International Films

Instructor: Jennifer (Heuff) van Sijll _____________________________________________________________________     

Course Description: This course provides a critical look at the world and its problems through some of the finest international films.  Films from Asia, Africa, Europe, South America, and the United States will be viewed and analyzed to explore such topics as nationalism, sovereignty, war and peace, ethnic conflict, economics and immigration.

Units: 3                       Credit / No Credit Option

Required Books:

1. Van Sijll, Jennifer.  Cinematic Storytelling. Los Angeles: Michael Wiese, 2005

2. Chaudhuri, Shohini. Contemporary World Cinema.Edinburgh University Press, 2005.

Strongly Recommended but not Required

3. Codell, Julie, F. Editor. Genre, Gender, Race, and World Cinema: An Anthology. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing: Blackwell Publishing, 2007.

Please Note: Readings from the Codell book are recommended.

Additional required reading in the form of reviews and articles will be handed out throughout the semester.

Course Structure

The course begins with a review of the beginning of film, the language of cinema and how movies messaged ideas within the framework of an entertainment product. We start in the United States where we look at the powerful studio system that emerged and how it acted as the baseline for world cinemas and social political messaging. We then examine current films around the globe and examine how they message political ideas.  We look at what ideas they explore, and how to read a film critically.  We examine both theatrical and documentary forms. We then return to current American films to observe both new indigenous trends and consider the implications of new global cross-fertilization of ideas and techniques. 

Globalization, in terms of film messaging techniques and content, will be at the core of many of our discussions.

Outcome:  Students will get a review of the major trends in movie history, narrative and documentary, to form a better understanding of the language of film and its method of communicating ideas, as well as a snapshot of the major political ideas currently being discussed in films around the world. The students will exit the course with tools with which to analyze films, and media generally which is increasingly the default source of news and information today. It is intended that the student will increase their media literacy to be able to critically dissect the moving image with a new set of tools.

Required Assignments:

Students will write two short essays, deliver one presentation and write one final exam.

Students will need to use the MLA standard for referencing material.  All essays will need a Works Cited page.  All material used from outside sources needs to be referenced.

Essay 1  Choose a film studied this semester and write an analysis of how values are conveyed to the audience focusing solely on how non-dialog techniques are used.

Please note that values means social, political and / or religious values. Please refer to Cinematic Storytelling.

Essay length is 5 pages.

25 Points   Due Date: September 29
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Essay 2  Media Bias

Choose any film studied this semester and write an analysis of how fairly you think the writer/director depicted his/her material. You are encouraged to research alternate historical and political views. Your essay needs to focus on values depicted that are controversial. You may choose any film we are studying.  If you agree with the films values then you need to find a reviewer(s) who disagrees and debate the issues in your essay.  Included in your discussion, there should be reference to film techniques used to bias the fact-telling or storytelling.

Essay length is 5 pages.

25 points  Due Date: November 10
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Final exam:  The exam will be a combination of short answers and one short essay.  Definitions from lectures and the texts will be included.  A list of definitions will be given out ahead of time as suggested terms that may be on the test. This will not be a complete list of tested definitions. 

25 points  Date: December 15 at 7:00 (Start 7:30)  Length:Exam is two hours. 

Student Presentations:  Students will present one Powerpoint presentation during the semester. Due to class size you will be assigned a group.  The presentation will be no longer than 10 minutes. The assignments will be made during class #2.

Grades

Class Schedule and Readings

1. Tuesday, Sept. 1                            Cinematic Storytelling: The Language of Movies

Survey of Principles outlined in Cinematic Storytelling. How ideas are messaged in film.

Reading: Cinematic Storytelling: Intro and Chapter 1 and 2.

