Country Report: Mexico

Country Report Mexico by Melanie Flores on Scribd

Screening Report 9: Denmark: After the Wedding

1. Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening.

The film After the Wedding was directed by Susanne Bier and is set in Denmark and India. We discussed the film’s editing and how it utilizes jump cuts and the use of the song ‘It’s Raining Men’ to help the story. We noticed the use of color and how the countryside was bright green and the color in the city had more greys and darker colors. Also, we talked about the actor Mads Mikkelsen and how he is seen in several American films and has become more popular. He also gets to play a character who is kind rather than play the villain.

2. Find a related article and summarize the content.  (on the film, director, studio, actor/actress, artistic content, etc.) You can use the library or the internet.  Cite the article and copy the link to your journal entry. Summarize in your own words the related article but do not plagiarize any content.  Make sure your link is a true hyperlink that will connect to the article you are referencing.

The New York Times review discusses the film’s plot and style that Bier used for the film. It explains Jacob’s life and how he runs an orphanage that’s on the brink of bankruptcy but gets an offer from Denmark. He meets Jorgen who is successful family man who is married to his ex lover and the adoptive father of his biological daughter. Jorgen is actually not as he seems and shows his aggressive nature when he gets closer to death. Jacob comes into conflict with him and the situation of meeting his daughter. The article goes on to mention the camera work and how many scenes have jump cuts. They also discuss the story and how it blends joy and tragedy together to make a successful story.   

3. Apply the article to the film screened in class.   How did the article support or change the way you thought about the film, director, content, etc.?

The article does support the film by describing the jump cuts and how it’s a unique style to the story telling. However, the article does not change my opinion of the film because I do not believe the film had a strong story, or at least a memorable one. True, it does successfully mix joy and tragedy but it does not make me feel anything for the characters.

4. Write a critical analysis of the film, including your personal opinion,  formed as a result of the screening, class discussions, text material and the article.  I am less interested in whether you liked or disliked a film, (although that can be part of this)  than I am in your understanding of its place in film history or the contributions of the director.

The film felt hard to get into, so much was going on at once that it made me feel disconnected from the story. One moment it was a story about saving an orphanage, and then it was a father daughter story, and then it was a story about death. The film’s overall goal is the orphanage but it’s hard to remember that when the plot wants you to care for about so many things at once. Also, it’s a predictable plot. From the moment Jacob talks about his dislike of Denmark the audience can already tell that’s where he’ll end up staying by the end of the movie. Afterwards everything falls into a predictable line which makes the film feel shallow and wants to create drama for the sake of drama.

The film attempts to have substance by creating a parallel between Helene and Anne with having cheating lovers who leave them. Helene left Jacob because he cheated on her and instead met Jorgen. Anne had a huge wedding and was also cheated on and if she follows the same story as her mother she too will marry again in a short time. However, my question is whether that parallel is necessary? Yes it does give Anne an understanding of her mother’s actions for leaving Jacob but it does not change her relationship with him negatively. It would feel more natural if she showed him some frustrations for his actions instead of showing her frustration to her mother.

One good element of the film is it’s colors. It makes use of vibrant colors when filmed in the countryside, and uses dull colors for the city. Also, India is painted gorgeously in the movie and it’s use of packing multiple people in different shots in the beginning of the film was a nice touch.  The film tries to make another good element by using jump cuts so characters can move faster during the film. However, I found it distracting and it did not serve any purpose, it seemed like a cheap trick to appear artistic.

Overall, the film was not for me but I can appreciate it’s cinematography and Mads Mikkelsen's performance. The one thing that keep me watching the film was Mikkelsen showing a human side that movie goers rarely see since his typically typecast as the villain.

References

Dargis, M. (2007, March 30). After the Wedding - Movies - Review. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/30/movies/30wedd.html

CHECKLIST FOR PLAGIARISM

1) ( x ) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class.

2) ( x ) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly explain that in the paper.

3) (  x) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used indentation and citation within the text.

4) ( x ) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper.

5) (x ) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read.

6) ( x) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way. I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography.

7) ( x ) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality.

8) ( x ) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper.

Name: _________Melanie Flores_____________________________  Date: ________5- 9-17____________________