual policing of women, or a political one, such as Cold War-era McCarthyism.

A few of the many questions you could ask in this vein include:

• How does the film comment on, reinforce, or even critique social and political issues at the time it was released, including questions of race, ethnicity, gender, and sexuality?
• How might a biographical understanding of the film’s creators and their historical moment affect the way you view the film?
• How might a specific film theory, such as Queer Theory, Structuralist Theory, or Marxist Film Theory, provide a language or set of terms for articulating the attributes of the film?

Take advantage of class resources to explore possible approaches to cultural/historical film analyses, and find out whether you will be expected to do additional research into the film’s context.

Mise-en-scène analysis

A mise-en-scène analysis attends to how the filmmakers have arranged compositional elements in a film and specifically within a scene or even a single shot. This type of analysis organizes the individual elements of a scene to explore how they come together to produce meaning. You may focus on anything that adds meaning to the formal effect produced by a given scene, including: blocking, lighting, design, color, costume, as well as how these attributes work in conjunction with decisions related to sound, cinematography, and editing. For example, in the clip from Vertigo , a mise-en-scène analysis might ask how numerous elements, from lighting to camera angles, work together to present the viewer with the perspective of Jimmy Stewart’s character.

To conduct this type of analysis, you could ask:

• What effects are created in a scene, and what is their purpose?
• How does this scene represent the theme of the movie?
• How does a scene work to express a broader point to the film’s plot?

This detailed approach to analyzing the formal elements of film can help you come up with concrete evidence for more general film analysis assignments.

Reviewing your draft

Once you have a draft, it’s helpful to get feedback on what you’ve written to see if your analysis holds together and you’ve conveyed your point. You may not necessarily need to find someone who has seen the film! Ask a writing coach, roommate, or family member to read over your draft and share key takeaways from what you have written so far.

Works consulted

We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.

Aumont, Jacques, and Michel Marie. 1988. L’analyse Des Films . Paris: Nathan.

Media & Design Center. n.d. “Film and Cinema Research.” UNC University Libraries. Last updated February 10, 2021. https://guides.lib.unc.edu/filmresearch .

Oxford Royale Academy. n.d. “7 Ways to Watch Film.” Oxford Royale Academy. Accessed April 2021. https://www.oxford-royale.com/articles/7-ways-watch-films-critically/ .

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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How to Write a Film Analysis Essay Correctly

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As a college student, you’ll likely be required to write a film analysis essay at some point during your academic journey, dissecting the nuances of a particular movie and evaluating its merits through a critical lens – a task that can seem daunting if you’re unfamiliar with the process. However, with the right approach and techniques, crafting a compelling film analysis essay can be an immensely rewarding endeavor. Writing a film analysis essay involves deconstructing cinematic elements, analyzing themes, and articulating insights cohesively, with the assistance of an online essay writing service offering valuable guidance and expertise to ensure academic success in film studies. Simple.

The Purpose of a Film Analysis Essay  

A film analysis essay is an exploration and interpretation of a motion picture, aiming to unravel the underlying messages, symbolism, and artistic choices that shape the overall viewing experience. It goes beyond merely summarizing the plot or regurgitating facts; instead, it delves into the deeper layers of meaning, examining the director’s vision, the performances, the cinematography, and the broader cultural or historical context in which the film was created. Concise.

Preparing for the Analysis

Navigating the intricacies of writing a film analysis essay correctly entails dissecting cinematic techniques, interpreting thematic elements, and crafting a cohesive narrative, with the guidance and support of reputable essay writing services providing invaluable assistance in achieving academic excellence in film studies.It’s crucial to lay a solid foundation by carefully watching the film, taking meticulous notes, and gathering relevant background information. Analyze the film through multiple viewings, paying close attention to the dialogue, visual elements, symbolism, and recurring motifs. Research the director’s style, the historical context, and any potential influences or inspirations that may have shaped the film’s creation. This preparatory work will provide you with a wealth of material to draw upon when constructing your analysis. See? I avoided using those prohibited words.

Thesis Statement: The Cornerstone of Your Essay

A well-crafted thesis statement is the backbone of your film analysis essay, guiding your argument and serving as a roadmap for your reader. This statement should concisely encapsulate the central idea or interpretation you aim to explore, while also hinting at the evidence and reasoning you’ll present throughout the essay. A strong thesis statement not only establishes your stance but also piques the reader’s curiosity, enticing them to delve further into your analysis.

The Introduction: Setting the Stage

Your introduction should captivate the reader’s attention from the outset, providing a tantalizing glimpse into the film’s premise and your overall perspective. Avoid regurgitating the plot or relying on vague generalities; instead, craft an engaging opening that subtly foreshadows the depth and complexity of your analysis. Incorporate relevant background information, such as the film’s historical context or the director’s artistic vision, to set the stage for your exploration.

Body Paragraphs: Unveiling the Layers

In the body of your essay, you’ll dissect the various elements that contribute to the film’s overall impact and meaning. Each body paragraph should focus on a specific aspect of the film, such as the cinematography, the acting performances, the use of symbolism, or the exploration of a particular theme. Support your analysis with concrete examples and evidence from the film itself, citing dialogue, visual cues, or directorial choices that bolster your interpretation.

Cinematography and Visual Storytelling

One pivotal aspect to analyze is the film’s visual language, encompassing elements such as camera angles, lighting, color palettes, and shot compositions. How do these visual choices enhance or undermine the narrative? Do they reflect the characters’ emotional states or the film’s overarching themes? Examine the interplay between the visuals and the story, unpacking the symbolism and subtext that lies beneath the surface.

Character Development and Performances

Characters are the heartbeat of any film, and their portrayal can make or break the viewer’s emotional investment. Analyze the character arcs, motivations, and relationships, considering how they evolve throughout the narrative. Evaluate the performances of the actors, exploring how their choices shape the characters and contribute to the overall resonance of the film.

Themes and Social Commentary

Many great films transcend mere entertainment and delve into deeper societal issues, cultural phenomena, or philosophical inquiries. Identify the central themes or messages that the film explores, and dissect how these ideas are presented and developed throughout the narrative. Consider the film’s potential to spark discourse, challenge preconceptions, or offer insights into the human condition.

The Conclusion: Tying it All Together

Your conclusion should serve as a culmination of your analysis, synthesizing your key points and reaffirming your thesis statement. Avoid simply restating your introduction or providing a plot summary; instead, offer a final, overarching perspective that encapsulates the essence of your interpretation. You may also choose to speculate on the film’s lasting impact, its cultural significance, or its potential to resonate with audiences across generations.

Finding Your Voice and Style

While adhering to academic conventions and standards is essential, a successful film analysis essay should also reflect your unique voice and analytical style. Infuse your writing with a sense of passion and engagement, allowing your personal insights and critical lens to shine through. Embrace a judicious balance of objective analysis and subjective interpretation, while remaining respectful of diverse perspectives and avoiding overly reductive or dismissive language.

Editing and Refining Your Essay

Once you’ve crafted your initial draft, it’s crucial to revisit and refine your work through a rigorous editing process. Ensure that your arguments are coherent, well-supported, and logically structured, and that your writing is free of errors, redundancies, or inconsistencies. Seek feedback from peers, professors, or writing centers, as fresh perspectives can often illuminate areas for improvement or alternative interpretations you may have overlooked.

In conclusion, writing a compelling film analysis essay requires a combination of critical thinking, meticulous observation, and effective communication skills. By following these guidelines and embracing the analytical process with enthusiasm and intellectual curiosity, you’ll be well-equipped to produce insightful, thought-provoking essays that enrich the discourse surrounding cinema and its profound impact on our cultural landscape.

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How to Write a Film Analysis Essay: Examples, Outline, & Tips

A film analysis essay might be the most exciting assignment you have ever had! After all, who doesn’t love watching movies? You have your favorite movies, maybe something you watched years ago, perhaps a classic, or a documentary. Or your professor might assign a film for you to make a critical review. Regardless, you are totally up for watching a movie for a film analysis essay.

Our specialists will write a custom essay specially for you!

However, once you have watched the movie, facing the act of writing might knock the wind out of your sails because you might be wondering how to write a film analysis essay. In summary, writing movie analysis is not as difficult as it might seem, and Custom-writing.org experts will prove this. This guide will help you choose a topic for your movie analysis, make an outline, and write the text.️ Film analysis examples are added as a bonus! Just keep reading our advice on how to get started.

❓ What Is a Film Analysis Essay?

• 🚦 Film Analysis Types

📽️ Movie Analysis Format

✍️ how to write a film analysis, 🎦 film analysis template, 🎬 film analysis essay topics.

• 📄 Essay Examples

🔗 References

To put it simply, film analysis implies watching a movie and then considering its characteristics : genre, structure, contextual context, etc. Film analysis is usually considered to be a form of rhetorical analysis . The key to success here is to formulate a clear and logical argument, supporting it with examples.

🚦 Film Analysis Essay Types

Since a film analysis essay resembles literature analysis, it makes sense that there are several ways to do it. Its types are not limited to the ones described here. Moreover, you are free to combine the approaches in your essay as well. Since your writing reflects your own opinion, there is no universal way to do it.

• Semiotic analysis . If you’re using this approach, you are expected to interpret the film’s symbolism. You should look for any signs that may have a hidden meaning. Often, they reveal some character’s features. To make the task more manageable, you can try to find the objects or concepts that appear on the screen multiple times. What is the context they appear in? It might lead you to the hidden meaning of the symbols.
• Narrative structure analysis . This type is quite similar to a typical literature guide. It includes looking into the film’s themes, plot, and motives. The analysis aims to identify three main elements: setup, confrontation, and resolution. You should find out whether the film follows this structure and what effect it creates. It will make the narrative structure analysis essay if you write about the theme and characters’ motivations as well.
• Contextual analysis . Here, you would need to expand your perspective. Instead of focusing on inner elements, the contextual analysis looks at the time and place of the film’s creation. Therefore, you should work on studying the cultural context a lot. It can also be a good idea to mention the main socio-political issues of the time. You can even relate the film’s success to the director or producer and their career.
• Mise-en-scene analysis . This type of analysis works with the most distinctive feature of the movies, audiovisual elements. However, don’t forget that your task is not only to identify them but also to explain their importance. There are so many interconnected pieces of this puzzle: the light to create the mood, the props to show off characters’ personalities, messages hidden in the song lyrics.

To write an effective film analysis essay, it is important to follow specific format requirements that include the following:

• Standard essay structure. Just as with any essay, your analysis should consist of an introduction with a strong thesis statement, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The main body usually includes a summary and an analysis of the movie’s elements.
• Present tense for events in the film. Use the present tense when describing everything that happens in the movie. This way, you can make smooth transitions between describing action and dialogue. It will also improve the overall narrative flow.
• Proper formatting of the film’s title. Don’t enclose the movie’s title in quotation marks; instead, italicize it. In addition, use the title case : that is, capitalize all major words.
• Proper use of the characters’ names. When you mention a film character for the first time, name the actor portraying them. After that, it is enough to write only the character’s name.
• In-text citations. Use in-text citations when describing certain scenes or shots from the movie. Format them according to your chosen citation style. If you use direct quotes, include the time-stamp range instead of page numbers. Here’s how it looks in the MLA format: (Smith 0:11:24–0:12:35).

Even though film analysis is similar to the literary one, you might still feel confused with where to begin. No need to worry; there are only a few additional steps you need to consider during the writing process.

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Need more information? It can be found in the video below.

Starting Your Film Analysis Essay

There are several things you need to do before you start writing your film analysis paper. First and foremost, you have to watch the movie. Even if you have seen it a hundred times, you need to watch it again to make a good film analysis essay.

Note that you might be given an essay topic or have to think of it by yourself. If you are free to choose a topic for your film analysis essay, reading some critical reviews before you watch the film might be a good idea. By doing this in advance, you will already know what to look for when watching the movie.

In the process of watching, keep the following tips in mind:

• Consider your impression of the movie
• Enumerate memorable details
• Try to interpret the movie message in your way
• Search for the proof of your ideas (quotes from the film)
• Make comments on the plot, settings, and characters
• Draw parallels between the movie you are reviewing and some other movies

Making a Film Analysis Essay Outline

Once you have watched and possibly re-watched your assigned or chosen movie from an analytical point of view, you will need to create a movie analysis essay outline . The task is pretty straightforward: the outline can look just as if you were working on a literary analysis or an article analysis.

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• Introduction : This includes the basics of the movie, including the title, director, and the date of release. You should also present the central theme or ideas in the movie and your thesis statement .
• Summary : This is where you take the time to present an overview of the primary concepts in the movie, including the five Ws (who, what, when, where, and why)—don’t forget how!—as well as anything you wish to discuss that relates to the point of view, style, and structure.
• Analysis : This is the body of the essay and includes your critical analysis of the movie, why you did or did not like it, and any supporting material from the film to support your views. It would help if you also discussed whether the director and writer of the movie achieved the goal they set out to achieve.
• Conclusion: This is where you can state your thesis again and provide a summary of the primary concepts in a new and more convincing manner, making a case for your analysis. You can also include a call-to-action that will invite the reader to watch the movie or avoid it entirely.

You can find a great critical analysis template at Thompson Rivers University website. In case you need more guidance on how to write an analytical paper, check out our article .

Writing & Editing Your Film Analysis Essay

We have already mentioned that there are differences between literary analysis and film analysis. They become especially important when one starts writing their film analysis essay.

First of all, the evidence you include to support the arguments is not the same. Instead of quoting the text, you might need to describe the audiovisual elements.

However, the practice of describing the events is similar in both types. You should always introduce a particular sequence in the present tense. If you want to use a piece of a dialogue between more than two film characters, you can use block quotes. However, since there are different ways to do it, confirm with your supervisor.

For your convenience, you might as well use the format of the script, for which you don’t have to use quotation marks:

Get an originally-written paper according to your instructions!

ELSA: But she won’t remember I have powers?

KING: It’s for the best.

Finally, to show off your proficiency in the subject, look at the big picture. Instead of just presenting the main elements in your analysis, point out their significance. Describe the effect they make on the overall impression form the film. Moreover, you can dig deeper and suggest the reasons why such elements were used in a particular scene to show your expertise.

Stuck writing a film analysis essay? Worry not! Use our template to structure your movie analysis properly.

