As we discuss this film, let's begin with the following questions:
- What did notice about how the film uses color? Do you have any ideas about what any of the color choices symbolize? Please explain.
- What did you think about how the film uses music? Did you like or dislike how all the lines were sung? Why?
- Which characters do you most relate with? Why? Which characters do you dislike? Why?
- If this film were made in Hollywood, how would it be different?
- What do you feel the theme of this film is? Please back up your opinion with specific examples from the narrative? How do you feel the use of color or other film tools relates to the theme? Does your theme statement at all explain why the title is what it is?
- How did this film help you connect with French culture? What questions did this film raise for you about French culture?
Ashton Bowers,
ReplyDeleteI thought that this movie was interesting and I did like it, but I just wasn't to into all of the singing. I don't think the movie would be what it is without the singing, and I still enjoyed it, I just get a little annoyed with too much.
As for the colors I noticed a lot of differences throught the movie. One being that the colors slowly got plainer till it just became black and white. Also the umbrella shop changes color over time. And the colors told somewhat the personality of the characters in the movie and how their lives were changing.
This film was very interesting to watch just by the fact that all the lines were sung for the entire film. It was a different experience than what i'm used to from films where characters would break out singing about how the feel or something. Although i didn't really like the whole singing through the whole movie thing. I mean it was interesting to watch a film that was sung through the whole movie, but at times i didn't find it necessary for singing. The music used in this movie i thought was fine, it didn't seem out of place to me and fit the movie well.
ReplyDeleteColor played an important role when it comes to this film. If you really pay attention to the color you would notice a change when certain things come across. In the beginning colors were very vibrant and bright. Towards the end however, all the colors were all toned down and dull. Which leads what i think what the color use of this film would be. Color represented the characters impressions on how they felt during the time. For example, in the beginning when the two characters were talking about how much they love each other the colors on and around them were very colorful. Towards the end, where they met after many years later without seeing each other the colors were all dull and not colorful at all.
I liked the music. I thought that the fact that all the lines were sung was very unique, but i liked that it wasn't really a musical so to speak. I just feel like the singing gave the movie a tone that it wouldn't have had if the lines were spoke.
ReplyDeleteI feel like this wouldn't have been that great if it was made in Hollywood. I think this because in Hollywood they like nice sweet endings and they like for things to work out in the end so it would have totally messed with the bitter ending this movie had. If it had been made in Hollywood those two would have gotten back together and it would have had a "happily ever after" ending, and i just don't think that would have had such a strong affect on people.
I feel like the colors in the film represent their childishness and innocence, and as the film moves on the colors fade as the wonder of childhood is replaced with the harsh reality of adulthood. Everything used to be wondrous and amazing, but they realize, "Oh crap, we have a child, but I have to go to war. This is awful." After Guy gets the draft call, the colors start to fade away and the film "grows up," and I feel it did so in a way that was subtle but still noticeable.
ReplyDeleteI'm on the fence about the singing, it's what gives the movie its charm, and it stands out because of it, but the singing can feel a tad overplayed, or annoying. As I watched the movie, I found myself getting distracted by the singing and had to quickly reread the subtitles to remember what I read.
Umbrellas of Cherbourg is a really interesting film. I don't usually like musicals, but I give this one a pass for some very good reasons. It has very good cinematography, a story that isn't all Disney-like, and genius use of color. Nevertheless, this film didn't persuade me to like musicals, sorry.
ReplyDeleteOn to the questions. I think the films use of color accents the mood and feeling of the film as it goes on. At first, you have an example of all the colors, ranging from red, blue, white, and green. Then, as the story gets more serious and serious, the colors start to get gradually darker and darker, more monotone, but the color then gets lighter and lighter after the characters start to realize that life isn't so bad. BUT, it doesn't get too light. I noticed in the final shot of the film that most of the color was white and red, but there was also some black and grey, definitely the most bittersweet of color-pallets, especially for the last shot of the film.
Though I don't like musicals, I did truly respect this films music. The fact that every line is sung is never overdone, and even has an element of realism to it. The characters actually sound angry and sad when they need to be, instead of just musically portraying that they are. Very well done, not to mention that the music is actually very well written and performed. Over all, I really did enjoy this movie, and would even go so far as to say it's one of the best musicals I've ever seen. I don't like musicals but I have seen my fair share!
Okay for this now, I enjoyed this movie a lot but really got me pissed off. The fact why it makes me mad is that I know no matter what I changed to the story it still will not get the same sympathetic feeling as you did with the original movie. In Valentin, I mention that I felt like they purposely made you hate all the characters while at the same time you can see where they're coming from. No matter what everybody made wrong mistakes but you just have to live with it, that to me was trying to tell the audience "Hey you screwed up or someone you know screwed up and it will hurt.... A lot, but you can make the future from that mistake (but in no means that this movie was to be a motivational uprising film."
ReplyDeleteThe vision they had with bringing musical intake into this film was definitely unique but I wonder if they could of gotten the same feeling without it? For some reason I have a problem with musicals even though I like music it's just the combination of acting and singing overloads my thought process and I crash... Thank goodness this is a musical then. I had that issue in the beginning though but caught up, and is was good yet kinda to seem being excessive, but that's me personally.
This film make me realize that it's harder to stay in contact with people in times of war, and it's made me realize how communications all over the world has improved, but yet it's still up to the people to decide if they want to reply to the other person at the end of the line.