Fallen Angels Essay
Experimental film – Fallen Angels: Explore how far ‘Fallen Angels’ challenges conventional approaches to narrative.
Wong Kar Wai’s 1995 film challenges conventional narrative choices in many ways including structure, camera shooting styles, and the way scenes are constructed. With also thematical and genre style differences too. One scene in particular featuring very unconventional narrative choices would be the montage sequence involving forcing a man to eat ice cream, and going into stores after they’ve closed to rob them of their goods. Nothing like this would be seen in a mainstream movie. For this reason, it is quite a shock to see the events unfold and makes us somewhat question what is actually going on? Not only this but its comedic too, the dark humour is executed well however one must consider whether an audience of long-time experimental films would find it humorous in the same way audience who are not familiar with experimental films. This whole sequence aesthetically feels very realistic and the mise en scene gives the impression that this could very well be someone's life in Hong Kong, and most likely is someone's real house or apartment. Compared to Hollywood blockbusters which rarely film on location in someone's real house, its always made up of sets and studio lots. Furthermore, in this scene, and the whole film for that matter, the use of a close-up wide shot is heavily forced upon us, these types of shots were specifically pin pointed by the director who stated it was a ‘banana shot’ due to the faces of actors on screen appearing in the shape of a banana. Wide shots are not uncommon in conventional productions however weaving in a close up emphasises the direction of the film and the willingness to take risks. In terms of the narrative structure from start to finish, there is no real structure whatsoever. Events happen in a fairly chronological order yet scenes are cut into the middle of other scenes depicting events which happen in the same location just not at the same time. This is a big theme running throughout how people occupy the same space just not necessarily at the same time, and this can make for a very lonely time and place, evidently shown in ‘Fallen Angels’. Conventionally, films contain a protagonist and antagonist as well as memorable supporting characters and a narrative to which the protagonist has moments of greatness and also low points to follow to a resolution. However, in ‘Fallen Angels’ there are no key characters we feel a strong connection too, purely characters who appear on screen complete an act then continue with their life. In the credits one actor is simply known as ‘Man forced to have his clothes washed’. In some aspects it resembles a documentary style approach with the authenticity of Hong Kong and the life of people living there. Yet it also feels to abstract for a documentary, hence the impact experimental films can have on many spectators and the wide-reaching capability they encompass. Experimental films are purely ‘something new’ in its style and approach to filmmaking therefore can push the boundaries to what is in the final production and ultimately has to be commended even if nothing makes sense.
Wong Kar Wai’s 1995 film challenges conventional narrative choices in many ways including structure, camera shooting styles, and the way scenes are constructed. With also thematical and genre style differences too. One scene in particular featuring very unconventional narrative choices would be the montage sequence involving forcing a man to eat ice cream, and going into stores after they’ve closed to rob them of their goods. Nothing like this would be seen in a mainstream movie. For this reason, it is quite a shock to see the events unfold and makes us somewhat question what is actually going on? Not only this but its comedic too, the dark humour is executed well however one must consider whether an audience of long-time experimental films would find it humorous in the same way audience who are not familiar with experimental films. This whole sequence aesthetically feels very realistic and the mise en scene gives the impression that this could very well be someone's life in Hong Kong, and most likely is someone's real house or apartment. Compared to Hollywood blockbusters which rarely film on location in someone's real house, its always made up of sets and studio lots. Furthermore, in this scene, and the whole film for that matter, the use of a close-up wide shot is heavily forced upon us, these types of shots were specifically pin pointed by the director who stated it was a ‘banana shot’ due to the faces of actors on screen appearing in the shape of a banana. Wide shots are not uncommon in conventional productions however weaving in a close up emphasises the direction of the film and the willingness to take risks. In terms of the narrative structure from start to finish, there is no real structure whatsoever. Events happen in a fairly chronological order yet scenes are cut into the middle of other scenes depicting events which happen in the same location just not at the same time. This is a big theme running throughout how people occupy the same space just not necessarily at the same time, and this can make for a very lonely time and place, evidently shown in ‘Fallen Angels’. Conventionally, films contain a protagonist and antagonist as well as memorable supporting characters and a narrative to which the protagonist has moments of greatness and also low points to follow to a resolution. However, in ‘Fallen Angels’ there are no key characters we feel a strong connection too, purely characters who appear on screen complete an act then continue with their life. In the credits one actor is simply known as ‘Man forced to have his clothes washed’. In some aspects it resembles a documentary style approach with the authenticity of Hong Kong and the life of people living there. Yet it also feels to abstract for a documentary, hence the impact experimental films can have on many spectators and the wide-reaching capability they encompass. Experimental films are purely ‘something new’ in its style and approach to filmmaking therefore can push the boundaries to what is in the final production and ultimately has to be commended even if nothing makes sense.
Comments
Post a Comment