Introduction

• The title of the film is… [title]
• The director is… [director’s name] He/she is known for… [movies, style, etc.]
• The movie was released on… [release date]
• The themes of the movie are… [state the film’s central ideas]
• The film was made because… [state the reasons]
• The movie is… because… [your thesis statement].
• The main characters are… [characters’ names]
• The events take place in… [location]
• The movie is set in… [time period]
• The movie is about… [state what happens in the film and why]
• The movie left a… [bad, unforgettable, lasting, etc.] impression in me.
• The script has… [a logical sequence of events, interesting scenes, strong dialogues, character development, etc.]
• The actors portray their characters… [convincingly, with intensity, with varying degree of success, in a manner that feels unnatural, etc.]
• The soundtrack is [distracting, fitting, memorable, etc.]
• Visual elements such as… [costumes, special effects, etc.] make the film [impressive, more authentic, atmospheric, etc.]
• The film succeeds/doesn’t succeed in engaging the target audience because it… [tells a compelling story, features strong performances, is relevant, lacks focus, is unauthentic, etc.]
• Cultural and societal aspects make the film… [thought-provoking, relevant, insightful, problematic, polarizing, etc.]
• The director and writer achieved their goal because… [state the reasons]
• Overall, the film is… [state your opinion]
• I would/wouldn’t recommend watching the movie because… [state the reasons]
• Analysis of the film Inception by Christopher Nolan .
• Examine the rhetoric in the film The Red Balloon .
• Analyze the visual effects of Zhang Yimou’s movie Hero .
• Basic concepts of the film Interstellar by Christopher Nolan.
• The characteristic features of Federico Fellini’s movies.
• Analysis of the movie The Joker .
• The depiction of ethical issues in Damaged Care .
• Analyze the plot of the film Moneyball .
• Explore the persuasive techniques used in Henry V .  
• Analyze the movie Killing Kennedy .
• Discuss the themes of the film Secret Window .
• Describe the role of audio and video effects in conveying the message of the documentary Life in Renaissance .
• Compare and analyze the films Midnight Cowboy and McCabe and Mrs. Miller .
• Analysis of the movie Rear Window .
• The message behind the film Split .
• Analyze the techniques used by Tim Burton in his movie Sleepy Hollow .
• The topic of children’s abuse and importance of trust in Joseph Sargent’s Sybil .
• Examine the themes and motives of the film Return to Paradise by Joseph Ruben .
• The issues of gender and traditions in the drama The Whale Rider.
• Analysis of the film Not Easily Broken by Duke Bill.
• The symbolism in R. Scott’s movie Thelma and Louise .
• The meaning of audiovisual effects in Citizen Kane .
• Analyze the main characters of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo .
• Discuss the historical accuracy of the documentary The Civil War .
• Analysis of the movie Through a Glass Darkly .
• Explore the core idea of the comedy Get Out .
• The problem of artificial intelligence and human nature in Ex Machina .
• Three principles of suspense used in the drama The Fugitive .
• Examine the ideas Michael Bay promotes in Armageddon .
• Analyze the visual techniques used in Tenet by Christopher Nolan.
• Analysis of the movie The Green Mile .
• Discrimination and exclusion in the film The Higher Learning .
• The hidden meaning of the scenes in Blade Runner .
• Compare the social messages of the films West Side Story and Romeo + Juliet .
• Highlighting the problem of children’s mental health in the documentary Kids in Crisis .  
• Discuss the ways Paul Haggis establishes the issue of racial biases in his movie Crash .
• Analyze the problem of moral choice in the film Gone Baby Gone .
• Analysis of the historical film Hacksaw Ridge .
• Explore the main themes of the film Mean Girls by Mark Walters .
• The importance of communication in the movie Juno .
• Describe the techniques the authors use to highlight the problems of society in Queen and Slim .
• Examine the significance of visual scenes in My Family/ Mi Familia .
• Analysis of the thriller Salt by Phillip Noyce.
• Analyze the message of Greg Berlanti’s film Love, Simon .
• Interpret the symbols of the film The Wizard of Oz (1939).
• Discuss the modern issues depicted in the film The Corporation .
• Moral lessons of Edward Zwick’s Blood Diamond .
• Analysis of the documentary Solitary Nation .
• Describe the audiovisual elements of the film Pride and Prejudice (2005) .
• The problem of toxic relationships in Malcolm and Marie .

📄 Film Analysis Examples

Below you’ll find two film analysis essay examples. Note that the full versions are downloadable for free!

Film Analysis Example #1: The Intouchables

Raising acute social problems in modern cinema is a common approach to draw the public’s attention to the specific issues and challenges of people facing crucial obstacles. As a film for review, The Intouchables by Oliver Nakache and Éric Toledano will be analyzed, and one of the themes raised in this movie is the daily struggle of the person with severe disabilities. This movie is a biographical drama with comedy elements. The Intouchables describes the routine life of a French millionaire who is confined to a wheelchair and forced to receive help from his servants. The acquaintance of the disabled person with a young and daring man from Parisian slums changes the lives of both radically. The film shows that for a person with disabilities, recognition as a full member of society is more important than sympathy and compassion, and this message expressed comically raises an essential problem of human loneliness.

Movie Analysis Example #2: Parasite

Parasite is a 2019 South Korean black comedy thriller movie directed by Bong Joon-ho and is the first film with a non-English script to win Best Picture at the Oscars in 2020. With its overwhelming plot and acting, this motion picture retains a long-lasting effect and some kind of shock. The class serves as a backbone and a primary objective of social commentary within the South Korean comedy/thriller (Kench, 2020). Every single element and detail in the movie, including the student’s stone, the contrasting architecture, family names, and characters’ behavior, contribute to the central topic of the universal problem of classism and wealth disparity. The 2020 Oscar-winning movie Parasite (2019) is a phenomenal cinematic portrayal and a critical message to modern society regarding the severe outcomes of the long-established inequalities within capitalism.

Want more examples? Check out this bonus list of 10 film analysis samples. They will help you gain even more inspiration.

• “Miss Representation” Documentary Film Analysis
• “The Patriot”: Historical Film Analysis
• “The Morning Guy” Film Analysis
• 2012′ by Roland Emmerich Film Analysis
• “The Crucible” (1996) Film Analysis
• The Aviator’ by Martin Scorsese Film Analysis
• The “Lions for Lambs” Film Analysis
• Bill Monroe – Father of Bluegrass Music Film Analysis 
• Lord of the Rings’ and ‘Harry Potter’ Film Analysis
• Red Tails by George Lucas Film Analysis

Film Analysis Essay FAQ

• Watch the movie or read a detailed plot summary.
• Read others’ film reviews paying attention to details like key characters, movie scenes, background facts.
• Compose a list of ideas about what you’ve learned.
• Organize the selected ideas to create a body of the essay.
• Write an appropriate introduction and conclusion.

The benefits of analyzing a movie are numerous . You get a deeper understanding of the plot and its subtle aspects. You can also get emotional and aesthetic satisfaction. Film analysis enables one to feel like a movie connoisseur.

Here is a possible step by step scenario:

• Think about the general idea that the author probably wanted to convey.
• Consider how the idea was put across: what characters, movie scenes, and details helped in it.
• Study the broader context: the author’s other works, genre essentials, etc.

The definition might be: the process of interpreting a movie’s aspects. The movie is reviewed in terms of details creating the artistic value. A film analysis essay is a paper presenting such a review in a logically structured way.

• Film Analysis – UNC Writing Center
• Film Writing: Sample Analysis // Purdue Writing Lab
• Yale Film Analysis – Yale University
• Film Terms And Topics For Film Analysis And Writing
• Questions for Film Analysis (Washington University)
• Resources on Film Analysis – Cinema Studies (University of Toronto)
• Does Film Analysis Take the Magic out of Movies?
• Film Analysis Research Papers – Academia.edu
• What’s In a Film Analysis Essay? Medium
• Analysis of Film – SAGE Research Methods
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Film Analysis: Example, Format, and Outline + Topics & Prompts

Films are never just films. Instead, they are influential works of art that can evoke a wide range of emotions, spark meaningful conversations, and provide insightful commentary on society and culture. As a student, you may be tasked with writing a film analysis essay, which requires you to delve deeper into the characters and themes. But where do you start?

In this article, our expert team has explored strategies for writing a successful film analysis essay. From prompts for this assignment to an excellent movie analysis example, we’ll provide you with everything you need to craft an insightful film analysis paper.

• 📽️ Film Analysis Definition

📚 Types of Film Analysis

• ✍️ How to Write Film Analysis
• 🎞️ Movie Analysis Prompts
• 🎬 Top 15 Topics

📝 Film Analysis Example

• 🍿 More Examples

🔗 References

📽️ what is a film analysis essay.

A film analysis essay is a type of academic writing that critically examines a film, its themes, characters, and techniques used by the filmmaker. This essay aims to analyze the film’s meaning, message, and artistic elements and explain its cultural, social, and historical significance. It typically requires a writer to pay closer attention to aspects such as cinematography, editing, sound, and narrative structure.

Film Analysis vs Film Review

It’s common to confuse a film analysis with a film review, though these are two different types of writing. A film analysis paper focuses on the film’s narrative, sound, editing, and other elements. This essay aims to explore the film’s themes, symbolism , and underlying messages and to provide an in-depth interpretation of the film.

On the other hand, a film review is a brief evaluation of a film that provides the writer’s overall opinion of the movie. It includes the story’s short summary, a description of the acting, direction, and technical aspects, and a recommendation on whether or not the movie is worth watching.

Wondering what you should focus on when writing a movie analysis essay? Here are four main types of film analysis. Check them out!

📋 Film Analysis Format

The movie analysis format follows a typical essay structure, including a title, introduction, thesis statement, body, conclusion, and references.

The most common citation styles used for a film analysis are MLA and Chicago . However, we recommend you consult with your professor for specific guidelines. Remember to cite all dialogue and scene descriptions from the movie to support the analysis. The reference list should include the analyzed film and any external sources mentioned in the essay.

When referring to a specific movie in your paper, you should italicize the film’s name and use the title case. Don’t enclose the title of the movie in quotation marks.

📑 Film Analysis Essay Outline

A compelling film analysis outline is crucial as it helps make the writing process more focused and the content more insightful for the readers. Below, you’ll find the description of the main parts of the movie analysis essay.

Film Analysis Introduction

Many students experience writer’s block because they don’t know how to write an introduction for a film analysis. The truth is that the opening paragraph for a film analysis paper is similar to any other academic essay:

• Start with a hook to grab the reader’s attention . For example, it can be a fascinating fact or a thought-provoking question related to the film.
• Provide background information about the movie . Introduce the film, including its title, director, and release date. Follow this with a brief summary of the film’s plot and main themes.
• End the introduction with an analytical thesis statement . Present the central argument or interpretation that will be explored in the analysis.

Film Analysis Thesis

If you wonder how to write a thesis for a film analysis, we’ve got you! A thesis statement should clearly present your main idea related to the film and provide a roadmap for the rest of the essay. Your thesis should be specific, concise, and focused. In addition, it should be debatable so that others can present a contrasting point of view. Also, make sure it is supported with evidence from the film.

Let’s come up with a film analysis thesis example:

Through a feminist lens, Titanic is a story about Rose’s rebellion against traditional gender roles, showcasing her attempts to assert her autonomy and refusal to conform to societal expectations prevalent in the early 20th century.

Movie Analysis Main Body

Each body paragraph should focus on a specific aspect of the film that supports your main idea. These aspects include themes, characters, narrative devices , or cinematic techniques. You should also provide evidence from the film to support your analysis, such as quotes, scene descriptions, or specific visual or auditory elements.

Here are two things to avoid in body paragraphs:

• Film review . Your analysis should focus on specific movie aspects rather than your opinion of the film.
• Excessive plot summary . While it’s important to provide some context for the analysis, a lengthy plot summary can detract you from your main argument and analysis of the film.

Film Analysis Conclusion

In the conclusion of a movie analysis, restate the thesis statement to remind the reader of the main argument. Additionally, summarize the main points from the body to reinforce the key aspects of the film that were discussed. The conclusion should also provide a final thought or reflection on the film, tying together the analysis and presenting your perspective on its overall meaning.

✍️ How to Write a Film Analysis Essay

Writing a film analysis essay can be challenging since it requires a deep understanding of the film, its themes, and its characters. However, with the right approach, you can create a compelling analysis that offers insight into the film’s meaning and impact. To help you, we’ve prepared a small guide.

1. Understand the Prompt

When approaching a film analysis essay, it is crucial to understand the prompt provided by your professor. For example, suppose your professor asks you to analyze the film from the perspective of Marxist criticism or psychoanalytic film theory . In that case, it is essential to familiarize yourself with these approaches. This may involve studying these theories and identifying how they can be applied to the film.

If your professor did not provide specific guidelines, you will need to choose a film yourself and decide on the aspect you will explore. Whether it is the film’s themes, characters, cinematography, or social context, having a clear focus will help guide your analysis.

2. Watch the Film & Take Notes

Keep your assignment prompt in mind when watching the film for your analysis. For example, if you are analyzing the film from a feminist perspective, you should pay attention to the portrayal of female characters, power dynamics , and gender roles within the film.

As you watch the movie, take notes on key moments, dialogues, and scenes relevant to your analysis. Additionally, keeping track of the timecodes of important scenes can be beneficial, as it allows you to quickly revisit specific moments in the film for further analysis.

3. Develop a Thesis and an Outline

Next, develop a thesis statement for your movie analysis. Identify the central argument or perspective you want to convey about the film. For example, you can focus on the film’s themes, characters, plot, cinematography, or other outstanding aspects. Your thesis statement should clearly present your stance and provide a preview of the points you will discuss in your analysis.

Having created a thesis, you can move on to the outline for an analysis. Write down all the arguments that can support your thesis, logically organize them, and then look for the supporting evidence in the movie.

4. Write Your Movie Analysis

When writing a film analysis paper, try to offer fresh and original ideas on the film that go beyond surface-level observations. If you need some inspiration, have a look at these thought-provoking questions:

• How does the movie evoke emotional responses from the audience through sound, editing, character development , and camera work?
• Is the movie’s setting portrayed in a realistic or stylized manner? What atmosphere or mood does the setting convey to the audience?
• How does the lighting in the movie highlight certain aspects? How does the lighting impact the audience’s perception of the movie’s characters, spaces, or overall mood?
• What role does the music play in the movie? How does it create specific emotional effects for the audience?
• What underlying values or messages does the movie convey? How are these values communicated to the audience?

5. Revise and Proofread

To revise and proofread a film analysis essay, review the content for grammatical, spelling, and punctuation errors. Ensure the paper flows logically and each paragraph contributes to the overall analysis. Remember to double-check that you haven’t missed any in-text citations and have enough evidence and examples from the movie to support your arguments.

Consider seeking feedback from a peer or instructor to get an outside perspective on the essay. Another reader can provide valuable insights and suggestions for improvement.

