How far does the impact of the films you have studied for this topic depend on distinctive uses of film techniques ?

For this topic i have studied the film 'La Haine' and the director Mathieu Kassovitz has used a lot of filming techniques such as miss en scene to convey the message that people are being influenced by western culture, this is seen through a specific scene where there is a meeting on the roof of the gym. The miss en scene shows that everyone is influenced by western culture because everyone on the roof is wearing sport clothes and trainers, there is graffiti on the walls.







In this topic I have been studying 'La Haine' and the way Mathieu Kassovitz uses film techniques to convey a specific message of how the multicultural France is influenced by America to his audience.  This is shown through the mise en scene of Vinz and Hubert's rooms which are covered in posters of a marijuana leaf and pictures of film stars and athletes. This suggests that they are influence by people from America, Vinz the dreamer likes his action heroes such as Robert de Niro and Bruce Lee. Vinz's room is shown to the audience with a 360 degree pan around the room which suggests that Vinz is influenced by film culture. Whereas Hubert decorates his rooms with his belies, a picture of his hero on the wall and also there is a picture of the Black power at the olympics. The audience is shown to the audience with a static shot suggesting that Hubert's views are fixed. At the time in France there were a lot of riots happening about race and equality but Hubert doesn't agree with fighting like that. Mathieu shows this through two shots, having two characters opposite showing that they are not on the same side.

Also in 'La Haine' Mathieu Kassovitz shows that these people are influenced by American culture through mise en scene of what everyone is wearing. This is significantly seen in the scene on top of the gym, everyone is wearing sports gear and it looks like a scene from an American film. They are shown through a tracking shot following Said around the roof, there a lot of people on the roof from the surrounding area of France and they are all mixed race but they are all wearing similar clothing. Even when the police show up, the police are wearing casual American style clothes, one is even wearing an American football jacket.

Throughout this film there is a strong presents of Hip Hop music which is from American. This is shown through diegetic music in the scene when the DJ plays out the music from his window. He mixes a Hip Hop song with a French classic. This shows the mix of race in that environment and how these people are influenced. Hip Hop is also played on the roof of the gym which supports the American style of that scene. But in this film it is not just Hip Hop that is played throughout this film, Kassovitz shows another cultural mix in different sections of the film but mainly in the opening credits with the non diegetic music 'Burnin and lootin' but Bob Marley.

 A lot of body language in the film are copied from american films, such as Vinz in the mirror copying the scene from 'Taxi driver' but even down to the greetings they give each other, grabbing hands and going in for a slap on the back. There is also a scene where there is a DJ playing out some stereotypical music from both cultures and mix them together like the environment they are living in. 

Catalogue

To what extent does the theme of loss as a narrative device define Christopher Nolan as an auteur?

Item 1
The Prestige 2006
I chose this film because Christopher Nolan focuses upon with the theme of loss and the duality that arises as a result, he does this through a disjointed narrative. By using this method it could be argued as another piece of evidence for Christopher Nolan being an auteur. I think this film is a good chose because 'The Prestige' keeps a lot of the narrative a secret just like a magic trick.

Item 2
Memento 2000
I chose this film because again it is based the theme of lose and how the main character suffers loss. Christopher Nolan use loss in a psychological scene which is the main narrative device. Christopher Nolan has also keeps his work similar in a way they have a disjointed narrative and are presented backwards. I think this will help show evidence to the fact the Christopher Nolan is an auteur.

Item 3
Inception 2010
I have chosen this film because it has the recurring theme of loss as a narrative device but also it deals with the psychological response to the loss and focuses on the idea that the brain/unconscious has different layers. Also this films has a recurring theme of film Noir and the character of a Femme Fatale which he uses in other films. This films was also written by himself which is another reason why he could be an auteur.


Websites:
Item 4
Christopher Nolan Biography from bio. website
http://www.biography.com/people/christopher-nolan-20881457#directing-career&awesm=~oGMgLU3dRpC5Ov
I have chosen this to support my argument because it gives a little context about his earlier filming career and the work he has completed now. Also there is some information about Nolan's work with his brother which could be interesting to talk about. I believe that understanding this could help argue why Nolan could be an auteur. This website also talks about his narrative style and how he uses it as a device to make the characters different, this could be seen as an element of him being an auteur.

Item 5
Whatculture.com, December 6 2012
http://whatculture.com/film/5-major-defining-tropes-of-christopher-nolans-films.php
I chose this it talks about how directors use the same techniques to make the film their own, this could be debated as the auteur theory. This website talks about Christopher Nolan's traits and repeated style through the films I have chosen to analyse. I think this will be useful because then I can state facts about his filming style such as noir style narrative and characters, Femme Fatale. I believe this will help when arguing my point about Nolan being an auteur.

Item 6
Life and Illusion, July 22 2012
http://lifeandillusion.wordpress.com/2012/07/22/the-themes-of-christopher-nolan/
I have chosen this website because it discusses in depth about the different themes that run throughout the films, they have been separated into different categories which is better because then it adds evidence to Christopher Nolan using similar narrative traits and the developments of the characters. I think this will help support my argument about Christopher Nolan being an auteur.

