Exam Question Response

"How far does the impact of the films you have studied for this topic depend on distinctive uses of film techniques?" [35] 

An impact I got from the film was how many cultures there are in Paris; 60 different nationalities live in the one area. In the opening scene where we are introduced to the main three characters, Saïd, Vinz and Hubert, you are not only introduced to the three characters but you're shown their cultures.

The first main character you are introduced to is Saïd. There is a zoom used to capture Saïd, the shot started at a mid-shot and zoomed into a close up of his face revealing him opening his eyes. This shot suggests to me, that the film is trying to open the audiences eyes to the cultures/ issues in Paris. He is in the centre of the frame. The shot then changes to a shot to the back of his head, another zoom is used here to get closer to Saïd's head but then the camera tilts upwards and over his head to capture the line and group of Police men. A pan is then used to capture the line of police whilst they stand guarding the van's. This is shot in a mid-shot. The camera pans to the back of the last van to see a mid-shot of Saïd writing on the back. This is where you are shown Saïd's culture because he has written his name and 'Fuck the Police' in Arabic.

The writing on the back of the Police van.

Also in this clip you are introduced to another main character's culture. There is a long shot of main character Vinz dancing underground. The low key lighting and the location suggests that not many people are aware of his culture. The style of dancing and the diegetic music that is used shows Vinz's culture- he's Jewish. A low angle and a close up of Vinz is used to show him sleeping. In the background non-diegetic music is played which is also Jewish emphasising his culture. A close up is used to show Vinz's identity because of the big gold ring on his finger reads his name 'Vinz'. The camera pans around his room, there is no sense of his culture captured in the mis-en-scene and it seems very Westernised because of the posters of people like Marilyn Monroe and a WWF wrestler. The to me that the posters and the westernised style room suggests that being Jewish isn't Vinz's only culture and that he looks up at and admires the more Westernised culture.

WWF Wrestler and Marilyn Monroe posters: Westernised Culture.

The shot then cuts to the dining room where you are shot Vinz and Saïd having breakfast with Vinz's family. You can see the families culture through the mis-en-scene used. Behind Vinz on a cupboard you can see well-known Jewish candle- menorah. You can also hear Vinz's grandmother talk about synagogue.

You can see the Jewish items on the cupboard behind Vinz. 

You can also tell that Vinz is influenced and looks up at Western culture because of the shot of him in the bathroom. He is reenacting a scene from the film 'Taxi Driver' which is an American film.

'Taxi Driver' film Vinz is reenacting

 The third character that you are introduced to in this scene is Hubert. You see him punching a punch bag in his gym that has been destroyed during the riots. To capture him punching the bag, he has been shot in a long shot. The mise-en-scene used shows Hubert wearing a cross necklace. I think that this could suggest that he is of a Christian culture. However, unlike Saïd and Vinz you aren't shown as much information on Hubert in this particular clip, you see his background and his story later on in the film.