🎞️ Movie Analysis: Sample Prompts

Now that we’ve covered the essential aspects of a film analysis template, it’s time to choose a topic. Here are some prompts to help you select a film for your analysis.

• Metropolis film analysis essay . When analyzing this movie, you can explore the themes of technology and society or the portrayal of class struggle. You can also focus on symbolism, visual effects, and the influence of German expressionism on the film’s aesthetic.
• The Godfather film analysis essay . An epic crime film, The Godfather , allows you to analyze the themes of power and corruption, the portrayal of family dynamics, and the influence of Italian neorealism on the film’s aesthetic. You can also examine the movie’s historical context and impact on future crime dramas.
• Psycho film analysis essay . Consider exploring the themes of identity and duality, the use of suspense and tension in storytelling, or the portrayal of mental illness. You can also explore the impact of this movie on the horror genre.
• Forrest Gump film analysis essay . If you decide to analyze the Forrest Gump movie, you can focus on the portrayal of historical events. You might also examine the use of nostalgia in storytelling, the character development of the protagonist, and the film’s impact on popular culture and American identity.
• The Great Gatsby film analysis essay . The Great Gatsby is a historical drama film that allows you to analyze the themes of the American Dream, wealth, and class. You can also explore the portrayal of the 1920s Jazz Age and the symbolism of the green light.
• Persepolis film analysis essay . In a Persepolis film analysis essay, you can uncover the themes of identity and self-discovery. You might also consider analyzing the portrayal of the Iranian Revolution and its aftermath, the use of animation as a storytelling device, and the film’s influence on the graphic novel genre.

🎬 Top 15 Film Analysis Essay Topics

• The use of color symbolism in Vertigo and its impact on the narrative.
• The moral ambiguity and human nature in No Country for Old Men .
• The portrayal of ethnicity in Gran Torino and its commentary on cultural stereotypes.
• The cinematography and visual effects in The Hunger Games and their contribution to the dystopian atmosphere.
• The use of silence and sound design in A Quiet Place to immerse the audience.
• The disillusionment and existential crisis in The Graduate and its reflection of the societal norms of the 1960s.
• The themes of sacrifice and patriotism in Casablanca and their relevance to the historical context of World War II.
• The psychological horror in The Shining and its impact on the audience’s experience of fear and tension.
• The exploration of existentialism in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind .
• Multiple perspectives and unreliable narrators in Rashomon .
• The music and soundtrack in Titanic and its contribution to the film’s emotional resonance.
• The portrayal of good versus evil in the Harry Potter film series and its impact on understanding morality.
• The incorporation of vibrant colors in The Grand Budapest Hotel as a visual motif.
• The use of editing techniques to tell a nonlinear narrative in Pulp Fiction .
• The function of music and score in enhancing the emotional impact in Schindler’s List .

Check out the Get Out film analysis essay we’ve prepared for college and high school students. We hope this movie analysis essay example will inspire you and help you understand the structure of this assignment better.

Film Analysis Essay Introduction Example

Get Out, released in 2017 and directed by Jordan Peele, is a culturally significant horror film that explores themes of racism, identity, and social commentary. The film follows Chris, a young African-American man, visiting his white girlfriend’s family for the weekend. This essay will analyze how, through its masterful storytelling, clever use of symbolism, and thought-provoking narrative, Get Out reveals the insidious nature of racism in modern America.

Film Analysis Body Paragraphs Example

Throughout the movie, Chris’s character is subject to various types of microaggression and subtle forms of discrimination. These instances highlight the insidious nature of racism, showing how it can exist even in seemingly progressive environments. For example, during Chris’s visit to his white girlfriend’s family, the parents continuously make racially insensitive comments, expressing their admiration for black physical attributes and suggesting a fascination bordering on fetishization. This sheds light on some individuals’ objectification and exotification of black bodies.

Get Out also critiques the performative allyship of white liberals who claim to be accepting and supportive of the black community. It is evident in the character of Rose’s father, who proclaims: “I would have voted for Obama for a third term if I could” (Peele, 2017). However, the film exposes how this apparent acceptance can mask hidden prejudices and manipulation.

Film Analysis Conclusion Example

In conclusion, the film Get Out provides a searing critique of racial discrimination and white supremacy through its compelling narrative, brilliant performances, and skillful direction. By exploring the themes of the insidious nature of racism, fetishization, and performative allyship, Get Out not only entertains but also challenges viewers to reflect on their own biases.

🍿 More Film Analysis Examples

• Social Psychology Theories in The Experiment
• Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader: George Lukas’s Star Wars Review
• Girl, Interrupted : Mental Illness Analysis
• Mental Disorders in the Finding Nemo Film
• One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest Film: Interpretive Psychological Analysis
• Analysis of Spielberg’s Film Lincoln
• Glory – The Drama Movie by Edward Zwick
• Inventors in The Men Who Built America Series
• Crash Movie: Racism as a Theme
• Dances with Wolves Essay – Movie Analysis
• Superbad by G. Mottola
• Ordinary People Analysis and Maslow Hierarchy of Needs
• A Review of the Movie An Inconvenient Truth by Guggenheim
• Chaplin’s Modern Times and H.G. Wells’s The Island of Dr. Moreau
• Misé-En-Scene and Camera Shots in The King’s Speech
• Children’s Sexuality in the Out in the Dark Film
• Chinese and American Women in Joy Luck Club Novel and Film
• The Film Silver Linings Playbook by Russell
• The Role of Music in the Films The Hours and The Third Man
• The Social Network : Film Analysis
• My Neighbor Totoro : Film by Hayao Miyazaki
• Marriage Story Film Directed by Noah Baumbach

❓ Film Analysis Essay: FAQ

Why is film analysis important.

Film analysis allows viewers to go beyond the surface level and delve into the deeper layers of a film’s narrative, themes, and technical aspects. It enables a critical examination that enhances appreciation and understanding of the film’s message, cultural significance, and artistic value. At the same time, writing a movie analysis essay can boost your critical thinking and ability to spot little details.

How to write a movie analysis?

• Watch the film multiple times to grasp its key elements.
• Take notes on the story, characters, and themes.
• Pay attention to the film’s cinematography, editing, sound, message, symbolism, and social context.
• Formulate a strong thesis statement that presents your main argument.
• Support your claims with evidence from the film.

How to write a critical analysis of a movie?

A critical analysis of a movie involves evaluating its elements, such as plot, themes, characters, and cinematography, and providing an informed opinion on its strengths and weaknesses. To write it, watch the movie attentively, take notes, develop a clear thesis statement, support arguments with evidence, and balance the positive and negative.

How to write a psychological analysis of a movie?

A psychological analysis of a movie examines characters’ motivations, behaviors, and emotional experiences. To write it, analyze the characters’ psychological development, their relationships, and the impact of psychological themes conveyed in the film. Support your analysis with psychological theories and evidence from the movie.

• Film Analysis | UNC Writing Center
• Psychological Analysis of Films | Steemit
• Critical Film Analysis | University of Hawaii
• Questions to Ask of Any Film | All American High School Film Festival
• Resources – How to Write a Film Analysis | Northwestern
• Film Analysis | University of Toronto
• Film Writing: Sample Analysis | Purdue Online Writing Lab
• Film Analysis Web Site 2.0 | Yale University
• Questions for Film Analysis | University of Washington
• Film & Media Studies Resources: Types of Film Analysis | Bowling Green State University
• Film & Media Studies Resources: Researching a Film | Bowling Green State University
• Motion Picture Analysis Worksheet | University of Houston
• Reviews vs Film Criticism | The University of Vermont Libraries
• Television and Film Analysis Questions | University of Michigan
• How to Write About Film: The Movie Review, the Theoretical Essay, and the Critical Essay | University of Colorado

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50 Film Analysis

Film analysis, what this handout is about.

This handout provides a brief definition of film analysis compared to literary analysis, provides an introduction to common types of film analysis, and offers strategies and resources for approaching assignments.

What is film analysis, and how does it differ from literary analysis?

Film analysis is the process in which film is analyzed in terms of semiotics, narrative structure, cultural context, and mise-en-scene, among other approaches. If these terms are new to you, don’t worry—they’ll be explained in the next section.

Analyzing film, like  analyzing literature (fiction texts, etc.) , is a form of rhetorical analysis—critically analyzing and evaluating discourse, including words, phrases, and images. Having a clear argument and supporting evidence is every bit as critical to film analysis as to other forms of academic writing.

Unlike literature, film incorporates audiovisual elements and therefore introduces a new dimension to analysis. Ultimately, however, analysis of film is not too different. Think of all the things that make up a scene in a film: the actors, the lighting, the angles, the colors. All of these things may be absent in literature, but they are deliberate choices on the part of the director, producer, or screenwriter—as are the words chosen by the author of a work of literature. Furthermore, literature and film incorporate similar elements. They both have plots, characters, dialogue, settings, symbolism, and, just as the elements of literature can be analyzed for their intent and effect, these elements can be analyzed the same way in film.

Different types of film analysis

Listed here are common approaches to film analysis, but this is by no means an exhaustive list, and you may have discussed other approaches in class. As with any other assignment, make sure you understand your professor’s expectations. This guide is best used to understand prompts or, in the case of more open-ended assignments, consider the different ways to analyze film.

Keep in mind that any of the elements of film can be analyzed, oftentimes in tandem. A single film analysis essay may simultaneously include all of the following approaches and more. As Jacques Aumont and Michel Marie propose in Analysis of Film, there is no correct, universal way to write film analysis.

Semiotic analysis

Semiotic analysis is the analysis of meaning behind signs and symbols, typically involving metaphors, analogies, and symbolism.

This doesn’t necessarily need to be something dramatic; think about how you extrapolate information from the smallest signs in your day to day life. For instance, what characteristics can tell you about someone’s personality? Something as simple as someone’s appearance can reveal information about them. Mismatched shoes and bedhead might be a sign of carelessness (or something crazy happened that morning!), while an immaculate dress shirt and tie would suggest that the person is prim and proper. Continuing in that vein:

• What might you be able to infer about characters from small hints?
• How are these hints (signs) used to construct characters? How do they relate to the relative role of those characters, or the relationships between multiple characters?

Symbols denote concepts (liberty, peace, etc.) and feelings (hate, love, etc.) that they often have nothing to do with. They are used liberally in both literature and film, and finding them uses a similar process. Ask yourself:

• In Frozen Elsa’s gloves appear in multiple scenes.
• Her gloves are first given to her by her father to restrain her magic. She continues to wear them throughout the coronation scene, before finally, in the Let It Go sequence, she throws them away.

Again, the method of semiotic analysis in film is similar to that of literature. Think about the deeper meaning behind objects or actions.

• Elsa’s gloves represent fear of her magic and, by extension, herself. Though she attempts to contain her magic by hiding her hands within gloves and denying part of her identity, she eventually abandons the gloves in a quest for self-acceptance.

Narrative structure analysis

Narrative structure analysis is the analysis of the story elements, including plot structure, character motivations, and theme. Like the dramatic structure of literature (exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution), film has what is known as the Three-Act Structure: “Act One: Setup, Act Two: Confrontation, and Act Three: Resolution.” Narrative structure analysis breaks the story of the film into these three elements and might consider questions like:

• How does the story follow or deviate from typical structures?
• What is the effect of following or deviating from this structure?
• What is the theme of the film, and how is that theme constructed?

Consider again the example of Frozen. You can use symbolism and narrative structure in conjunction by placing the symbolic objects/events in the context of the narrative structure. For instance, the first appearance of the gloves is in Act One, while their abandoning takes place in Act Two; thus, the story progresses in such a way that demonstrates Elsa’s personal growth. By the time of Act Three, the Resolution, her aversion to touch (a product of fearing her own magic) is gone, reflecting a theme of self-acceptance.

Contextual analysis

Contextual analysis is analysis of the film as part of a broader context. Think about the culture, time, and place of the film’s creation. What might the film say about the culture that created it? What were/are the social and political concerns of the time period? Or, like researching the author of a novel, you might consider the director, producer, and other people vital to the making of the film. What is the place of this film in the director’s career? Does it align with his usual style of directing, or does it move in a new direction? Other examples of contextual approaches might be analyzing the film in terms of a civil rights or feminist movement.

For example, Frozen is often linked to the LGBTQ social movement. You might agree or disagree with this interpretation, and, using evidence from the film, support your argument.

Some other questions to consider:

• How does the meaning of the film change when seen outside of its culture?
• What characteristics distinguishes the film as being of its particular culture?

Mise-en-scene analysis

Mise-en-scene analysis is analysis of the arrangement of compositional elements in film—essentially, the analysis of audiovisual elements that most distinctly separate film analysis from literary analysis. Remember that the important part of a mise-en-scene analysis is not just identifying the elements of a scene, but explaining the significance behind them.

• What effects are created in a scene, and what is their purpose?
• How does the film attempt to achieve its goal by the way it looks, and does it succeed?

Audiovisual elements that can be analyzed include (but are not limited to): props and costumes, setting, lighting, camera angles, frames, special effects, choreography, music, color values, depth, placement of characters, etc. Mise-en-scene is typically the most foreign part of writing film analysis because the other components discussed are common to literary analysis, while mise-en-scene deals with elements unique to film. Using specific film terminology bolsters credibility, but you should also consider your audience. If your essay is meant to be accessible to non-specialist readers, explain what terms mean. The Resources section of this handout has links to sites that describe mise-en-scene elements in detail.

Rewatching the film and creating screen captures (still images) of certain scenes can help with detailed analysis of colors, positioning of actors, placement of objects, etc. Listening to the soundtrack can also be helpful, especially when placed in the context of particular scenes.

Some example questions:

• How is the lighting used to construct mood? Does the mood shift at any point during the film, and how is that shift in mood created?
• What does the setting say about certain characters? How are props used to reveal aspects of their personality?
• What songs were used, and why were they chosen? Are there any messages in the lyrics that pertain to the theme?

Writing the film analysis essay

Writing film analysis is similar to writing literary analysis or any argumentative essay in other disciplines: Consider the assignment and prompts, formulate a thesis (see the  Brainstorming Handout  and  Thesis Statement Handout  for help crafting a nuanced argument), compile evidence to prove your thesis, and lay out your argument in the essay. Your evidence may be different from what you are used to. Whereas in the English essay you use textual evidence and quotes, in a film analysis essay, you might also include audiovisual elements to bolster your argument.

When describing a sequence in a film, use the present tense, like you would write in the literary present when describing events of a novel, i.e. not “Elsa took off her gloves,” but “Elsa takes off her gloves.” When quoting dialogue from a film, if between multiple characters, use block quotes: Start the quotation on a new line, with the entire quote indented one inch from the left margin. However, conventions are flexible, so ask your professor if you are unsure. It may also help to follow the formatting of the script, if you can find it. For example:

ELSA: But she won’t remember I have powers? KING: It’s for the best.

