- What was the most valuable thing you learned from this interview? Why?
- How did what you learn change on perspective on the films you have watched from this country?
- What is the greatest misperception that you have realized you had about your chosen country? Why does it matter that you've overcome that misperception?
Rose - Germany
ReplyDeleteFor some reason, I always had this assumption that Germans didn't really have a different style of filmmaking than say, us Americans. I didn't really think that there was too much of a difference between American films and German - I didn't think too much of a comparison besides the language. Talking to Sabrina through the course of this trimester, she's opened my eyes to understanding a little more on how the German cinema can/has worked, and what to look for and compare if I were to compare American versus German.
Sabrina believes that in the production era of German films, it is lower than American. Having only seen one German foreign film (I know I have seen more, just can't think of any off the top of my head.) besides The Nasty Girl, which I watched twice for this, I am slightly biased in agreeing, but that is an older film, so... ahha.
It was also nice to learn that Sabrina feels like that everything that has gone on in history, involving the past with Hitler and his wrongings, she sees a lot of pressure and a layer of shame with movies involving religion, abuse, disrespect, etc. She tells me she feels embarrassed for herself and her country. I am not quite sure how that totally connects with German film, but I do see in a certain kind of light what she means by that.
I think I should have picked a harder question, haha. Even before not knowing too much about German film, I loved The Nasty Girl. It is a witty story and reminded me of an older version of Juno, except no one gets pregnant or anything.
I also learned that supposedly hollywood producers and everybody else used to do all their stuff in Germany until the national socialists in Germany censored everything and made them move to Hollywood. (Did I learn something like this in Film History or.. )
I also sort of assumed that in Germany, the film making industry wasn't really that big. I don't hear much about German films even though I'm a big foreign cinema lover. (I am probably not paying attention to that, though.) I assumed they were quiet and that something like... cigarettes (I dont know, haha. I feel ignorant now.) was their big thing. But no, I was wrong. If you explore german film, the styles, directing, past, there's so much you can learn and it's like a totally differently world.
I also like that I am pretty good friends with Sabrina now too. And got to sit and watch a movie for half of this homework. Easy. ;)
P.S., I am sorry for typos.
Yes, we did talk just a bit about the German filmmakers who moved to Hollywood when the National Socialists came to power. We mentioned it just briefly when talking about German Expressionism. Fritz Lang (Metropolis) and Murnau (Sunrise) are examples of German Expressionist directors who made this move because of Nazism. Fritz Lang had extra reason to move since he was part Jewish. (Sad story: Lang's wife, who wrote Metropolis, didn't go with him because she was a big Hitler supporter. Many argue that Metropolis' story is actually pro-Hitler propaganda.)
ReplyDeleteI can see what Sabrina means when she talks about guilt shading German films. For really good examples of this, check out "Aguire: the Wrath of God" or "The Anxiety of the Goalie at the Penalty Kick".
I am so glad you made a friend in Sabrina. In the end, knowing a lot about movies might not matter but the relationships we make because of them definitely do!
I just keep noticing how artsy they are, i enjoy it, but all the films ive watched, and we have watched are like our independent films. but i like it alot and respect it alot. when talkking to my step dad he said that was the biggest diffrence he saw in the movies and the people, he said that most of them were really deep and weird. but i guess i could appreciate that. I highly respect the amount of creativity they support and turned mainstreem.
ReplyDeletewhen talking to my step dad i asked him if they were romantic in real life like most of the movies i have seen. he told me "they like to think they are, they are always trying to be deep about things that dont matter. it got on my nerves alot while i was there, it was like a whole colony of hipsters" i thought it was pretty funny, but i guess i could see it.
I thought that they are extreemly serious people, i didnt think that it would all be so thoughtfull or interesting. i thought they where just drunks that ate good food, but it doesnt seem that way from the movies ive watched and everything my step dad told me.
i decited to ask him his favorite french movie, he told me to watch jean de.. (something in french) i want to watch the movie and compare diffrences we both saw in the film. i think it would be a better way to catch things i didnt get befor when i watched it. i also want to watch i with a friend who knows nothing about the french cultur and what they think is diffrent or interesting, i think it will help me come up with alot more questions and alot more things to learn.
thank you...
Jean de Florrette. I haven't seen but Brandon Arnold loves it. I thought about showing it in our class but there wasn't time. Too bad.
DeleteI love your dad's comment about a country of hipsters. That makes my day. LOL!
The most valuable thing i learned from, "The Wave" was to expect the least probable and credible, anything can happen. I thought this movie was going to be super duper predictable because of the description but i was so very off every time i guessed what was going to happen... I love that. I find german film making a million times better then american in some ways because, in most american films that are similar to, " The Wave" everything is completely predictable.
ReplyDeleteWhat i learned about German film making changed my thoughts on a lot of things. Their perspective on the Hitler Invasion taught me more than any american film on the Hitler invasion ever could. I love how detailed they are in thoughts, because Americans don't know what they went through when that all happened. In this film they show how a modern day up-rise would look like and that, changed my thoughts about Hitler completely.
When i first read what this film was about i thought sarcastically , "wow, never seen something like this before... " but then my friend told me it wasn't what i was thinking at all and that i should watch it. So i did, and i love it! I learned always to listen to my friend Kenzie when it comes to movies, she's smart like that.
It's cool to read your responses and read Rose's responses and compare your experiences with German film. If the two of you get together and have a 30-60 minute conversation about your respective experiences with German cinema and culture this term and then report on it in the extra credit section of the blog, I will give you each some extra credit.
DeleteI wonder if German film is more predictable to Germans? Do you not find it predictable just because you aren't German and/or don't know their formulas or do they just have less formulas? Hmmmm ....
Wait Bree, you responded to a film but this is where you respond to an interview. I'm confused ... can you clarify.
DeleteGreat response, Katherine, that addresses some very important and pertinent issues.
ReplyDelete