Clips and Several Shorts

2. Tuesday, Sept. 8                            Introduction Studio Films Baseline

Glamour Politics - Sabotaging Genres

Imitation of Life (1959)                       Reading CWC: Introduction

Director: Douglas Sirk                    

Novelist: Fannie Hurst Writer: Eleanore Griffin

R/T: 125 minutes

3. Tuesday, Sept. 15                          European   The Face of Post-War

Bicycle Thief  (1948)                           Reading CWC: Chapter 1

Director: Vittoria de Sica

Story: R/T: 93 minutes

4. Tuesday, Sept. 22                          Spain -  Lives of Women

                                                            Reading: GGR and World Cinema p. 38 - 54

                                                            All About My Mother (1999)

Pedro Almodovar                               Reading CWC: Chapter 1 See pages:25-6

R/T: 101 minutes

#1 Student Presentations:

5. Tuesday, Sept. 29                          USA Lives of Men

                                                            Reading: GGR and World Cinema p. 56 77                            

Fight Club (1999)

Director: David Fincher

Novel: Chuck Palahniuk

Screenplay: Jim Uhls

# 2 Student Presentations:

Essay 1 Due

6. Tuesday, Oct. 6                              Poverty Ethnicity Marginalized Lives

Slum Dog                                           Reading CWC: Chapter 7

#3 Student Presentations:

7. Tuesday, Oct. 13                            Integration and Government Policy           

Rabbit- Proof Fence  2002 (Australia)

Director: Phillip Noyce

Writers: Doris Pilkington and Christine Olsen

R/T: 94 minutes

#4 Student Presentations:

8. Tuesday, October 20                     Hierarchies of Values

                                                            Reading: Cinematic Storytelling: Ch. 3-4

 The Piano 1993 (Australia)

Written and Directed by Jane Campion

R/T: 120 minutes

#5 Student Presentations:    

9. Tuesday, Oct. 27                            Urban Dislocation and Isolation

                                                            Reading: Cinematic Storytelling Ch. 5 8

                                                            Reading: CWC: Chapter 1 see pages 21-23

Amelie 2001 (France)

Director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet

Screenplay: Guillaume Laurent & Jean-Pierre Jeunet

R/T: 122 minutes

#6 Student Presentations:

10. Tuesday, November 3                 Women, Globalism and Hegemony

Reading: Cinematic Storytelling: Chapter 9 - 13

                                                            Reading: CWC: Chapter 6.

Crouching Tiger / Hidden Dragon

Director: Ang Lee

Writer: Hui-Ling Wang  Book: Du Lu Wang

R/T 120 minutes

#7 Student Presentations:

11. Tuesday, November 10               Media Messages and Public Access

                                                            See Interview on www.Ted.com

Control Room (2004)

Directed by Jehane Noujaim

Writing Credits: Julia Bacha and Jehane Noujaim

R/T: 84 minutes

Student Presentations:

Essay 2 Due

# 8 Student Presentations

12. Tuesday, November 17               Political Biography and Revisionism

                                                            TBA: Handout:

Fog of War (2003)

Directed by Errol Morris

R/T:  107 minutes

Student Presentations:

#9 Student Presentations

13. Tuesday, Nov. 24                         New China / Political Criticism

Not One Less / To Live                        TBA: Handout

# 10 Student Presentations:                Reading CWC: Chapter 5

14. Tuesday, Dec. 1                           Marginalized Characters and War

Persepolis                                            Reading CWC: Chapter 4

Directed by Vincent Paronnaud /

Marjane Satrapi

Writers: Marjane satrapi (Comic) /Vincent Paronnaud (scenario)

Student Presentations:

#11 Student Presentations:

15. Tuesday, Dec. 8                           International Stories at Home

                                                            Reading: Projecting Politics: Chapter 11

                                                            Film and the Politics of Race

                                                            Reading: Projecting Politics: p. 237 - 248

14. Baadasssss (2003) 

Directed by Mario van Peebles

Book: Melvin van Peebles

R/T: 109 minutes

#12 Student Presentations:

16. Tuesday, Dec. 15                         Final Exam (Arrive at 7pm for instructions   and film viewing. Film will not be replayed twice. Written test begins at 7:30. Test continues until  9:30.

Reading and Film Selections

Handouts and additional readings, if applicable, will be given or suggested throughout the course.  Schedule of films is open to revision. Due to large number of students and the need to schedule class time for presentations, we may have to cancel one of the films scheduled.

Reading TBA: This means that the reading for that class is to be announced.  In this context it means that nothing is yet assigned.  I may add a reading during the semester.

Film suggestions are always welcome.  Let me know what films you think might add to the course. I am always looking to show films that connect with the audience.

Hope you enjoy the course.  JVS