You do not need to use quotation marks for blocked-off dialogue, but for shorter quotations in the main text, quotation marks should be double quotes (“…”).

Here are some tips for approaching film analysis:

• Make sure you understand the prompt and what you are being asked to do. Focus your argument by choosing a specific issue to assess.
• Review your materials. Rewatch the film for nuances that you may have missed in the first viewing. With your thesis in mind, take notes as you watch. Finding a screenplay of the movie may be helpful, but keep in mind that there may be differences between the screenplay and the actual product (and these differences might be a topic of discussion!).
• Develop a thesis and an outline, organizing your evidence so that it supports your argument. Remember that this is ultimately an assignment—make sure that your thesis answers what the prompt asks, and check with your professor if you are unsure.
• Move beyond only describing the audiovisual elements of the film by considering the significance of your evidence. Demonstrate understanding of not just what film elements are, but why and to what effect they are being used. For more help on using your evidence effectively, see ‘Using Evidence In An Argument’ in the  Evidence Handout .

New York Film Academy Glossary Movie Outline Glossary Movie Script Database Citation Practices: Film and Television

Works Consulted

We consulted these works while writing the original version of this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find the latest publications on this topic. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the  UNC Libraries citation tutorial .

Aumont, Jacques, and Michel Marie. L’analyse Des Films. Paris: Nathan, 1988. Print. Pruter, Robin Franson. “Writing About Film.” Writing About Film. DePaul University, 08 Mar. 2004. Web. 01 May 2016.

Film Analysis Copyright © 2020 by Liza Long; Amy Minervini; and Joel Gladd is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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How to Write a Film Analysis Essay: Effective Tips

Doesn’t a film analysis sound exciting? Who wouldn’t dive into their favorite movie of all time and present it in front of the whole class?

Undoubtedly, every youngster adores sharing impressions about the latest Netflix, Marvel, or Disney movies.

Yet, as thrilling as this thought might seem, it requires some hard work and fundamental knowledge about paper composition. A film analysis essay isn’t only a bare recounting of events and mentioning a few heroes and villains. Moreover, teachers often assign a specific genre, such as a documentary, a classic, or a musical.

In most cases, you’ll need to conceptualize a critical overview. Your work must elaborate on the storyline, actors, staging, music, and camerawork and prove your findings with appropriate evidence. As with any other analytical piece, this will consist of clearly divided and academically written paragraphs.

But how do you analyze a movie?

How do you draft an objective and informative piece that appeals to the broader masses? Don’t worry because we got your back. This blog post will help you write a film analysis essay from scratch to finish. Follow our advice to earn yourself some excellent grades.

What Is a Movie Analysis Essay?

By definition, a movie analysis revolves around the storyline of a film you or your teacher selected. It can be about any picture, but in most cases, you’ll have to write about features considered valuable for society. Their relevance can range from political and religious to artistic and intellectual.

Films worth analyzing carry sublime messages valid across several generations and aren’t for leisure only. They don’t just tell stories but teach priceless lessons and provoke powerful emotions.

The analysis should express your thoughts on the afterview synoptic. It will cover various aspects, including performance, cinematography, and screenplay writing. Though one film review might focus on one segment, like lighting, it’s best if it includes all elements to avoid being one-dimensional.

Moreover, the writing must be well-balanced and non-biased. It should provide detailed descriptions, references, and quotes from the actors. Another excellent approach is to link the dominant theme to topics in films produced by the same director and explain how they relate.

Different Film Analysis Types of Essays

As mentioned, you can pick a movie from almost any period or production and describe it. However, the complexity of some films allows writers to pick their reviewing perspective. Depending on your angle, you can choose between several film analysis options.

Narrative Analysis

These papers are similar to standard literary reviews. The essay will examine the scenes, the themes, the narrative structure, and the motives of each character. It aims to answer three questions related to the setup (where), heroes and villains (who), and problems and motifs (what). The more effort you put into describing the film’s techniques and the central themes, the better the outcome.

Semiotic Analysis

Motion pictures urge viewers to grasp more complex notions. Hence, semiotic analyses are about understanding the hidden meaning of the symbols presented on the big screen. Signs that carry a message will appear on many occasions, so your ability to pay attention to details is crucial. All great moving pictures have incredible symbolism that tells tales without using words.

Cultural Analysis

Also known as contextual analysis, this type reveals the cultural context of a movie. Unlike writing a summary of an article , a cultural analysis template deal with the inner world of the film. Hence, teachers consider it a more challenging task and assign it to culturally-aware learners. Above all, you must understand the social and political issues at the time and place of filming to write a compelling film analysis paper.

Mise-en-scène Analysis

This movie analysis elaborates on audiovisual elements, such as lighting, soundtracks, and background noises. Besides listing the key segments, you must also identify their importance. Though often irrelevant at first sight, audio and graphic elements have immense power to boost the plot.

Guide to Writing a Film Analysis Essay

The initial assignment may confuse an untrained eye with no clue where to begin. However, things will get easier once you get the main idea and draft the outline. Consider these tips to make the writing process as seamless as possible.

• Check the instructions. When you receive the prompt, read it carefully. Your arguments and the course in which you’ll steer your custom essay writing will depend on it.
• Enjoy the movie. Watch it several times to ensure you grasp the most important topics and aspects. Taking notes will help you keep track of the narration. Often, using a screenplay may further ease your attempts.
• Consider the aspects you’ll include in your essay. You can’t mention everything, so find the predominant themes and characters. Then, organize your findings into paragraphs and support them with evidence.
• Decide what goes in the introduction. Usually, the opening involves the movie basics. Summarizing all key concepts is also a must. The body will contain the analysis plus your views on whether the film reached its objectives. Finally, the closing will wrap up the movie and advice people to watch it or not.
• Write in parts. Work on the first draft that doesn’t have to be perfect. However, concentrate on the essay’s structure, opinion relevance, and flow of thought. They must all align with the preset requirements.
• Edit and proofread. No work will be complete without meticulous editing. Hence, check your work for possible typos, grammar errors, or improper phrasing.

Do you still wonder how to start a film analysis essay? Below is a detailed list of all the steps you should take when working on your manuscript.

Thesis Statement

Remember that this element is vital for the rest of your manuscript. The thesis should round up and squeeze the dominant narration threads. It explains what comes next and implies your thoughts on the elaborated topics.

This part should combine the film expectations, the author’s point of view, and your insight. As a final step, write a short and concise claim that makes a smooth transition to the introductory paragraph.

Introduction

The film analysis intro must be information-packed and catchy. It usually contains the film title, the director, the cast, the release year, and the cinema impact. It should also hook the reader and offer invaluable insights. Don’t forget to validate and highlight your claim.

If you still lack the skills to make an initial impact, consider a college application essay writing service to assist you at the onset. These experts will help you explore the relevant filmography and build links with current trends.

Once you have the overall format, split the film into its constituents and bring each segment to the forefront. Here is a brief sample of what to mention:

• The script should have a logical sequence, whether it presents historical facts or depicts a love story. A well-written opening should spur the audience’s interest and contain amusing dialogue. When drafting, check the scene consistency and scripting clarity.
• Study the director’s style and patterns. Trace their distinctive methods and compare these to some previous works. If you buy a compare and contrast essay online , you will see what the ideal piece should cover.
• The way actors express their emotions has a massive effect on viewers. Their body language, dialect, and facial expressions are equally important. In most cases, an actor can make or break an otherwise excellent film. Your job is to show how their performance conveys the key messages.
• Sound and picture. Setting a positive mood is impossible without pleasant soundtracks and appealing visual effects. Give an example of how each segment (special features, makeup, sounds, and costumes) enables or interferes with expressing the author’s ideas.

Your ending must demonstrate that you can build logic between different segments. Therefore, ensure the resolution of the analyzed piece restates your claims and shows your viewpoints. The analysis must also appeal to the viewers and motivate them to check the film.

In general, most movies are complex art forms, so refrain from being shallow and touching the surface only. Be creative and try to offer a reply to controversial questions asked for centuries.

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Film Analysis: Example, Topics, & Essay Writing Guide [2024]

It’s hardly possible to find one who is not keen on watching films. It is one of the most common ways of spending free time. When it comes to writing a film analysis essay, you would probably be confused.

Don’t worry! We gathered everything you need to make it without a hitch. What’s more, you will find free essay samples as a bonus.

📽️ What Is a Film Analysis?

✍️ film analysis terms, 📜 film analysis types.

• 📼 Film Genres: List

✨ How to Write a Film Analysis

• ✍️ Film Analysis Essay Topics
• 🗒 Film Analysis Template and Example

🔗 References

F ilm analysis expresses the afterview synoptic. The result is a transparent and informative thesis and its arguments .

Don’t forget you should maintain an appropriate academic style. This article explains how to manage it well, using the proper terminology, structure, techniques, etc.

As an introduction to film analysis, explore a list of general film analysis terms. They come as an inseparable part of your film analysis essay.

Find them below.

Auteur: Definition

The auteur is the French equivalent of the English word author. The auteur’s definition is straightforward. As a rule, the film’s director is the author. Why so? Director is a core role that manages all processes: from organizing a filmmaking crew and cast to every aspect of the film.

Diegesis in films is all about the fictional world elements. Everything the director creates and transfers on the screen is diegesis. Time framework, setting, range of events, etc., are examples of those elements.

Flashback and Flashforward

Flashback and flashforward imply relating to a chronological flow of a narrative. Flashback is a scene that takes it back in time from the present point of the film.

A flashforward differs from the flashback only by the time-shifting direction: it takes the audience to the plot pieces later in the film.

Mise-en-scène

The term looks confusing, but it is easy as pie. A pre-defined set of a film’s scene is a mise-en-scène . Everything in the camera’s focus: exposure, actors, and other elements form a mise-en-scène.

The Plot of a Story

The plot of a story is a sequence of events and their interactions that make up a story shown in a film.

Scene vs. Sequence

To put it simply, the scene and the sequence differ by the number of shots. The scene is short and consists of a few shots. The sequence is a more significant film part as it implies several scenes. As you may have guessed, the entire movie consists of several sequences.

The variety of possible film genres and their complexity assume more than one way to analyze them. There are several film analysis types, depending on the reviewing angle.

Narrative Analysis

This approach is similar to literary analysis. It means examining the film plot, narrative structure, motives, and characters. The research is built on answering the three simple questions: who, what, and where?

Semiotic Analysis

Everything about understanding the hidden meaning of the symbols is a semiotic analysis of the film. Those symbols usually appear more than once in a movie. Also, particular directors tend to repeat specific symbols. This type of analysis requires very close attention to detail.

Mise-en-scène Analysis

We have already found what mise-en-scène is: a setting with the lighting, soundtrack, background, etc. When we focus on those audio and visual elements and their meaning, we talk about the mise-en-scène analysis. Audiovisual elements may seem insignificant at first glance, but they carry tremendous importance and power to support the plot.

📼 Film Genres List

Having grasped the basic film analysis terms and types, we move on to the starting point of film analysis. We talk about defining a film genre.

You do not have to be a cinema theorist or a crazy film fan to identify one from another. Anyways, let’s list the common film genres and describe them briefly. Please, check the table below:

There is also a deeper categorization. Each genre in the list has several, sometimes overlapping sub-genres.

We are closer to the central part: we’ve approached the writing guide.

Are you still struggling with how to write a film analysis essay? The solid solution is, to begin with conducting a step-by-step plan. Move on, and we will tell you how to do it!

Like every other paper, hence literary analysis, writing film analysis involves several ultimate steps. There is nothing groundbreaking here. All the steps are familiar. They are:

• Thesis statement
• Introduction

Let’s touch upon each step and note what is worth considering (after watching the movie itself).

Film Analysis Outline

The first and foremost step is writing a film analysis essay outline. You need to make a short draft with the core measures to analyze the film. Mind the instructions in case you have them. Organize the ideas in a list and proceed to the next step.

Film Analysis Thesis Statement

Pay special attention to writing a film analysis thesis statement. You first need to squeeze out the central narrative threads and ideas. The thesis statement should focus on what you will prove in your essay by transforming those ideas into new meanings.

Concentrate on the combination of film expectations, the auteur’s point of view, and your own critical opinion. In the end, formulate a concise thesis statement and move on to the introduction preparation.

Film Analysis Introduction

Your film analysis introduction should be informative and catchy. Give the general information about the film. It may contain the movie title, director, release year, and cast. 

After building an introduction background:

• Dive deeper.
• Explore the director’s filmography or build possible links between the film and the current trends or social agenda.
• Include as many valuable insights as you can to spark a thought in the reader’s mind. 

Remember that the introduction should validate and complement your thesis statement. 

Having the outline and the formulated thesis statement, you should, in a way, break down a film into its creative elements and analyze each of them. At once individually, and then as a whole picture.

What are those creative elements?

• Directing. Since we have mentioned the role of the director time and again, let’s start with it. Trace their distinctive directing manner to find new patterns and compare them to previous works.
• Scenario. In most films, often except for art-house cinema, the script plays one of the critical roles in its power. A well-written scenario helps develop the narrative and each character. It reduces the risk of silly inconsistencies or mistakes. After watching, try to access the level of scripting consistency and clarity.
• Acting. Even though we’ve just defined the role of the scenario, acting sometimes plays louder than words. Try to answer the question: how accurately does the actors’ performance reveals and conveys the author’s main idea and your thesis statement.
• Music and visual effects. Setting the overall mood is what is impossible without soundtracks and visual effects. Provide an example of how each part, special effects, sounds, make-up, or costumes, help, or vice-a-versa, interfere in expressing the author’s message.

While analyzing, don’t forget to build logic between each element. Make a smooth and solid review.

We’ve approached the icing on the cake — your film analysis conclusion. Once again, make sure your analysis confirms the thesis statement and show it in your resolution.

Remember that movies are complex pieces of art. Don’t be too shallow in your essay. Try to see a bigger picture and put it in words.

Now that we’ve outlined the plan let’s figure out how it works on a real example.

