FILM 4640 Latin American Film and Media Film Analysis Paper Due Date: 1/23

Choose one of the three scenes listed below. As you watch, note where cuts separate individual shots.

Use the grid provided to note your observations about each shot in the categories of mise-en- scène, composition, camera movement, editing, and sound as a means of sharpening your observations. If the scene is made up of a single shot, note important changes in each of these categories over the course of the shot.

The grid can be filled in as an Excel spreadsheet (download from ELC); or you can (legibly) handwrite notes. Additional pages in PDF format can be printed from ELC. Submit these notes with your paper.

Based on your observations, write a paper of 3-4 double-spaced pages that discusses how the scene’s stylistic choices: convey narrative information, create a tone or mood, and solicit particular reactions from the spectator. Focus on the techniques in the scene you see as most important, making sure to state a clear argument (thesis) about the sequence's stylistic choices as a whole. Support your argument with specific evidence from the scene, making sure to be as precise in your use of film terms as possible. You may walk the reader through the scene, discussing evidence as you go, or organize your argument around categories of film style (mise-en-scène, composition, camera movement, editing, and sound).

In a film analysis paper, you do not need a separate works cited section. Cite the film by providing the name, year, and director in parentheses the first time you mention its title. Provide credit to the actors by including their names in parentheses the first time you mention a character.

You have the choice of viewing the scenes on DVD (on reserve in the Media Department in the basement of the Main Library) or as clips available on the course's ELC site.

Los olvidados (The Forgotten Ones), dir. Luis Buñuel, Mexico, 1950 DVD timecode: 18:07 - 21:04

Jaibo (Roberto Cobo) goes looking for revenge on Julián (Javier Amézcua), whom he believes is responsible for getting him in trouble with the law, accompanied by Pedro (Alfonso Mejía).

Terra em transe (Land in Anguish), dir. Glauber Rocha, Brazil, 1967 DVD timecode: 1:05:34 - 1:08:41

After publicly criticizing his former mentor Porfirio Diaz (Paulo Autran) to advance the political fortunes of leftist populist leader Felipe Vieira, poet Paulo Martins (Jardel Filho) confronts Diaz.

Y tu mamá también, dir. Alfonso Cuarón, Mexico, 2002 DVD timecode: 35:02 - 37:54

During a road trip across Mexico, Julio (Gael García Bernal) and Tenoch (Diego Luna), talk with Tenoch's cousin Luisa (Maribel Verdú) in a bar.

Excellent Good Needs Needs Improvement Significant Improvement Thesis statement is explicit, clear, and persuasive

Film analysis vocabulary is used correctly and precisely to describe the scene Paper directly analyzes the meaning/effect of aesthetic choices and does not simply describe them Persuasive, clear, and specific language is used throughout to advance the argument, with correct grammar, spelling and citations

General grading guidelines: A paper in the “A” range will score “excellent” in all or most of the areas listed. A paper in the “B range will score “good” in all or most of the areas listed. A paper in the “C” range will score “needs improvement” on two or more areas A paper in the “D” range will score “needs significant improvement” in two or more areas. An “F” paper is a paper never submitted or one that does not meet the requirements of the assignment.

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