Film Analysis Assignment

Film:  Of your choice, but one which reflects specific cultural elements and/or themes.

(We will be examining a film in class, A Walk in the Clouds, as a way to model some of the analysis skills required for this assignment.)

Task:  After watching the film, write a 5 - 7 page (double-spaced, typed, stapled) analysis paper that both Observes and Evaluates specific cultural themes in the storyline.

Detail about Observations:  Observations are claims or statements of what occurred in the story (i.e., "The lead female character made several statements that revealed an ethnocentric perspective about her ethnicity as compared with the antagonist's family").  Observations are used to support the claims you make in the paper; they can be a form of evidence.

Detail about Evaluations:  Evaluations are statements that critique or judge subject in question.  That is, evaluations make specific claims about the accuracy, validity, truthfulness or worth of those observations, based on some form of criteria (i.e., "The lead female's ethnocentric attitude was destructive to the on-going communication between her and that family, making future interactions increasingly difficult, and eventually sending their relationships on a downward spiral."  The criteria in this case is the high value for healthy relationships, inclusion of others, and constructive, rather than destructive, interaction.)

Tip 1:  You may look at values, or values expressed as themes.  You may look at beliefs and how they are embraced, espoused and/or enacted by those in the story.  You may look at attitudes, as expressions of underlying values (although I would like you to try identifying the values that under gird or drive that attitude).

Tip 2:  You may look for particular contradictions, or seeming contradictions, especially as they are evident between embedded, espoused and enacted values, beliefs and attitudes.  We have also used the terms congruity and incongruity describe these contradictions. 

Tip 3:  Be sure you support your claims with information (observation data) from the film's script/action, rather that simply making claims or evaluations without any supporting evidence.

Due:  as per in-class instructions.

Case Notes and Questions for "A Walk in the Clouds"

Characters' Names:

Grandfather:  Pedro

Father: Alberto

Daughter: Victoria Aragon

Soldier: Paul Sutton

Comments on road:

Victoria:  ..."kill anyone who dishonors my family" Father quoted by Victoria to Paul.

Comments in kitchen: 

Mother: Your father has never taken change well... only in the banks is he patient.

Victoria: Well maybe he should be patient with us, too.

Comments at dinner:

Father:  this recipe has been in our family since before your Declaration of Independence... family can trace its roots back 400 years to some of the finest famlies in Mexico.

Comments with Grandfather at grape vine:

Grandfather to Paul:  this is the root of our lives, and now it is the root of your life.  You are an orphan no longer.

Argument with Paul in the house:

Father:  Stay out of our business.

Paul: She is my business.

Argument with Paul in the winery:

Father:  I love my family.

Paul: You should let them know it.

Comments with Grandfather:

Grandfather: Talking between men and women never solved anything.  They are creatures of the heart.  We think, an they feel.

Comments after the fire:

Father: I was afraid... of losing you -- all of you.  I didn't know any other way to love.  Can you teach me?

Questions:

1.  What makes it intercultural communication?

2.  The mother claims that the father "roars so" out of love -- what do you think of that claim?

3.  Did you notice any conflicting values?  (either within a person, or between people) And, how did those values drive/influence the communication with others?

4.  In what way did the value of "familia" serve to bind together opposing forces (among the characters)?