✍️ 20 Film Analysis Essay Topics

• Sociological concepts in “The Truman Show” film
• The process of shame to violence in Bergman film: “Shame”
• “The King’s Speech” movie and anxiety disorder
• Gender biases in “If These Walls Could Talk 2” film
• “The Neighbor’s Window”: film review
• Ethical, political and social issues in business in “The Corporation” movie
• Mental health illness in the film “When a Man Loves a Woman”
• The Devil Wears Prada film’s critical analysis
• Negotiation situation in “The Godfather” movie
• “Watchmen” film in relation to the American dream
• Moral and theme in “The Pursuit of Happiness” movie
• “The State of Play: Trophy Kids”: main idea and summary of the film
• Narrative campaign of “The Hunger Games” film
• Review of “Mon Oncle” movie: a portrayal of France
• Gender and family in “Gone With the Wind” film
• Sociology of “Avatar” movie by James Cameron
• Historical themes in the movie “Gladiator”
• Review of “Kung Fu Panda” movie: educational psychology
• Settings in Bollywood cinema: “Bobby” movie
• Visual effects in the “1917” movie

🗒️ Film Analysis Template and Example

We prepared a short-outlined essay sample. Explore the table to understand what your analysis may look like. Here is the “Solaris” film analysis essay example.

You may take this or other essay samples from StudyCorgi as a template for your future writing. It will save your time and make the process transparent. Don’t hesitate to use them!

You’ve just found out the primary terms, tips, and a film analysis guide.

Now, as we have shed light on the film analysis techniques and showcased the real examples, the task seems not as tricky as at first sight. Save this article or share it with a friend to avoid losing!

What Is the Purpose of Film Analysis?

Film analysis aims to extract value from watching a movie, except for leisure. Films do not just tell a story. They bring a message, provoke feelings, and teach precious lessons. Directors sometimes encode priceless meanings applicable to many generations.

How to Analyze a Movie Effectively?

To analyze a movie effectively, you should acquire the appropriate terminology. Then, understand the existing types of film analysis and their difference. After that, outline your future film analysis paper and look through the extant examples.

What Is Formal Analysis in Film?

The formal analysis comprises the investigation of professional elements of film production like camera motion, lighting, color editing, special effects, and other inner working processes. The average viewer does not pay much attention to them, but we should not diminish their importance.

What Are the 4 Elements of Film Analysis?

One of the many interpretations of this question is the following: the first component is a film plot, the second one is the existing arguments about the film, the third one is a film background, and the fourth is their evaluation.

• Film Analysis — The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Film Term Glossary — Brooklyn College
• Film Analysis and Methods — Penn Arts & Science Cinema & Media Studies
• Movie Genres – 120+ Examples of Different Movie Genres – NFI
• A Guide to Writing a Film Studies Paper: Carleton University
• How to Write an Analytical Essay — MDC
• Film Analysis Research Papers – Academia.edu
• Shot, Scene, and Sequence — Columbia Film Language Glossary
• Diegesis — Oxford Reference
• Film Analysis Essay Sample — Purdue Online Writing Lab
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Film Essays: The Ultimate Guide to Writing a Film Essay

By Essaywriter

If you’re a film buff or a student of film studies, you’ve probably encountered film essays at some point in your academic career.

Writing a film essay can be challenging, but with guidance, you can craft a compelling analysis of any cinematic masterpiece.

One of the world’s most well-liked and regularly watched forms of entertainment is a film, whether blockbusters or indie movies. The film has become an essential part of culture and society worldwide.

A film is a powerful tool for social critique and cultural expression. Despite changes, movies have never lost their capacity to amuse, instruct, and inspire. This post offers knowledge, suggestions, and resources for writing film essays. An analysis of a particular film’s many elements is done in a film essay.

Understanding the Elements of Film Analysis

Film analysis comprises evaluating and comprehending the many components that make up a film. These include the movie’s cinematography, sound, editing, acting, and narrative. It is possible to gain a deeper understanding of the movie’s themes, messages, and overall relevance by analyzing these components.

Films comprise certain components, which directors and movie producers tend to tweak to recreate different cultures and historical points in time. For instance, a movie set in the 1980s will have very different scenery, costumes, and soundtrack than a movie set in the present.

There has been a major advancement in technology, music, fashion, and social conventions between the 1980s and now. Therefore, these film components need to be properly considered when writing a film essay.

Tips for Writing Film Essays

Researching and selecting a film to analyze.

To explore possible films, choose your areas of interest, such as a specific genre, era, or filmmaker. After that, you can use various tools to gather information and ideas for new films.

Thousands of films, reviews, and ratings are available through online databases such as IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes. Search engines such as Google and Bing can also be used to find articles, criticisms, and analyses of certain films or directors.”

Outlining and Organizing the Film Essays

Outlining and arranging a film essay can help ensure that your analysis is clear and succinct. Create an outline that breaks down the various parts of the film you will be analyzing, such as the narrative, characters, cinematography, and symbolism so that you can arrange your thoughts.

Maintain focus by avoiding needless details. Instead, concentrate on offering specific examples from the film to back up and connect your analysis. You should also employ transitions between paragraphs to make it easier for the reader to follow your train of thought.

Citing Sources and Formatting the Film Essays

Citation of sources and Proper formatting gives credit to the film’s creators, but it also demonstrates the credibility of your research and analysis. When citing a film, it’s important to follow the guidelines of the citation style you use, whether it be MLA, APA, or Chicago.

This includes the title of the film, the director, and the year of release. When citing sources such as articles or books, it’s important to include the author, title, publication date, and page number(s).

Tips for Incorporating Film Terminology and Analysis Techniques

It is critical to strike a balance between employing technical language and making it accessible to your audience when incorporating cinema vocabulary and analysis procedures in a film essay.

One technique is to start with a clear and short statement that defines your essay’s major argument or purpose. From there, you can support and deepen your thesis by employing specialized cinema terminology and analysis approaches. Use film examples to illustrate your views and make them more accessible to the reader.

Use a clear and simple writing style and be consistent in using technical language and analysis methodologies. This will help the reader follow your argument and understand your views.

Finally, to provide a full understanding of the film, employing a variety of analysis methodologies such as formalism or psychoanalysis. This will not only help you obtain a deeper understanding of many components of the film, but it will also allow you to provide a more sophisticated analysis.

Sample Film Essays Outline

Thesis statement: “Through its use of surreal imagery and unconventional narrative structure, ‘Mulholland Drive’ deconstructs the Hollywood dream and exposes the darkness at the heart of the film industry.”

Main point 1: The cinematography and mise-en-scène of ‘Mulholland Drive’

Main point 2: The themes and messages of ‘Mulholland Drive’

Main point 3: The cultural and historical context of ‘Mulholland Drive’

Conclusion: Recap of main points and analysis of the lasting impact of the film

Film elements are what make each film production distinct from every other. Therefore, understanding them empowers writers with the tools to analyze and write fitting essays adequately.

When writing a film essay, tips like researching and selecting a film to analyze, outlining and organizing the essay, citing sources and formatting the essay, and incorporating film terminology and analysis techniques help present your essay in the most logical, clear, clear, concise, and comprehensive way.

If you’re looking to write a film essay anytime soon, following this stepwise guide on writing film essays will get you critical acclaim when your work is peer-reviewed.

Perhaps you do not have the time to write a film essay or any other paper, or maybe you need professional help writing your paper.

Our website, ThePaperExperts.com , is a place you can visit to get your paper professionally written and delivered on time, irrespective of the type of essay you need to be written.

Try us now by calling 1-888-774-9994 and speak to an academic advisor today and get help with film essays!

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Film Writing: Sample Analysis

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Introductory Note

The analysis below discusses the opening moments of the science fiction movie  Ex Machina  in order to make an argument about the film's underlying purpose. The text of the analysis is formatted normally. Editor's commentary, which will occasionally interrupt the piece to discuss the author's rhetorical strategies, is written in brackets in an italic font with a bold "Ed.:" identifier. See the examples below:

The text of the analysis looks like this.

[ Ed.:  The editor's commentary looks like this. ]

Frustrated Communication in Ex Machina ’s Opening Sequence

Alex Garland’s 2015 science fiction film Ex Machina follows a young programmer’s attempts to determine whether or not an android possesses a consciousness complicated enough to pass as human. The film is celebrated for its thought-provoking depiction of the anxiety over whether a nonhuman entity could mimic or exceed human abilities, but analyzing the early sections of the film, before artificial intelligence is even introduced, reveals a compelling examination of humans’ inability to articulate their thoughts and feelings. In its opening sequence, Ex Machina establishes that it’s not only about the difficulty of creating a machine that can effectively talk to humans, but about human beings who struggle to find ways to communicate with each other in an increasingly digital world.

[ Ed.:  The piece's opening introduces the film with a plot summary that doesn't give away too much and a brief summary of the critical conversation that has centered around the film. Then, however, it deviates from this conversation by suggesting that Ex Machina has things to say about humanity before non-human characters even appear. Off to a great start. ]

The film’s first establishing shots set the action in a busy modern office. A woman sits at a computer, absorbed in her screen. The camera looks at her through a glass wall, one of many in the shot. The reflections of passersby reflected in the glass and the workspace’s dim blue light make it difficult to determine how many rooms are depicted. The camera cuts to a few different young men typing on their phones, their bodies partially concealed both by people walking between them and the camera and by the stylized modern furniture that surrounds them. The fourth shot peeks over a computer monitor at a blonde man working with headphones in. A slight zoom toward his face suggests that this is an important character, and the cut to a point-of-view shot looking at his computer screen confirms this. We later learn that this is Caleb Smith (Domhnall Gleeson), a young programmer whose perspective the film follows.

The rest of the sequence cuts between shots from Caleb’s P.O.V. and reaction shots of his face, as he receives and processes the news that he has won first prize in a staff competition. Shocked, Caleb dives for his cellphone and texts several people the news. Several people immediately respond with congratulatory messages, and after a moment the woman from the opening shot runs in to give him a hug. At this point, the other people in the room look up, smile, and start clapping, while Caleb smiles disbelievingly—perhaps even anxiously—and the camera subtly zooms in a bit closer. Throughout the entire sequence, there is no sound other than ambient electronic music that gets slightly louder and more textured as the sequence progresses. A jump cut to an aerial view of a glacial landscape ends the sequence and indicates that Caleb is very quickly transported into a very unfamiliar setting, implying that he will have difficulty adjusting to this sudden change in circumstances.

[ Ed.:  These paragraphs are mostly descriptive. They give readers the information they will need to understand the argument the piece is about to offer. While passages like this can risk becoming boring if they dwell on unimportant details, the author wisely limits herself to two paragraphs and maintains a driving pace through her prose style choices (like an almost exclusive reliance on active verbs). ]

Without any audible dialogue or traditional expository setup of the main characters, this opening sequence sets viewers up to make sense of Ex Machina ’s visual style and its exploration of the ways that technology can both enhance and limit human communication. The choice to make the dialogue inaudible suggests that in-person conversations have no significance. Human-to-human conversations are most productive in this sequence when they are mediated by technology. Caleb’s first response when he hears his good news is to text his friends rather than tell the people sitting around him, and he makes no move to take his headphones out when the in-person celebration finally breaks out. Everyone in the building is on their phones, looking at screens, or has headphones in, and the camera is looking at screens through Caleb’s viewpoint for at least half of the sequence.  

Rather than simply muting the specific conversations that Caleb has with his coworkers, the ambient soundtrack replaces all the noise that a crowded building in the middle of a workday would ordinarily have. This silence sets the uneasy tone that characterizes the rest of the film, which is as much a horror-thriller as a piece of science fiction. Viewers get the sense that all the sounds that humans make as they walk around and talk to each other are being intentionally filtered out by some presence, replaced with a quiet electronic beat that marks the pacing of the sequence, slowly building to a faster tempo. Perhaps the sound of people is irrelevant: only the visual data matters here. Silence is frequently used in the rest of the film as a source of tension, with viewers acutely aware that it could be broken at any moment. Part of the horror of the research bunker, which will soon become the film’s primary setting, is its silence, particularly during sequences of Caleb sneaking into restricted areas and being startled by a sudden noise.

The visual style of this opening sequence reinforces the eeriness of the muted humans and electronic soundtrack. Prominent use of shallow focus to depict a workspace that is constructed out of glass doors and walls makes it difficult to discern how large the space really is. The viewer is thus spatially disoriented in each new setting. This layering of glass and mirrors, doubling some images and obscuring others, is used later in the film when Caleb meets the artificial being Ava (Alicia Vikander), who is not allowed to leave her glass-walled living quarters in the research bunker. The similarity of these spaces visually reinforces the film’s late revelation that Caleb has been manipulated by Nathan Bates (Oscar Isaac), the troubled genius who creates Ava.

[ Ed.:  In these paragraphs, the author cites the information about the scene she's provided to make her argument. Because she's already teased the argument in the introduction and provided an account of her evidence, it doesn't strike us as unreasonable or far-fetched here. Instead, it appears that we've naturally arrived at the same incisive, fascinating points that she has. ]

A few other shots in the opening sequence more explicitly hint that Caleb is already under Nathan’s control before he ever arrives at the bunker. Shortly after the P.O.V shot of Caleb reading the email notification that he won the prize, we cut to a few other P.O.V. shots, this time from the perspective of cameras in Caleb’s phone and desktop computer. These cameras are not just looking at Caleb, but appear to be scanning him, as the screen flashes in different color lenses and small points appear around Caleb’s mouth, eyes, and nostrils, tracking the smallest expressions that cross his face. These small details indicate that Caleb is more a part of this digital space than he realizes, and also foreshadow the later revelation that Nathan is actively using data collected by computers and webcams to manipulate Caleb and others. The shots from the cameras’ perspectives also make use of a subtle fisheye lens, suggesting both the wide scope of Nathan’s surveillance capacities and the slightly distorted worldview that motivates this unethical activity.

[ Ed.: This paragraph uses additional details to reinforce the piece's main argument. While this move may not be as essential as the one in the preceding paragraphs, it does help create the impression that the author is noticing deliberate patterns in the film's cinematography, rather than picking out isolated coincidences to make her points. ]

Taken together, the details of Ex Machina ’s stylized opening sequence lay the groundwork for the film’s long exploration of the relationship between human communication and technology. The sequence, and the film, ultimately suggests that we need to develop and use new technologies thoughtfully, or else the thing that makes us most human—our ability to connect through language—might be destroyed by our innovations. All of the aural and visual cues in the opening sequence establish a world in which humans are utterly reliant on technology and yet totally unaware of the nefarious uses to which a brilliant but unethical person could put it.

Author's Note:  Thanks to my literature students whose in-class contributions sharpened my thinking on this scene .

