An Introduction
- Open a google document and title it by "Your Last Name and class period - Auteur Theory: Wes Anderson." For example: Jones 5th - Auteur Theory: Wes Anderson
- You know you're watching a Wes Anderson film when you see: Watch the four trailers of these Wes Anderson Films. Make a list of the similarities you see repeated among the trailers. You might comment on the types of characters, type of comedy, film making techniques such as composition or color, settings, pacing, or any other thing you notice that seems to show the style of the director . This repeated style is known as the Author's style, and by film making terminology that is known as "Auteur Theory." You should title this list, "You know you're watching a Wes Anderson film when you see:"
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EXTRA CREDIT: Prada Candy Auteur Theory Test
"Prada Candy" is a short film directed by Wes Anderson and Roman Coppola to promote Prada's latest fragrance, "Candy." Starring Peter Gadiot and Rodolphe Pauly as best friends who inevitably find themselves in a fight over Candy, played by Léa Seydoux. Watch all three -- they tell a story. Then. on your "Auteur Theory" google doc, write your responses the following questions.
- Briefly describe the story line in each episode.
- Next, describe three of the most prominent ways you see Wes Anderson's signature style ("auteur" style) in this film sequence. Refer to the top of this page for pointers.
- A surprise shot is when the camera starts in a certain place but slowly reveals a surprise -- something you didn't expect based on where the shot started. Identify and describe one surprise shot in this series.
- Label this part of your document "Prada Candy Test"
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REVIEW Wes Anderson Style
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Behind the Scenes
Watch the "behind the scenes" featurette on the right. Write about each of the following:
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Magical RealismThe worlds Wes Anderson creates are skewed ever so slightly off from our own, even when they seem completely realistic. Moonrise Kingdom has elements of the adventure stories that Suzy Bishop reads. Magical realism is a style of fiction that incorporates fantastic or mythical elements into otherwise realistic fiction
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Post-Film Analysis (Choose 3) Support your writing with EXPLANATIONS and with TEXT SUPPORT, which means specific references to details from the film.
- We don't meet Sam Shakusky as a caracter until well into the exposition. Why don't we meet him, the main character, until so late? What is the function of everything that comes before him?
- The visual elements of Moonrise Kingdom are very stylized and distinctive. What messages are being conveyed by the director’s visual decisions? Give specific examples.
- What repeated symbols emerged? Identify two or three and explain what they come to represent beyond their literal meaning.
- What draws Suzy and Sam together, and how seriously are we supposed to take their romance? What makes them good heroes – if they’re the film’s real heroes at all?
- What contrasts does the film draw between its child and adult characters? To what extent are these contrasts true to life? What are the main things that we lose, and gain, as we move from childhood to adulthood?
- The Noah’s Ark story tells the story of a flood sent by God to wash the earth clean of wrongdoing. What is the significance of the Noah’s Ark story, and flood imagery, to Moonrise Kingdom?
- How does Wes Anderson deal with danger or harm? Does he shy away from it in the story? How about visually? Why or why not?
- Walt Bishop: Which injuries are you apologizing for specifically? Laura Bishop: The ones that still hurt. What are the individual troubles or insecurities faced by each of the adult characters, and how do they overcome these during the course of the story? How do Suzy and Sam act as an inspiration, or even an agent of redemption, to the islanders?
- Tackle this thematic question posed by movie reviewer Johnathon Rack for "We Got This Covered" website. "Why is it we need people in our lives? Is the pain we feel living among others worth the benefits we receive? What are those benefits? How do we process our emotions when we feel cut off from others? Is it truly possible for one person to meaningfully change our lives?"
- Why was the film titled "Moonrise Kingdom"? What was the significance? Give specific examples.
Sources: Discussion questions adapted from https://education.burnsfilmcenter.org/education/classrooms/168/projects/473