Formalism

Sergei Eisenstein; I dare say alot of people will have heard of Sergei Eisenstein but not known a great deal about him, and I am no different, I knew he was Russian and a film-maker. That's about the extent. Having now seen his film, "Battleship Potemkin" I can see why he is so renowned. Early films always seem to be lacking when compared to today's smash hits, yet in Battleship Potemkin one can clearly see a step towards what we have today. The camera angles are more adventurous the cuts more decisive and every frame adds to the story. A shot of the trailing smoke from the ships stacks tells of movement instead of shooting a shot in front of the ship with it getting closer or from the front of the ship moving towards something.

Expressionism

12/03
The Cabinet of Dr Calgari;
A film that shows the beginnings of the film industry as we know it today. For a start it is completely fiction. The whole story take place in the mind of the main character. This film shows the extremes that often filtered onto the screen during this period, pessimism, anger and distortion that reflect the state of the nation at the end of WWI.

Metropolis;
Futuristic and modern, a film that resembles many modern sci-fi movies. A story about equality between rich and poor, working class and the 'academics' of the society. Thus the film has a dark undertone, again these hints of pessimism and distortion show through.