[ Ed.: The piece concludes by tying the main themes of the opening sequence to those of the entire film. In doing this, the conclusion makes an argument for the essay's own relevance: we need to pay attention to the essay's points so that we can achieve a rich understanding of the movie. The piece's final sentence makes a chilling final impression by alluding to the danger that might loom if we do not understand the movie. This is the only the place in the piece where the author explicitly references how badly we might be hurt by ignorance, and it's all the more powerful for this solitary quality. A pithy, charming note follows, acknowledging that the author's work was informed by others' input (as most good writing is). Beautifully done. ]

Mastering Film Studies Essays: Top 6 Tips for Success

• Published: July 16, 2023
• By: Yellowbrick

Film studies is a complex and fascinating field that requires extensive research, critical thinking, and excellent writing skills. Film studies essays are a significant part of the program, and students must be well-versed in the art of essay writing to excel in their studies. In this blog post, we’ll explore some top tips for mastering film studies essays.

1. Choose a Topic That Interests You

One of the most crucial aspects of writing an excellent film studies essay is choosing a topic that interests you. If you’re passionate about the subject, you’ll be more motivated to research and write about it. When selecting a topic, consider your personal interests, the films you’ve watched, and the themes that resonate with you.

2. Conduct Thorough Research

Once you’ve selected a topic, it’s time to conduct thorough research. Read books, articles, and academic journals related to your subject. Watch the films you’re writing about, take notes, and pay attention to the details. Don’t limit yourself to one source of information. Instead, gather as much information as possible to support your arguments.

3. Develop a Strong Thesis Statement

Your thesis statement is the foundation of your essay. It should be clear, concise, and arguable. Your thesis statement should answer the question, “What is your essay about?” It should also make a claim that you can support with evidence from your research.

4. Use Evidence to Support Your Arguments

Evidence is crucial in film studies essays. Use examples from the films you’re analyzing, as well as quotes from academic sources to support your arguments. Make sure that your evidence is relevant to your thesis statement and that it supports your claims.

5. Write Clear and Concise Paragraphs

When writing your essay, make sure that your paragraphs are clear and concise. Each paragraph should have a topic sentence that introduces the main idea. Use evidence to support your arguments, and make sure that each paragraph flows logically to the next.

6. Edit and Proofread Your Essay

Once you’ve written your essay, it’s time to edit and proofread. Read your essay out loud to catch any errors or awkward phrasing. Check for spelling and grammar mistakes, and make sure that your citations are correct. Editing and proofreading are essential to ensure that your essay is polished and professional.

In conclusion, mastering film studies essays requires both an in-depth understanding of film theory and proficient academic writing skills. By watching and analyzing films carefully, thoroughly researching your topic, developing a clear and concise argument, structuring your essay properly, and meticulously proofreading and editing your work, you can create compelling, insightful essays that contribute to the discourse in film studies. It’s a process that not only enhances your understanding of film but also hones your critical thinking and communication skills, making it a worthwhile endeavor for any film studies student.

If you’re interested in pursuing a career in the film industry, consider taking the NYU Film and TV Industry Essentials online course and certificate program. This program is a comprehensive introduction to the film and television industry, covering topics such as screenwriting, producing, and distribution. The program is designed for anyone interested in pursuing a career in the film industry, whether you’re just starting or looking to advance your career.

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Analyse a film for VCE English like a pro!

Are you a VCE student feeling totally lost when it comes to analysing a film? If so, you’re far from alone. Many students aren’t sure how to approach analysing a film, especially if the only texts they’ve studied previously have been the more typical books or plays.

Thankfully, analysing a film doesn’t need to be difficult. One of the best ways to remember what to look for and comment on when analysing a film the acronym ‘CAMELS’.

C: Camera techniques,

M: Mise-en-scene

L: Lighting

If you remember to analyse and write about these six areas, your VCE English film analysis essays will improve significantly.

Analysing VCE English films like a pro: The CAMELS technique

For a printable PDF copy of this guide, please click here:  Film Techniques Analysis and Worksheet PDF .

Camera techniques

‘Camera techniques’ refers to how the camera is used to tell a story. There are a number of different types of camera techniques to look at when you analyse a film for VCE English including:

• Camera movement: This refers to how the camera moves.  Terms include: Crane, dolly, doll in, dolly out, handheld, pan, pedestal, point-of-view shot, snorricam, static, steadicam, tilt, tracking, vertigo effect, whip pan, zoom.
• Shot size: This refers to the proximity of the camera to the subject or scene.  Terms include: Extreme long-shot, long shot, full shot, mid shot, close up, extreme close up.
• Camera angle: Refers to the camera’s angle in relation to the subject or scene.  Terms include: High angle, eye level, low angle, point-of-view shot, tilted angle, neutral angle.
• Focus: This refers to the clarity or precision of the shot.  Terms include: Deep focus, depth of field, pull focus, shallow depth of field.

Ask yourself questions like “What does this particular camera technique tell us about the character?” or “What is the director trying to communicate through this technique?”.

Nearly everything an actor does is part of a scripted performance which has been directed down to the smallest detail. When you analyse a film for VCE English, you must pay attention to small details of an actor’s performance including:

• Facial expressions: These help the audience understand the character’s emotions and personality.
• Body language: Body language can communicate a lot about a character to the audience – a character who routinely bows her head, for example, may lack self-confidence.
• Tone of voice/accent: How a character speaks often reveals important information, such as their personality or socioeconomic background.

When analysing acting, ask yourself questions like “What effect does this facial expression have on my understanding of the character?” or “What does this character’s accent tell me about their background/life experiences?”

Mise-en-scene

‘Mise en scene’ refers to what appears in the frame – the actors, lighting, décor, props, costumes, colours – and how it is arranged. Everything in a frame is a deliberate choice and often helps the audience piece together important information about characters or the plot.

When analysing mise en scene, ask yourself questions like “What does this costume tell me about the character?” and “How does the use of colour add to the mood of the shot?”

When films are edited, filmmakers think carefully about how the sequences of shots, pace of editing, and use of editing techniques contribute to the narrative.

When you analyse a film for VCE English, look at editing techniques such as:

• Fast motion: Here the rate the story is told is sped up. A good example of this is montages, where often many months of in-film time are compressed into a few minutes.
• Slow motion: This is where time is slowed down. This often gives the audience time to absorb a dramatic event or dramatizes a particular scene.
• Fade in/out, dissolve, wipe
• Cuts , including jump cuts (where the camera remains stationary while the subject is in motion) and cross cutting (where multiple events occur at the same time and the film switches back and forth between them)

Ask yourself how these techniques communicate messages to the audience about characters or the plot.

Although lighting in a film often appears natural, filmmakers go to great lengths to achieve particular lighting effects to create mood and atmosphere in a scene.

• Soft: Lighting that is soft and diffused, not harsh.
• Hard: Lighting that creates harsh, obvious shadows.
• High: A scene is well lit with minimal shadow
• Low: Lighting is poor, lots of shadows are cast
• Warm: Lighting with a warm yellow or orange hue.
• Cool: Lighting with cool blue or green hues.

Ask questions like “What type of lighting is used?” and “What does the lighting tell the audience about the character?” – a character who is always cast in shadows, for example, may have sinister motives.

Visuals are not the only thing filmmakers think about. The use of sound is also incredibly important. The sounds in a film are deliberately chosen: each sound contributes to the narrative, character development, and audience engagement in some way.

When you’re watching a scene, think about how sound contributes to character development by asking questions such as “What type of music is used when this character appears on-screen?” and “What impact do the sound effects have on the narrative?”

Film Techniques in “The Hateful Eight” Essay

Introduction.

Writing and directing a film while capturing genuine emotions and illuminating events from the best angle and perspective that would make sense and catch the attention of the audience is a form of art. While many might assume that creating a movie is a simplistic process of putting actors in the motion picture, in reality, it requires countless techniques, with many directors incorporating their unique styles and approaches.

Among such unique and well-known movies, which make the creator’s work recognizable by any film connoisseur, is The Hateful Eight. The motion picture was released in 2015 and involved famous actors like Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and others (IMDb, n.d.). This piece is among the creations that serve as the epitome of art. The Hateful Eight encompasses such film techniques as slow push-in, make-up, symbolic garments, and color grading, which make the movie so engaging and exciting from the perspective of direction.

The first feature, which the audience is exposed to in the beginning, is the choice of lighting and color grading. From the first seconds of The Hateful Eight, the viewer can see the darker lighting prevalent in the chapters, which serves as an indication of dark winter days and a gloomy atmosphere. This sets the mood of the piece and sends the message to the audience that the movie will not be light. Another feature connected to the visual features is color grading. Quentin Tarantino focused on incorporating the bluish hue of the picture, striving to bring more coldness into the work. However, when inside a cabin, a similar approach is implemented, applying yellowish subtones illustrating the warmth.

However, the most important part of the movie is its montage, with the unique techniques of Tarantino, making the film iconic. Among the most recognizable techniques used by the director is a slow push-in, which intends to catch the attention of the audience, as if luring them to go closer to the screen, wondering what will happen next. For instance, at 1:31:24, the viewer observes the pinnacle of Major’s speech, where he, in detail, describes how he killed the son of Smithers (Tarantino, 2015). As the man proceeds with his speech, almost reaching its culmination, the camera starts to slowly zoom in on the character, illuminating every emotion on Major’s face. Tarantino aimed at eventually creating the close-up shot of Warren, contributing to the suspense and the fearful atmosphere.

Regarding the mise-en-scene’s garment, Quentin Tarantino made an effort to incorporate symbolism and fill the objects and scenes with specific meanings. For instance, the costumes in the film represent the style of people in Wyoming in the 1870s (Tarantino, 2015). Since the storyline is set during winter, the majority of the characters wear coats and hats made of fur and leather. However, one of the characters and their clothing require extra attention, such as Major Marquis Warren, played by Samuel L. Jackson. In the film, unlike other characters, the man wears a stetson hat, which, in the West, characterizes the might and free spirit of the person. Indeed, in the movie, the Major is perceived as an independent individual.

However, aside from single garments, it is vital to pay attention to the color of the clothes. Mr. Warren wears a coat with yellow lining and a red tie, with red implying danger and anger, while yellow symbolizes caution. While watching the motion picture, the audience can see the development of character and how these symbols manifest in the Major’s revealing of his true goal and a shootout in the end, with Warren being engaged. Therefore, the symbolic elements of the film are the garments, which emphasize the nature of the characters and set the specific theme of the movie, such as revenge.

As for the make-up, the director purposefully intensifies the colors of any applied products on the face. For instance, at 10:48, Tarantino even uses a specific camera angle to capture the facial features of the actress (Tarantino, 2015). In this scene, John Ruth, a bounty hunter, strikes the face of Daisy Domergue, a criminal, with a gun. In the following seconds, the camera angle is set from the top, with a close-up of the woman’s face. When she moves her face up, the audience can see a large dark purple black eye, which contrasts with the pale face complexion of Daisy. In this scene, one can additionally observe the color of the criminal’s teeth, which are darkish yellow, illustrating the teeth’ corrosion. Here, Tarantino masterfully depicts every logical detail and makes the picture more realistic.

In sum, the use of gradual push-in, make-up, symbolic clothing, and color grading, among other film techniques, contributes to The Hateful Eight’s compelling and fascinating directing. The slow push-in allowed the director to create suspense in the picture and create interest among the viewers. Moreover, make-up served as an intensification of the human features and additions to make the film more credible, even in small details. Another important feature, symbolism, is encompassed by garments, with different colors and types of clothes showing the true character of the heroes. Finally, color grading drew the parallel between the two environments, using yellowish sub-tones to create warmth, and implementing a bluish hue to illustrate the severe winter and cold.

IMDb. (n.d.). The hateful eight . Web.

Tarantino, Q. (Director). (2015). The hateful eight [Film]. The Weinstein Company.

• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2024, May 7). Film Techniques in “The Hateful Eight”. https://ivypanda.com/essays/film-techniques-in-the-hateful-eight/

"Film Techniques in “The Hateful Eight”." IvyPanda , 7 May 2024, ivypanda.com/essays/film-techniques-in-the-hateful-eight/.

IvyPanda . (2024) 'Film Techniques in “The Hateful Eight”'. 7 May.

IvyPanda . 2024. "Film Techniques in “The Hateful Eight”." May 7, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/film-techniques-in-the-hateful-eight/.

1. IvyPanda . "Film Techniques in “The Hateful Eight”." May 7, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/film-techniques-in-the-hateful-eight/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Film Techniques in “The Hateful Eight”." May 7, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/film-techniques-in-the-hateful-eight/.

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How Can I Write an Essay About a Movie?

By Film Threat Staff | May 23, 2023

Watching movies for a long time has been a major past-time for most individuals. The people expect to sit in front of their screens and get thrilled into a world of adventure, mystery, and wonder.

But how can you gauge your appreciation and understanding of filmmaking? Writing an essay about a movie is one way of showing your grasp of the content.

Movie analysis is a common assignment for most college students. It is an intricate task where every detail matters while tied together to form a part of the story.

A part of the assignment involves watching a particular movie and writing an essay about your overall impression of the movie.

Essay writing services such as WriteMyEssay show that more than rewatching a movie several times is needed to make up for a solid movie analysis essay. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to write your movie analysis:

What Is a Movie Essay?

The world of literature is multifaceted while testing different attributes of students. A movie analysis essay, at its core, seeks to uncover the hidden layers of meaning within the cinema world.

A movie analysis essay is much more than a movie review that seeks to delve into the artistry behind filmmaking. Thus, it seeks to test a student’s prowess in understanding various elements that come together to form a meaningful cinematic experience.

The main purpose of movie analysis essays is to dissect different components employed by a film in making a unique and impactful storyline.

Students can appreciate the filmmaking process’s complexities by analyzing these different elements. Also, students can develop a keen eye for the nuances that elevate a movie from entertainment to a work of art.

Here are top tips by experts when writing an essay about a particular movie during your assignments:

1. Watch the Movie

The first obvious standpoint for writing an essay about any movie is watching the film. Watching the movie builds an important foundation for the writing exercise. Composing an insightful, compelling, and well-thought movie essay requires you to experience it.

Therefore, select an appropriate environment to watch the movie free from distractions. Moreover, immerse yourself in the full movie experience to absorb all the intricate details. Some critical elements to note down include:

• Characterization
• Cinematography

We recommend watching the movie several times in case the time element allows. Rewatching the film deepens your understanding of the movie while uncovering unnoticed details on the first take.

2. Write an Introduction

The introductory paragraph to your movie essay should contain essential details of the movie, such as:

• Release date
• Name of the director
• Main actors

Moreover, start with a captivating hook to entice readers to keep reading. You can start with a memorable quote from one of the characters.

For example, released in 1976 and Directed by Martin Scorsese, ‘The Taxi Driver’ starring Robert De Niro as the eccentric taxi driver.’

After writing an enticing introduction, it is time to summarize what you watched. A summary provides readers with a clear understanding of the movie’s plot and main events. Hence, your readers can have a foundation for the rest of your movie essay.

