Soviet Montage and Formalism
Pudovkin insisted that cinema use images to create new meanings. Using lengthy shots would resemble reality too closely, therefore Pudovkin said that only close ups, symbols and other details be used to express the filmmaker's message. The Kuleshov effect is using the juxtaposition of images to create meaning. He did an experiment with experienced actors and juxtaposed different images and achieved an effect that brings meaning to the scene. The Eisensteinian montage is the use of sharply contrasting images. He believed that each shot needed to be incomplete so that in the edit, juxtaposing images will bring meaning to the film. In the Odessa Steps sequence, Eisenstein uses this method to create a sense of hopelessness amongst chaos by juxtaposing images of the chaotic running, to close-ups of the individuals, to the uniform and orderliness of the soldiers.
Andre Bazin and Realism
Andre Bazin was frustrated that classical and formalistic cutting didn't reflect reality as cinema should. He believed that by cutting the film, the director's intention and interpretation of reality is being imposed on the audience. He also argued that the editor is placing his own analysis of reality by cutting the film a certain way. Realist filmmakers strive to create the illusion of reality. Their goal is to bet recreate reality for the audience. Cutting to close ups would be forcing the audience to see certain things so instead Bazin liked deep focus and long shots. These techniques give the audience the chance to form their own opinions of the scene.
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