Throughout this report I will be discussing and analysing two different
theories used in the making of films by two different directors. The two
different films I will reviewing, and analysing are Suffragette (2015) and The
Hunger Games (2012). The first film I will be looking at is Suffragette.
The director of Suffragette, Sarah Gavron, can be presented as a
feminist filmmaker as she focuses on the life of women and presents women as
strong and independent through her character choices and casting; she has dedicated
her career to accurately telling the stories of women. In addition, the
shortage of women filmmakers in the United Kingdom is what has inspired Gavron
with her own filmmaking and she believes it gives her extra responsibility as a
female director. Gavron is best known
for producing Suffragette, Brick Lane and Losing Touch.
Gavron discovered her passion for feminist film making whilst she was
attending Edinburgh
College of Art; it was here she was given a position in a directing class that
was taught by Stephen Frears; one of her greatest influences in filmmaking and
directing. When recalling what she wanted the film to achieve, that enabled her
to win sixteen awards and fifteen nominations, Gavron revealed she hoped that Suffragette
would be used to recall important moments in the past but those that are also
relevant in today’s society. Gavron believes that her specific focus on an
ordinary, everyday women would make her film, and ultimately her message as a
feminist, relevant in today’s society. Suffragette was released in 2015 and is
based off true events that took place in England between 1890s – 1920s when
Millicent Fawcett founded the National Union of Women's Suffrage. The meaning
behind the name of the film is that “Suffrage” means the right to vote; this is
what women were fighting for during this time period. However, Gavron has
decided to set her film in
London during 1912 and focuses on the life of a young working-class mother who
becomes a radical activist to achieve the right to vote.
To create a feminist film Gavron needed to cover a range of political
movements, ideologies, and social movements that share a common goal which is
to achieve social equality between sexes. For this reason, she decided to cast women who possess strong,
dominant characteristics. In comparison to other directors, Gavron decided to
use a cast of actors who haven’t appeared in many ‘big’ films that are shown
across the world. Although Gavron choose to have women as have leading characters,
some may argue that men roles weren’t focused on enough as they were only given
supporting roles. However, to contradict this argument, the film is based on
the lives on women in 1912 so the film shouldn’t have many, if not any, male
lead roles.
When being used in films, colours are often to use to portray moods and
emotions, although throughout the film Gavron uses dark, dull colours to convey
the state of poverty in London during the early nineteenth century. The use of
a dull colour palette demonstrates the struggle that all working-class families
were going through. In contrast, during the film the ruling class can be seen
wearing bright colours to reflect their wealth and power. For example, during
the horse racing scene the women in the background are seen wearing white.
Gavron decided to use this colour as white evokes purity and cleanliness;
something that the working-class wasn’t associated with being.
In addition, to reflect that the film is based in a different time
period Gavron decided to use dim, low-key lighting. The purpose of low-key
lighting is to be dramatic and powerful; the use of lighting in Suffragette is
used to convey the misery amongst women at this time period but also the low
financial state the country was going through.
Another film technique used in Suffragette is special effects. This is
evident when the protagonist is blowing up the letter box or when lead
characters are smashing windows by throwing stones at them. The use of special
effects in Suffragette is used to demonstrate the anger and violence being
expressed by those involved in the activist movement.
Throughout the film there are many close ups of the characters faces.
Gavron chose to do this to show how the characters are supposed to be feeling
in the current moment. A key example of this is when the actor who is playing
Emily Davidson is just about to get hit by the horse; we can tell by her facial
expression that she is shocked and scared. To help show how fast the horse is
coming towards her the camera moves quickly to focus on actor’s face.
The only song used throughout the entirety of the film is ‘March of the
Women’ by Ethel Smyth and
Cicely Hamilton. The song is used to empower women and make them feel powerful
standing together when fighting for the right to vote. The song was first performed on 21
January 1911, by the Suffrage Choir, at a ceremony held on Pall Mall, London.
The song is used to symbolise the release of activists from prison.
As mentioned before Gavron was taught by one her greatest influences,
Stephen Frears, when she was given a position in a directing class. Stephen
Frears is also a British director who is most famous for directing Dangerous Liaisons, Philomena and The
Queen. Frears has been nominated for 70 awards and winning 65 whilst being
nominated for two Oscars. Frears is one of Gavron’s greatest influences as when
she was younger Gavron only used to watch British films. When producing
Suffragette Gavron started looking for unusual references such as The Battle of
Algiers, which is based off Marxist philosophies, and Paul Greengrass’ work
when looking for set pieces and chase sequences. Moreover, throughout
production Gavron kept the Suffragette motto in mind ‘deeds not words’
connoting that Gavron was looking at other films that involved violent protests
or other activist movements.