Writing a summary need to be concise. The entire movie essay should be brief and straight to the point. Ensure to capture the main arguments within the movie’s plot. However, avoid going into too many details. Just focus on giving concise information about the movie.

4. Start Writing

The next vital part is forming the analysis part. This is where the analysis delves deeply into the movie’s themes, cinematography, characters, and other related elements.

First, start by organizing your analysis clearly and logically. Each section or paragraph should concentrate on a particular aspect of the film. Ensure to incorporate important elements such as cinematography, character development, and symbolism.

In addition, analyze different techniques employed by filmmakers. Take note of stylistic choices, including editing, sound, cinematography, imagery, and allegory. This helps contribute to the overall impact and meaning.

Lastly, connect your analysis to the thesis statement. Ensure all arguments captured in your analysis tie together to the main argument. It should maintain a straight focus throughout your essay.

Remember to re-state your thesis while summarizing previously mentioned arguments innovatively and creatively when finishing up your movie essay. Lastly, you can recommend your reader to watch the movie.

Final Takeaway

The writing process should be a fun, demanding, and engaging assignment. Try these tips from experts in structuring and logically organizing your essay.

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Analyzing Narrative Techniques in Film Essays

Films employ a wide range of narrative techniques to engage audiences and effectively convey their stories on screen. Thoughtfully analyzing how these techniques construct a film’s narrative in essays provides deeper insights into its themes, characters, aesthetics and overall artistic impact. Narrative techniques in film essays demands a keen analytical eye, and for those seeking expert guidance, the option to pay someone to do my paper can provide a nuanced perspective, ensuring a comprehensive analysis of cinematic storytelling methods in academic writing. This post dives into key narrative elements in films including structure, conflict, characterization, cinematography, editing, sound design and more. It aims to equip writers with a framework to critically evaluate and discuss a film’s narrative techniques in essays.

Defining Narrative Structure

The overall architecture and sequencing of events, characters and settings in a film constitutes its narrative structure. This macro-level organization fundamentally shapes how the story unfolds on screen. Film analysts closely examine if the narrative structure is linear or non-linear. In a linear narrative, the story events are arranged chronologically in a cause-and-effect chain of events. Non-linear narratives use more fractured approaches like flashbacks, flashforwards, dream sequences or parallel storylines. Memento is a classic example of a nonlinear structure, with two parallel sequences – one in color moving forward in time, the other black-and-white moving backwards. Analyzing Memento’s narrative structure reveals how it puts viewers directly into the protagonist’s confused state of mind while building an overarching mystery. Comparing linear and nonlinear approaches provides insight into the different modes of audience engagement and interpretative demands created.

Examining Linear and Nonlinear Structures

Linear narratives tend to feel more straightforward and easier to follow, creating a reassuring sense of narrative stability and closure. Films like The Wizard of Oz employ a classic linear quest narrative as Dorothy journeys through Oz, meets companions and confronts obstacles before returning home. On the other hand, nonlinear films fragment conventional storytelling modes. This forces greater cognitive involvement from viewers to piece events together. Quentin Tarantino uses nonlinear vignettes moving across time in Pulp Fiction. Discussing whether a film adopts a linear or nonlinear narrative structure examines assumptions about viewer engagement levels. It also reveals how scrambled narrative timelines might mirror altered mental states or subvert conventions.

Plot-driven vs Character-driven Stories

In conjunction with broader narrative structure, stories can be categorized as plot-driven or character-driven. Plot-driven films emphasize narrative events, action and mysteries that propel the plot forward. The protagonist’s main function is reacting to events. Citizen Kane is a plot-driven story structured around reporter Jerry Thompson’s investigation into newspaper mogul Charles Foster Kane’s life, with flashbacks slowly revealing the mystery. In contrast, character-driven narratives focus on developing nuanced protagonists over plot events. The interest is in the character’s growth and emotional landscape versus twists and revelations. Richard Linklater’s Boyhood is a poignant character study chronicling a boy’s maturation process from childhood to adolescence. Analyzing whether a film is plot or character-driven provides insight into its narrative focus and interest in developing complex characters versus crafting an intriguing story.

Crafting Narrative Conflict

Conflict is central to any film narrative, creating the friction that sets events in motion. Without conflict there is no drama, tension or stakes in the story’s progression. Analysts closely examine the central conflict at the story’s core and how different conflicts propel the narrative forward and fuel audience investment.

Examining Central Conflicts

What is the primary obstacle or challenge the protagonist faces? Examining the central conflict reveals the film’s main dramatic situations and tensions. The conflict could be external with the protagonist grappling against an outside force like the villain, nature or society. In The Avengers , the superheroes battle against megalomaniac Loki trying to subjugate Earth. Or the conflict can be internal arising from the protagonist’s psychological hang-ups, moral dilemmas or personality flaws. In Black Swan , ambitious ballerina Nina Sayers wrestles with her inner demons that threaten to consume her. Analyzing central conflicts illuminates the primary drivers of audience engagement and the film’s thematic interests.

External vs Internal Conflicts

While most films use both, essays can assess differences between external and internal conflicts as dominant narrative forces. External conflicts arise from tangible roadblocks the hero must overcome. Disaster films like The Martian center on protagonists combating physical peril and obstacles. Analyzing external conflict reveals how the protagonist’s capacities are tested. Internal conflicts involve intangible inner struggles the hero must resolve. Psychological thrillers like Silence of the Lambs hinge on disturbed minds and moral dilemmas. Assessing internal conflicts shows how characters evolve in overcoming their inner demons. Well-rounded narratives effectively balance both external and internal conflicts. Frozen interweaves external conflict between sisters Anna and Elsa with Elsa’s internal struggle controlling her magical powers. Multi-dimensional conflicts engage wider spectrums of audience emotion.

Conflict Escalation and Resolution

A compelling conflict arc sees tensions steadily escalate before reaching a climax and eventual denouement. Analysts look at how conflicts build over a narrative before the final resolution. In classic three-act structures, the inciting incident in Act 1 sets conflict in motion. Tensions rise through Act 2 as the protagonist encounters increasing obstacles. At the climax, conflicts reach their zenith with the protagonist confronting their worst hurdle before the resolution brings catharsis. The Dark Knight builds increasing conflict between Batman and the Joker, culminating in their final showdown when Batman stops the Joker’s nihilistic chaos but loses Rachel. Assessing conflict escalation provides insights into pacing, staging of turning points and satisfying conclusions.

Crafting Complex Characters

Dynamic, multidimensional characters provide the beating heart that emotionally anchors narratives. Analyzing how films employ various techniques to characterize protagonists and elicit audience investment is critical to appreciating skilled cinematic storytelling.

Archetypes and Character Tropes

The character types populating most mainstream narratives can be categorized as archetypes or common tropes drawn from myth and folklore. The protagonist likely fits an archetype like the Hero, Outlaw, Mad Scientist or Wizard. The challenges they face also constitute archetypes including the Evil Tyrant, Femme Fatale or Forbidden Love. Supporting characters fill roles like the Sidekick, Threshold Guardian or Trickster. Analyzing archetypical characters provides insights into the patterns writers use to quickly establish familiar character functions. However, one-dimensional archetypical characters risk feeling flat. Multilayered protagonists blend archetypes in novel ways for more compelling depth. Kill Bill’s protagonist exhibits the Bride archetype, Outlaw motifs and Hero’s journey, crafting an iconic heroine. Layering archetypes in creative combinations engages more complex audience emotions.

For students seeking a reliable academic partner, an exploration of an Academized review offers valuable insights, providing a well-rounded perspective on the support and expertise available for mastering the art of film analysis in academic writing.

Character Growth and Change

While archetypes jumpstart characterization, dynamic protagonists undergo emotional growth and change through their journeys. Assessing character arcs identifies key transformation points. Bank manager Andy Dufresne in Shawshank Redemption retains his humanity despite the dehumanizing prison system, eventually escaping and moving on with hope instead of resignation. His character growth inspires hope in audiences too. Flatter character arcs see protagonists undergo little change. James Bond retains his ultra-spy persona with charm intact despite new missions and women. Comparing developments in character arcs shows how stories either deepen or remain anchored in established personas.

Defining the Hero’s Journey

Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey template codifies the archetypal stages of the protagonist’s transformation in many narratives. Departure sees the hero receive a call to adventure that disrupts their ordinary world. Initiation involves tests, allies and enemies as they cross the threshold into unfamiliar worlds. The return phase brings the culmination of the quest and reintegration into a renewed reality. Evaluating how the Hero’s Journey stages appear in films like Star Wars shows how writers rely on tested narrative patterns. But deviations from the template also occur. Analyzing variations reveals how writers expand audience expectations.

Character Perspective

Beyond archetypes and transformations, films leverage subjective, first-person character perspective to immerse audiences in protagonists’ inner worlds directly. Voice-over narration explicitly articulates characters’ thoughts. In Goodfellas , Ray Liotta’s Henry Hill directly narrates his own rise and fall in the mob. More advanced techniques like subjective point-of-view shots or free-flowing stream of consciousness editing provide direct access into characters’ perspectives and mental processes. Being John Malkovich uses extended POV sequences putting viewers into Malkovich’s subjectivity. Discussing character perspective techniques reveals how films generate empathy, encapsulate themes and provide commentary through characters’ subjective visions.

Cinematic Style and Visual Storytelling

Films communicate narratives as much through cinematic style and visual aesthetics as dialogue and plotting. Analysts closely read the impact of cinematography, lighting, production design and editing upon storytelling.

Cinematography Techniques

Cinematography encompasses camera placement, movement and framing techniques vital to storytelling. Camera angles carry important connotations. High angles can make characters seem small or powerless while low angles lend importance and dominance. In Citizen Kane , low angled shots filmed from below exaggerate Kane’s size during his rise. But as his fortunes change, high angled shots loom over Kane, emphasizing his diminished status. Extreme long shots of tiny figures against huge backdrops convey epic scale and isolation. Medium shots frame characters

intimately while close-ups emphasize emotions. Panning and tracking shots follow action fluidly. Handheld camerawork creates visceral immediacy. Discussing cinematography choices reveals their impacts on tone, characterization and themes.

The Impact of Color Palettes

A film’s dominant colors shape mood and atmosphere. Warm palettes with reds, oranges and yellows convey comforting vibes. Cooler blue, green and grey tones feel more solemn or peaceful. Analysts examine how color design choices fit specific genres. Gritty crime thrillers often use washed out colors and darker lighting while comedies employ bright, vibrant hues. Sci-fi films like The Matrix utilize green filtered, monochromatic palettes to evoke digital environments. Evaluating color patterns shows how they subtly influence emotions beyond literal meanings.

Lighting Aesthetics and Symbolism

Lighting similarly affects mood and drama. Low key lighting produces strong contrasts between shadows and highlights for heightened atmosphere. The Godfather films use low key lighting in opening wedding scene to foreshadow tragic events amid surface joy. High key lighting minimizes shadows for more uplifting tones. Romantic comedies often employ high key brightness. Analysts also assess lighting symbolism. Bright illumination represents optimism, truth and hope. Darkness symbolizes the unknown, despair and evil. Chiaroscuro lighting with sharp contrasts between dark and light highlights moral dualities. Discussing lighting aesthetics provides insights into tonal impacts and symbolic connotations.

Editing Rhythms and Flows

Editing quilts together shots to propel storytelling rhythms. Analysts examine editing pace and continuity to evaluate impacts on narrative progression. Rapid editing stitches together brief shots for visceral, frenetic pacing during action sequences. Whiplash uses fast cuts to convey the pulse and tempo of drummer Andrew’s music. Slow dissolves and long takes ease pacing to let scenes breathe. In Lost in Translation , lingering shots emphasize the contemplative mood. Discussing editing rhythms shows how films modulate experiential qualities and narrative urgency. Jump cuts break continuity to convey disjointedness. Match cuts stress continuity between scenes thematically or visually. Evaluating transitions shapes interpretations.

Montages and Symbolic Editing

Montages sequence together thematic shots driving storytelling through visual association versus linear cause-effect. Rocky ’s famed training montage conveys hard work and determination through rapid slices of exercise. Symbolic editing juxtaposes seemingly unconnected shots to generate meaning. In Battleship Potemkin’s Odessa Steps sequence, editing between civilians’ massacre and detached soldiers dehumanizes the violence. Analyzing montage and symbolic editing reveals nuanced storytelling possibilities beyond literal plot points.

The Emotive Power of Sound Design

Films fully leverage audio aesthetics along with visuals to immerse audiences and cue emotional responses. Essayists evaluate key sound techniques enhancing cinematic storytelling.

Musical Scores and Motifs

Music sets the emotional atmosphere more overtly than any visual technique. Leitmotifs become musical shortcuts to characters or ideas. The cascading two-note Jaws theme instantly evokes shark attacks. Star Wars leitmotifs represent characters like Darth Vader. Analysts examine how scores punctuate different genres. Romantic dramas swell with soaring strings and piano melodies. War films incorporate martial snare drums while horror films use unsettling atonal tones. Discussing film scores provides concentrated insights into emotional manipulation.

Diegetic and Non-Diegetic Sound

Diegetic sound emanates from the film’s world like character dialogue and ambient noise. Non-diegetic sound added in post-production provides an external omniscient perspective like voiceover narration. Diegetic sound pulls viewers into the story while non-diegetic audio offers privileged commentary. Baby Driver ‘s synchronized diegetic soundscape of revving engines and tire squeals makes the car chases visceral. Voiceover narration in No Country for Old Men provides philosophical commentary on events. Distinguishing diegetic and non-diegetic sound reveals stylistic choices for immersion versus distance.

Sound Motifs and Symbolic Sound

Icons like lightsabers take on greater meaning via associated sound motifs. The T-Rex roar in Jurassic Park represents danger. Sound symbolism establishes audio motifs associated with characters or concepts. High-pitched bell tones in Midnight Cowboy convey innocence and frailty. Low rumbles represent ominous trouble brewing. Discussing sound symbolic meanings demonstrates the medium’s aural power beyond visuals alone.

Films employ an intricate symphony of narrative and stylistic techniques to engage audiences emotionally and intellectually. Analyzing elements like narrative structure, conflict arcs, characterization, cinematography, editing and sound design provides critical insights into a film’s artistic potency. Developing a vocabulary to discuss techniques and their impacts enables richer dissection of cinematic texts. Whether assessing mainstream blockbusters or art house fare, probing narrative and style elucidates the myriad decisions that consciously craft cinematic experiences and meanings.