Item 7
Wired Q&A with Christopher Nolan, November 29 2010
http://www.wired.com/2010/11/pl_inception_nolan/#slideid-74661
I have chosen this article on this website because it is an interview with Christopher Nolan and he talks about how he developed his ideas for Inception and what he wanted for the narrative and characters. He also talks about his filming process and how he created a psychological dream world where his characters work through their loss.

Item 8
The Guardian, July 15 2010
http://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2010/jul/15/christopher-nolan-stanley-kubrick-inception
I have chosen this website because it talks about how Christopher Nolan become a director and how he developed his style quickly and hasn't needed to go independent since Memento. This website is also good because it relates him to other well known directors and states that they bot could be classed as auteurs.

Item 9
B.T.H. Media Group January 30 2014
http://www.bthmedia.com/blog/the-thursday-smokers-break
I have chosen this because it a useful discussion about two views on the auteur theory and how it applies to Christopher Nolan's work. Also it discusses the films that I have chosen to discuss, this will help me when arguing whether or not Christopher Nolan is an auteur because I can use quotes from this as evidence to back up my point.

Books:
Item 10
Teach yourself Film studies- Warren Buckland- 1998
I have chose this because in this book it summaries the auteur theory nicely and I think I can use some quotes to back up my argument about Christopher Nolan being an auteur. Also there is a good quote from the original film critic which will be useful to include when debating whether Nolan is an auteur.

Item 11
Film Studies: The Essential Resource- Pater Bennett, Andrew Hickman and Peter Wall
I have chosen this because it discusses in detail about the auteur theory which can be helpful when arguing if Nolan is an auteur because I can apply the theory to Nolan's recurring theme of loss.

Item 12
The fictional Christopher Nolan- Todd McGowan- 2012
I have chosen this book to support my argument because it discusses most of his films apart from his latest Batman movie. I thought this will be helpful because it goes into detail about the different topics and themes that occur in all three of the films I have chosen. It also talks about different theories which could help when discussing whether or both Christopher Nolan recurring theme of loss and unusual narrative structures is a couple of reasons why there is a big audience for his films.

Magazines:
Item 13
Sight & Sound- August 2012
I chose this article because it includes all the films I want to discuss and also it talks about where Nolan got influences from outside his film career which could be helpful with arguing whether or not he is an auteur. Also this magazine is a critical magazine that the evidence may suggest the use for repeated themes throughout Nolan's work.

Videos:
Item 14
Film 2006 Christopher Nolan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EK1XfijGzCE
I chose this because gives a critical view on the films and also it talks to the actors about their experiences and how they appreciate the narrative. The actors also talk about their relationship with the director and Christian Bale comments that he wants the relationship to continue. Michael Caine says that he is an easy director to follow. I also chose this clip because Christopher Nolan comments on the themes. Jonathan Ross also mentions that no one will be surprised that 'The Prestige' has a complex narrative, a key feature of his narratives.

Item 15
The Culture Show about The Dark Knight Rises
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_P2N5GwJOo
I have chosen this because Nolan discusses how cinema should be and what he wants to produce for an audience whether he has a big budget or a small one. I think this will be helpful when debating whether or not Nolan is an auteur, his use of the strange such as a backwards narrative and complex character dealing with a psychological problem, for his audience could make him an auteur.

Item 16
Christopher Nolan at Comic con 2014
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfWOhpaiNv4
I have chosen this because even though it is about his new film, Mathew Mcconaughey talks about who Nolan's work is always original and he keeps rolling which I have heard on other video, this could help to determine whether or not Nolan is an auteur. Also in the Q&A section he answers why he uses a lot of psychological issues in his work, which will help with my topic of loss.


Item 17
Picture of Christopher Nolan behind a camera
I have included this picture to show what Christopher Nolan looks like and to shows him behind the camera because I think it will be nice to open with this on my presentation script.

Rejected items:
Batman Begins 2005
I have rejected this film because even through it is has similar themes with some clear evidence that it is a Christopher Nolan film. It is too well know graphic novel, and although it would have been good to analyse how Christopher Nolan made it his own. I just don't think there is enough evidence with this film to argue that Christopher Nolan is an auteur.

Youtube.com- The making of 'The Prestige'
I have rejected this because it talks more about the costumes and sets rather than the actual making of the film and Nolan's vision for the film and narrative.

Empire Magazine 253 issue
I have rejected this because the issue talks more about Nolan as a director and being a visionary rather than his methods of films and the themes running throughout the films, I don't think this will be helpful.

The Guardian newspaper, September 23 2013- 15 minutes to win the Batman Begins job
I have rejected this because this doesn't help with determining weather or not Nolan is an auteur because it just talks about how he should Warner Brother's his vision and how they like it and gave him the job.

Empire online
 http://www.empireonline.com/features/40-great-actor-director-partnerships/default.asp?c=14
I have rejected this because it talks more about using Christian Bale in most of his films because he is a serious and intense actor. I don't see how this can be helpful because it doesn't discuss the theme of loss or Nolan filming style. I couldn't use this in my debate because it gives no evidence to whether Nolan is an auteur.