Phoenix Vs Amelie

After watching The Story of Film I think I have a greater understanding of cinematography’s growth and power. I believe that both Amelie and Phoenix emphasize what the documentary is talking about. With the arrival of sound we see an explosion of creativity and experimentation, particularly in world cinema. For example, Mario Peixoto’s film Limite forgoes traditional camerawork and tells the story by letting the scenes dissolve. He uses a handheld camera so everything is wild, carefree, and even whimsical. While Amelie is a French film it captures that essence of whimsy with its quirky style. Amelie uses interesting camerawork, such as its many push-ins to character’s faces, but the whimsy is more related to its special effects. The film uses

The movie Les Enfants du Paradis is a French film that was made during the Nazi occupation of France. In many ways the film uses themes of escapism through its frivolity and nostalgia for a carefree France. Amelie is the opposite in its use of escapism by creating a perfect France that ignores its problems. While many of the characters experience a broken drive and little passion in their everyday lives nothing is really wrong. France is at peace and the general public is going about their everyday business. The French see themselves as a mirror of the world and both films reflect that. Les Enfants du Paradis is mirroring the world’s longing for peace in wartime, while Amelie is reflecting on the world’s attitude towards the tragedies around us. Society goes about their daily lives and sees what is going on in the world, but continues with their merry lives or personal

Films in the post-war era also focus less on the beauty and more on devastation in world. Director Roberto Rossellini once said that if he filmed a beautiful shot he would cut it out. Christian Petzold does something similar when he went against original plans to film scenes in the concentration camps. Both directors cut certain elements so they can get their point across. Rossellini and Petzold want to tell their stories in a way that reflects war’s devastation. Phoenix incorporates elements of film noir with its dark lighting and mysterious atmosphere; however it also uses Neo-Realist ideas. The film focuses a lot on the injustice and desperation of the Jewish, particularly with Lene. Her character wants to forget the past and regain the Jewish life she has lost. On the other hand, Nelly emphasizes the loss of identity for the Jews and their confusion while trying to rebuild a life that is familiar. Rosselini uses his camera work as symbolism for war’s destruction, where as Petzold tells his story through the human psyche. Phoenix uses many elements of older films from the past, but modernizes them for a new