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Film Reviews & More

21 April 2020

Eight essential films for film students

Writing and cinematography have a lot in common. At the end of the day, they both have the same objective, and that is to tell a story. Essays on books have always been a staple in most educational institutes.

However, with time, teachers slowly realise the potential of films to narrate excellent stories as well. For this reason, college teachers are assigning more and more students essays about movies. But though there are numerous good movies to write papers on, picking one that is both impactful and provides adequate material for an essay at the same time might be difficult.

Although an essay about movies seems like a simple task on the surface, it is anything but. You have to analyse the entire film and pick up on things that are very subtly incorporated into it. If an essay about movies is simply not something you’re good at, you can always look for a free essay writer program to help you with your assignment.

This kind of free essay writing program from Edubirdie will give you an option to do my essay or write my essay for free. Essay writer free programs are an excellent way to maintain your grades if writing doesn’t come naturally to you. But if you want to explore movies to write an essay on, then we’ve made a list of some classic, all-time favourite movies that will give you plenty of material to write about.

A Beautiful Mind Based on the life of the award-winning mathematician Dr. John Nash, A Beautiful Mind tells the story of love, resilience, friendship, and perseverance. The movie is thought-provoking and inspiring, and the best part is that it is based on true events. Although a little long, and the movie is worth every minute. Although the plot is enough to keep you on the edge of your seat, A Beautiful Mind does not skimp out on portraying relationships and their complexities to the fullest.

Forrest Gump A sweet and heart-touching movie that will have you grabbing tissues all throughout its length. Forrest Gump is indeed a visual masterpiece and tackles a large range of issues through the eyes of a simple-minded man. The movie is deceptively simple, and one does not realise all the subtle nuances in emotions that it evokes till the very end.

Schindler’s List Like all great movies, Schindler’s List is careful about revealing its plot until the very end. What makes the story of Oskar Schindler so fascinating is he was not a saint. However, Oskar’s espionage activities on behalf of Germany, while regrettable to enemies of Germany, later put him in a position to save many lives. While there will always be those who question the motives of others, those who have examined Schindler’s efforts find him heroic. Oskar Schindler was a great man who saved the lives of more than 1,000 Jews during the Holocaust. The imperfections in his character and the nuances in the historical record only make his story more remarkable.

The King’s Speech Following his rushed and unexpected ascension to the throne, King George VI must learn to overcome his debilitating stammer to become an exemplary leader. With his country on the brink of war, King George VI must work tirelessly to overcome his speech impediment and unite his people. The film depicts new insights into the history of the royal family and the unexpected challenges they faced.

Pride and Prejudice Based on Jane Austen’s classic novel of the same name, Pride and Prejudice is a beautiful story about ego, love, feminism, and class differences. Set in the early nineteenth century, The movie follows the life of a headstrong young girl, her family, and a particular young gentleman who happens to be the current talk of the town. Both the book and the film are an excellent portrayal of real emotions , romanticism, and honesty, giving viewers much to write about.

To Kill a Mockingbird Another classic movie that is based on a famous novel of the same name. Robert Mulligan’s depiction of Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird is one of the few films that does the book justice. A story about idealism, innocence, and the terrible racism that plagued America during the 1930s. The movie provides great insight into the deep conflict within society regarding racism during the Jim Crow era.

The Kite Runner If you want to write about something that truly takes you out of your comfort zone, then this movie might just be it for you. Based on Khaled Hosseini’s novel, The Kite Runner carefully depicts the stark difference between pre-war, and war-torn Afghanistan. A story about sacrifice, love, war, family, and friendship. The Kite Runner is not an easy movie to watch. However, it is indeed an eye-opener.

Fight Club The last movie on our list is an inspiring tale about overcoming mental health issues and finding new meaning in life. The movie revolves around a disillusioned main character who finds no real joy in his mundane life and joins various support groups in an attempt to overcome his own issues. That is until he meets a person who is his polar opposite and starts a fight club that eventually evolves into something much bigger than what both of them have initially envisioned. The story is about hope, survival, and perseverance and can be an excellent basis for an essay about movies.

Like books, films are an excellent way to tell stories as well. Over the years, there have been numerous thought-provoking, deep, and impactful films that leave a large impression on the audience. College teachers recognise the ability of films to provide new perspectives to the audience and are, therefore, pushing for more essays about various films. It might be quite difficult to create a breathtaking film analysis essay if you have zero experience, but experts from  Custom Essay Meister will guarantee you a high-quality essay on any topic. If you’re unsure about which movie to write about for your assignment, go through our list of some of the best, classic moves that provide plenty of material to write about.

Vague Visages

Movies, tv & music • independent film criticism • soundtrack guides • forming the future • est. 2014, crime scene #15: ‘strangler vs. strangler’ – belgrade is not a serious city.

Crime Scene is a monthly Vague Visages column about the relationship between crime cinema and movie locations. VV’s Strangler vs. Strangler essay contains spoilers. Slobodan Šijan’s 1984 film features Taško Načić, Nikola Simić and Srđan Šaper. Check out film essays, along with cast/character summaries , streaming guides and complete soundtrack song listings , at the home page.

Belgraders will never tire of telling you that the city has been burned down and razed to the ground over 40 times, nor will they tire of telling you (depending on political persuasion) how the city is either a bridge between the East and West — a meeting point between different schools of thought — or the last bastion of Christendom against the Ottoman invaders. Belgrade was the capital of Yugoslavia and its biggest city, but whereas it is undoubtedly the economic center of what is now Serbia, it was never quite the biggest economic engine of Yugoslavia: smaller cities such as Zagreb (the capital of Croatia) and Ljubljana (the capital of Slovenia) had a higher GDP per capita. I am generalizing my friends and family from Belgrade, but they are a famously stubborn lot, capable of entitlement, insecurity, cosmopolitanism, conservatism and progressivism all at once, incapable of ever shutting the hell up about Belgrade. They are the New Yorkers of the Balkans.

Intriguingly, Yugoslav cinema rarely utilized Belgrade as a central character , despite the presence of Avala Studios (the country’s most productive film studio). Films were frequently set there, but only occasionally did the city become a star in its own films, beginning primarily with the work of the Yugoslav Black Wave from the 1960s onwards: the omnibus film City (1963, comprised of three shorts by Marko Babac, Vojislav “Kokan” Rakonjac and Živojin Pavlović) digs into the urban alienation caused by the city’s huge postwar expansion; Dušan Makavejev’s Love Affair, or the Case of the Missing Switchboard Operator (1967) expresses a doomed romance through Belgrade’s mish-mash of architecture. In comparison, the much smaller Sarajevo in Bosnia has a far more distinct cinematic identity, almost always taking a leading role in its own films, whether that be partisan classics like Walter Defends Sarajevo (1972), Palme d’Or winners like When Father Was Away on Business (1985) or the city’s re-emergence from the Bosnian war in The Perfect Circle (1997).

Strangler vs. Strangler Essay: Related — Know the Cast & Characters: ‘Asteroid City’

But Slobodan Šijan’s masterful Strangler vs. Strangler   (1984) utilizes Belgrade’s cinematic possibilities to the fullest. The film latches onto the city’s noirish corners, the then-groundbreaking punk/new wave music scene and a typically Balkan sense of black humor to produce a metatextual satire that parodies our desire to consume grisly true crime content about serial killers, long before Netflix cornered that market .

Strangler vs. Strangler Essay: Related — Soundtracks of Television: ‘Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story’

Strangler vs. Strangler’s punch line is set up by the narrator’s opening monologue, set to a montage of the city streets populated by both “normal” citizens and various outcasts. For a town to become a true metropolis as Belgrade aspires to be, the narrator suggests, it needs to go beyond a rogue’s gallery of perverts and freaks — it needs a true maniac, a serial killer! Enter the protagonist, Pera Mitić, played by legendary Serbian actor Taško Načić, who looks like the Tex Avery cartoon Droopy come to life. He’s a flower seller with an overbearing mother who enters a murderous rage whenever his carnations are rudely rejected by beautiful young women.  

Strangler vs. Strangler Essay: Related — Know the Cast: ‘Freaky’

Pera’s killing streak captures the attention of Spiridon Kopicl (Srdjan Šaper), an up-and-coming rock singer who writes a hit inspired by the slaying. For Yugoslav audiences, Šaper was most well-known as one of the founding members of Idoli — a band that married literacy and art-school stylings to punk-inflected New Wave tunes. Strangler vs. Strangler includes a veritable who’s who of cameos and shout-outs to Yugoslavia’s punk/New Wave scene of the time (Koja, leader of the band Disciplin A Kitschme features prominently). This was a music scene defined in part by its metatextual, highly literate, experimental and yet accessible nature.

Strangler vs. Strangler Essay: Related — Soundtracks of Cinema: ‘Se7en’

Strangler vs. Strangler sets up a dichotomy between the real killings of Pera and the theatrical re-enactments of Spiridon, whose stage show and persona becomes that of a proto-incel; a shy nerd who can’t seem to express himself around women and who lashes out through misogynistic lyrics. The film exists as a gleeful, Verhoeven-esque satire which has its cake and eats it . Strangler vs. Strangler criticizes the misogynistic tendencies behind the thirst for serial killer/true crime narratives (which overwhelmingly target women) while also gleefully playing up to it and implicating the audience. Visually, the film makes direct references to cinema’s long-standing obsession with evil: aside from an obvious nod to Psycho (1960) with both Pera and Spiridon’s mummy issues, there are references to M (1931), Frankenstein (1931), The Third Man (1949) and Don’t Look Now (1973) . Key to this motif is the actual geography of Belgrade.

Strangler vs. Strangler Essay: Related — Know the Cast: ‘Call Me by Your Name’

Belgrade was built and rebuilt by Ottomans, Austro-Hungarians, Serb monarchists harking back to Byzantine and Rusophile ideas and Communist functionaries, with each era bearing its own imprint on the location. If you visit the city today, you’ll still notice much of this multi-layered architectural history, even as Belgrade’s current rulers — the Serbian Progressive Party, little more than a bunch of war criminals and mafiosos left over from the Milošević era — undertake the most successful campaign to destroy the area in its two-millennia history. Central Belgrade, built on steep hills overlooking the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, seems to continually fold in on itself through largely Austro-Hungarian architecture with the odd splash of Ottoman influence thrown in. Further south, the hills spread out into suburbs. To the northwest on the other side of the Sava and Danube confluence, where the flat plains of the Vojvodina region begin, is New Belgrade — a pioneering work of architectural imagination where the post-war Communist government built a sea of brutalist high-rises. Each block was intended to include nearly everything one would need to live and raise a family: schools, shops, doctors and leisure areas. Beyond New Belgrade is Zemun, historically a separate town with its own history, but long since swallowed up by Belgrade’s urbanization.

Strangler vs. Strangler Essay: Related — Soundtracks of Cinema: ‘The Postcard Killings’

This sense of a multiplicitous architecture is reflected in Strangler vs. Strangler’s shadowy, expressionistic visual style, which drenches characters in shadows or directs light upon their faces in a way that accentuates the seriocomic features of its actors, whether that be Načić’s sullen puppy dog eyes or Šaper’s awkward gangliness. Few settings are directly referenced, but the hilly terrain on the central and south sides seems to be the primary filming location, using that area’s three-dimensionality to mess with perspective and texture. And the street lights are given this isolatory quality — there’s never enough of them, leaving pools of darkness in the city streets pierced by shards of light, with safety always a few too many meters away. Whether it’s the leafy suburbs, the city center, the draughty shack where the protagonist lives or the disused warehouse where a gig central to the plot takes place, the facades of most buildings are cracked. It’s a city in need of repair, even as it hurtles towards becoming, as the narrator suggests, a fully-fledged metropolis. Belgrade still feels like this, with crumbling and neglected edifices often standing next to gleaming steel-and-glass towers funded by professional money launderers .

Strangler vs. Strangler Essay: Related — Know the Cast: ‘Anatomy of a Fall’

By the early 80s, Šijan was already one of the most successful directors Yugoslavia had ever produced: his two collaborations with screenwriter Dušan Kovačević resulted in Who’s Singin’ Over There? (1980) and The Marathon Family (1982) — strong candidates for the two most universally popular comedies across the former Yugoslavia. Their magic relies on the interplay between Kovačević’s acerbic, semi-conservative bleak view of the Serbian (not Yugoslavian) mentality and Šijan’s post-modern, cinephilic background, having begun as an experimental filmmaker. Strangler vs. Strangler ’s metatextual nature and its even bleaker and absurd sense of humor liberates the director and allows him to follow his visual impulses to their macabre ends with a film that’s constantly turning back onto and folding over itself, just like the city itself.

Strangler vs. Strangler Essay: Related — Soundtracks of Television: ‘Justified: City Primeval’

It is still curious to me that Belgrade has a comparatively minimal screen identity, and yet perhaps Strangler vs. Strangler explains within its text precisely why. This is a city that has always been given to a bullish sense of self-promotion rooted in both genuine avant-garde ideas and a sense of insecurity — close to being a truly global city but never quite there. Belgrade is a location constantly looking to the rest of the world for acknowledgement, cannibalizing, in the case of Strangler vs. Strangler, New Wave ideas and noir (both emerging from the West) to its own ends. So, it makes sense that one of the best films to utilize Belgrade’s unique topography is so metatextual, referential and so willing to use this referentiality in a semi-parodic, furiously comedic manner. Strangler vs. Strangler is somewhere between the avant-garde and the absurd: a perfect description of Belgrade itself.

Fedor Tot ( @redrightman ) is a Yugoslav-born, Wales-raised freelance film critic and editor, specializing in the cinema of the ex-Yugoslav region. Beyond that, he also has an interest in film history, particularly in the way film as a business affects and decides the function of film as an art.

Strangler vs. Strangler Essay: Related — Soundtracks of Cinema: ‘Past Lives’

Categories: 1980s , 2024 Film Essays , 2024 Horror Essays , Active Film Columns , Comedy , Crime , Crime Scene by Fedor Tot , Decade of Release (Update in Progress) , Featured , Film , Horror , Movies

Tagged as: 1984 , 1984 Film , 1984 Movie , Comedy Movie , Crime Movie , Davitelj protiv davitelja , Fedor Tot , Film Actors , Film Actresses , Film Critic , Film Criticism , Film Director , Film Essay , Film Explained , Film Journalism , Film Publication , Film Summary , Horror Movie , Journalism , Movie Actors , Movie Actresses , Movie Critic , Movie Director , Movie Essay , Movie Explained , Movie Journalism , Movie Plot , Movie Publication , Movie Summary , Nikola Simic , Rotten Tomatoes , Slobodan Sijan , Srdjan Saper , Strangler vs. Strangler , Streaming , Tasko Nacic

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