Christopher SoallContrast
November 5th 2008 13:59
I saw a beautiful French film the other day at the Nova called "The Grocer's Son. From the opening credits it was a masterpiece of cinematography and it really got me appreciating how much more natural and realistic French films are compared to American Films.
American Films are so tightly structured always compelling you forward to the conclusion. There is barely time to catch breath and everything is so tight and designed. The dialogue is stilted by how crafted it is. Nothing hasn't been overthought. The characters a cliche's and their words are hits and misses at one liners. There is no space for the audience to decide much for themself. You are made to feel like they don't think much of your intelligence and the focus on just throwing in what they think sells to the majority makes for a loud, crass, superficial and empty experience.
French films in contrast show real life situations and characters.Their situations are not highly convoluted or complicated. The subtlety means you leave with a real touched feeling of emotion not just a drummed up feeling as in hollywood cinema. I almost feel at times the american scenes could almost have flashing neon signs in the corner saying cry now. Whereas the french films leave the viewer to find their own way through. They don't arrange every scene. In american films even the slums look like an organised slum. The french films show what is there in its raw form. I'm talking in terms of the general trend. There have been some real hollywood masterpieces but always there has been a sense in it that it was announcing itself to be a masterpiece. The cinematography can be fascinating but and it can be exciting and absorbing but always in the sense of carrying you into fantasy land. Into the american middle class dream. In french films there is naturalism the characters are real and the world you are taken into is another cultures everyday life and perspective. There is so much to both relate to and wonder at.
I would like to go to America but I feel if I ever do it will be a bit like going to a surreal place. Like stepping inside the television. A bit like the last action hero with Arnold Swarzenigger when the boy going into the movie the movie characters later invading his life. I don't feel like that with France it feels like a real place albeit and idealic one in which all my dreams and longings are woven around. I guess there isn't the same focus in the french films as in american films on a lifestyle I can't identify with. On people who aren't ordinary instead of on everyday people. French films just try to portray what is there and evoke genuine and lasting emotions memories and insights. American films are designed to try and evoke a reaction in the viewer whether it be a laugh or a cry and you are left with a manipulated experience, an overexcitement then nothing really as it is all so far removed from your reality it can't significantly touch it.
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I couldn't agree more. I saw The Grocer's Son and the naturalness of it was enchanting. I later read a review with a low rating that made me furious.You are right on the mark when you talk about many American films making you feel manipulated. Most of them - that we see here anyway - are just so phoney. Why does there always have to be an ending involving, not just the 2 lovers, but the whole town? There is obviously so much talent that goes into the making of those movies - it is sad that the end result is so compromised and homogenized. The audience is given no credit for intelligence.
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