To Live

"To Live" focuses on a family's struggle to adapt and accept the new Chinese communist regime. The family serves as a metaphor for the sacrifices made during and after the Cultural Revolution. The film criticizes the communist regime but demonstrates the willingness of the Chinese to adhere to the goverment's restrictions. "To Live" relastically portrays the hardships endured by many during the regime, but does not completely reveal the audacities of the government. The desire of a quiet runs throughout the film and the director understand the desires of ordinary people. His story reveals the strife and triumph of one family but represents many Chinese families.

A Room with a View

"A Room with a View" focuses around the relatioship of George and Lucy. The two characters live in different worlds, but George intends to show Lucy a view beyond her own. The film revolves around the idea of leaving your view and experiencing another; therefore, allowing you to establish your own and not keep the one that your social class gave you. The film beautifully portrays the freedom of individuals and their ability step beyond their social station. Ivory's film illustrates the idea that a woman can be more than an ornament, she can be a companion and that in life we must search for relationships that encourage equality, exploration, and love.

The Draughtsman's Contract

Peter Greenway's period film takes place in 17th century Britain. "The Draughtsman's Contract" demonstrates the vulgarity and decadence of the time through the character's interactions; however, Greenway unravels the film's plot not in a traditional cinematic style, but he fashions the film more like a painting. All the characters struggle for power and prestige which seems to be the theme. They are less concerned with their actions' effects and more concerned with the overall outcome for themselves. Greenway's characters depict the horrifying capabilties of humans and their ability to go on without concern.

Wings of Desire

"Wings of Desire" serves as a meditative film which reaches the condition of literature.  The film focuses as behavioral study of angels, humans, and animals. Angels are spiritual observers and animals act out their physical and material desires. Humans fall in between angels and animals. Angels can be philisophical but they cannot act. The world continues without them. The opposition bewteen angel and animal constitutes the film. Damien desires to be human. He wants to feel and to doubt. Without mystery, life is boring. As a human, Damien must struggle toward meaning. At the end of the film. Damien finds his connection. Two mechanisms within the film promote the human struggle. The circus conveys life as a spectacle and the old man serves as a story teller. The stories and the circus reflect human existence.

Chinatown

"Chinatown," the neo-noir film by Roman Polanski focuses the relationship between Jake and Evelyn during the California land and water dispute of the 1920s. Evelyn serves as the femme fatale, who often plays a major role in film noir such as "Out of the Past." The alluring Evelyn leads Jake into dangerous and deadly situations. This deadly woman may appear to be the victim and sometimes even is, but she uses her charm and seduction to obtain her desires. Also, she may be seen as an independent woman who resists tradtional gender roles. Evelyn embodies all of these aspects. She coaxes Jake into acting as she wishes, lives independently, and ulimately becomes the victim in Chinatown. In the end Jake is advised to "forget it," but the film serves as an example of the depth of human mystery, deception, capability to harm.

Aguirre, Wrath of God

"Aguirre, Wrath of God" stands perhaps as the weirdest film that I watched or will watch all semester in this class. Klaus Kinski's cult favorite portarys the battle between man and nature. Kinski's film demonstrates the paradox of nature through its beauty and destruction. The character of Aguirre may been seen as a study of the journey into madness. He slowly moves towards insanity throughout the film. Aquirre functions as an example of obession, human delusion, and irrationality. Kinski uses minimalist dialogue and allows the powerful setting and movements of the characters to tell the story.