The genre of Suffragette is biography, drama and history. This is
because the film is focused around recalling events that have happened in the
past. In relation to the film, the selected genres describe what the film has
to offer and what the audience would be expecting from this film.
The other film I will be analysing is The Hunger Games. Director, Gary
Ross, is considered a Marxist filmmaker due to how he portrays the class divide
in his films. Throughout the duration of his directing career, Ross has worked
with many big actors to produce successful films that have enabled him to be
nominated and to win awards. The Hunger Games was Ross’ first Marxist
philosophy-based film he directed; although the idea wasn’t originally his as
he brought to life Suzanne Collins’ work.
When directing the film, Ross’ main focus was to bring Collins’ work to
life in a visual representation that would mirror her book as closely as he
possibly could. The writer once claimed that the books were based off Greek myth of Theseus and
Minotaur. Despite the author saying this herself others claim that the book is
based on the 2000 film Battle Royale featured school kids who were forced to
enter a deadly game in which they had to kill each other; from this description
of the film it is hard to say whether Collins’ did take inspiration from Battle
Royale or not.
A coincidence that seems to arise in the casting of the actors is that
both Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson that play protagonists in The Hunger
Games grew up in Kentucky; a state with rural poverty and coal mining
reminiscing District 12 where both protagonists grew up. Throughout, Ross’
career he has never used the same actors more than once when directing and
producing his films.
Ross uses colour to present the difference between wealth and poverty
throughout the film; the closer you get to the capitol the more colourful and
lavish the clothing becomes. For example, when Effie from the capitol first
comes to District 12, she is wearing purple. The use of purple connotes that
she is a figure of wealth and power.
Furthermore, Ross uses lighting to demonstrate the difference in wealth
between each district. The further away from the capitol you go it becomes dark
and dull. Additionally, Ross uses lighting to signify important moments in the
film; for example, high-key lighting is used when Katniss volunteers as tribute
to save her younger sister from entering the hunger games. By using high-key
lighting when focusing on Katniss in this scene connotes that she is heroic and
brave.
Throughout the duration of the film there is multiple close ups of the
actors faces to show their emotions which enables us to develop a deeper
connection with the characters on our screens. The cameras tend to focus on
Katniss as the film is focused on her life. The first time we feel connected to
the character is when she is comforting her sister; from this scene we could
tell that Katniss cares about those she is close with.
In a sci-fi film we expect to see special effects. The Hunger Games
meets its audiences’ expectations by providing many special effects. This is
done through most scenes that involves fighting in which someone gets injured
or when Katniss shows the world her dress that lights on fire when she spins
around.
Ross uses sound to create something to associate the film with. This
sounds is a simple whistle that is used throughout the film as it means thanks, it means
admiration, it means good-bye to someone you love. This sound is often used due
to the amount of deaths that happens throughout the duration of the film.
When entering the film industry Ross had help from his screenwriter
father, Arthur A. Ross who has written scripts for crime melodramas, Westerns,
comedies, the Oscar-nominated Brubaker and a host of radio and TV series, among
them The Alfred Hitchcock Hour. However, his other early influences are Stanley Kubrick and
Bob Fosse. He admired Fosse as in his film Lenny the camera never moves. It's
all done with cutting and a static camera. He believed that Fosse saw editing
completely different to other directors as each shot looked like a dance step.
The Hunger Games comes under three different
genres; adventure, sci-fi and thriller. By being put into these categories the
audience expects to see the characters go into an unknown area and start
exploring what there is. However, something bad or unexpected happens due to
the film also being a thriller.
In conclusion, these theories can also be seen in
everyday society; this helps the audience engage in the films and relate to the
characters and/ or the themes represented in the film. Both Gavron and Ross
challenge their audiences into thinking about the deeper meaning of their
films. For example, Ross highlights the issues of living a capitalist, marxist
society by bringing Collins work to life. Whereas, Gavron signifies the
importance of feminism by comparing the difference to living in a society where
both genders are treated with equality, to times when women were treated
unfairly by recalling important historical events.
