Topic > Review and analysis: Amélie (2001)

The foreign film chosen for analysis was Amélie (2001) directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet. The film is different than a traditional American film. However, the acting and representation of the script envelop the viewer in the world of Amélie, the protagonist. The film lacks major special effects and leads to an overall rougher film, adding to the reality of the film. This movie took me slightly out of my comfort zone. It's similar to the smaller indie films I've shot; however, the language barrier made me apprehensive about watching the movie. Nonetheless, the film kept my interest throughout and the overall meaning of the script was not lost due to the language barrier. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay The film Amélie is of French nationality. The first clue to his French nationality is the fact that the language spoken in the film is French, from the actors to the narrator. The staging also confirms the fact that the film is of French nationality. The sets use famous landmarks in Paris, France to reinforce the film's location without the cliché of showing the Eifel Tower in every frame. East Station is often used as a set for scenes in which Amélie has to catch a train. Furthermore, the scenes of Amélie walking in the city show narrow streets, markets and apartments, which are synonymous with the villages around Paris. Other shots show iconic bridges and buildings in Paris. The props also reinforce the film's French nationality. As regards transport, small cars, small motorcycles, scooters and bicycles are used for private transport; while the train is shown used as public transport. The costumes also lend themselves to the film's French nationality. The dress of the younger generation characters was more modern and trendy compared to the dress of the older characters, which was more traditional. The costumes match the ages of the characters making the mix of characters in the city more realistic than a real city. To help solidify the film's time period, some props were used. 1990s electronics, such as CRT televisions, VCRs, and VHS cameras, were shown in the film along with old-fashioned cars and motorcycles. The staging of Amélie helps to reinforce the fact that the film is of French origin; however cultural references are also used. The film Amélie is similar in many ways to a silent film. Although there is a lot of dialogue in the film, more reaction shots and close-ups are used during conversations. The actors in the film are very effective at using body language and facial emotions to convey meaning without understanding the conversation. The emphasis on facial expressions and body language is common in both silent and foreign films. The sound and music used in Amélie effectively enhance multiple aspects of the film. The background noise he uses when he is in public is that of passing cars, horns and the sounds of nature. This is what you would hear on the streets of France and gives authenticity to every scene. Furthermore, typically French melodies are used as a soundtrack in several scenes of the film, helping to reinforce the French authenticity. For example, in the opening scene, Amélie is shown as a little girl and a French melody plays in the background to emphasize that the events are occurring in France. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get an essay.