Winter break homework

 "The director is always the most important influence on a film" Compare how far your TWO films support this statement. 

Some mass audiences would rather turn to the belief that the actors and actresses are always the most important influence on a film due to themselves actually being the main focus; however, compared to more niche, indie films or films directed by true auteurs can transpose this opinion. In fact, the influence a director withholds is the driving force of the film; if the actual movie is either extremely self-conscious of the director, reflecting personal aspects, or if the film is a biopic dramatising the life of a historical individual, the director will always have a recognisable influence as their own personal style and ideologies may always be revealed through film form. In this essay I will be comparing "Sunset Boulevard" directed by Billy Wilder and "Bonnie and Clyde" directed by Arthur Penn. Both films are incredible cinema classics and attract wide audiences by gaging into representational issues and political agendas related to production contexts and historical contexts embedded within sequences. Both directors have an urge to make a societal differences, in this case, both films exhibit the idea of "femme fatale", Wilder and Penn create their distinctive authorship and influence by exposing their inclination with the powerful and independent women; yet in both films these dynamical women are accompanied by a man. 

Firstly, Sunset Boulevard dives into the ageing and fading actress Norma Desmond, the star of the silent screen; Joe, a script doctor who is mistaken constantly and is out of work, being rejected by Paramount. The film touches on female mental health disorders, especially the delusion of Norma Desmond, for example, she believes the camera press are filming her script Salome. Additionally, Wilder actually immigrated from Austria, we recognise in his work that many characters in his films mimic his "outsider" life; Joe being an "outsider" to Paramount, the character is unwanted, similar to Wilder's early days in the film industry. Just from the exposition of this film I can already recognise as a spectator Wilder's influence, Wilder enjoys to criticise controversial issues that aren't spoken about in time, he pushes into the script uncomfortable boundaries that must be unravelled - female mental health. Furthermore, supporting the statement, Wilder most certainly has the most important influence on the film as even his personal life is reflected through the character Joe; the little hints that are placed within the films of successful auteurs are definitely purposeful, highlighting how their influence travels through not only directing a scenes staging and acting but the actual complete sequence itself. Moreover, the genre of the film edges towards "film noir", an extremely stylistic genre of film that encapsulates lighting, mood and atmosphere, settings and most technical features. This style of film is certainly symbolic of the story line and is correct in its use, as touched upon earlier 'femme fatale' regards the woman that doesn't conform to the average stereotype. Norma Desmond is the epitome of this expression, the film noir genre relating to moral darkness and ambiguity combine smoothly with the deception of this intriguing female lead who in fact displays vulnerability but contains a deep duplicity within herself that truly recognises her lacking relevance. 

One of the most iconic visual elements of Sunset Boulevard is Norma’s grandiose and somewhat dilapidated mansion. It stands as a signifier of Norma’s tendency to cling to the lavish lifestyle that she established as a silent film actress and its state of disrepair reflects her inability to maintain that lifestyle. The decision of choosing the foyer of the mansion as the setting for the film’s final sequence is profound as several elements of the space shine a light on Norma’s twisted mental state. The dark interior that surrounds her in the second shot of the sequence was a staple of silent films due to how it made actors stand out when set against it, and the dramatic decor scattered about—sconces, statues and an intricate tapestry—further adds to the old film set aesthetic. This environment practically begs its inhabitants to slip into character as Norma does in this sequence as Salome and did earlier in the film when performing for Joe as Charlie Chaplin. More noteable yet is what we see behind Max in the first couple seconds of the first shot of the sequence: the front door of the mansion guarded by two police officers. This is Norma’s destination and it’s the most important threshold in her story as it represents the barrier between a fantasy of lasting relevance and the real world that moves along without her. Norma’s means of reaching the exit is a downward spiraling staircase with a banister also decorated with spiral imagery. Norma’s descent down the spiral works on a literal and metaphoric level, as she becomes most separated from reality during her monologue at the base of the stairs. If stripped of all the actors and cameras, the setting alone would tell a story of a person trapped in a mythic past whose only means of escape is a descent into madness. Wilder includes an immense amount of symbolism in this final sequence, clearly his influence is evident here as only a true auteur such as Wilder himself would have the capability to include such a variety of elements of film form to establish this emblematic feel to the downward spiralling life of Norma Desmond. Wilder's film form choices here are impeccable and true to the reality of the film, sustaining believability and enhancing his influence on the film. 

In comparison, Arthur Penn follows a similar style to Wilder in the idea of a leading female role and the power of "femme fatale". Both films follow duplicity; the choice of a normal or unjust life for Bonnie - the choice to except your downfall or desperately climb your way to the inevitable truth for Norma Desmond. However, what makes the difference in these two films is the production contexts and time period. For Arthur Penn "New Hollywood" has arrived, a younger generation of actors pushed by the heart of 1960s; San Fransisco and the LGBT movement, Pacifism, Vietnam, Civil rights, Liberal politics, youth culture and most importantly the feminist movement. These cultural contexts play a vital role in the influence of film. Penn took notice of the occurrences in society and embedded these new ideologies in Bonnie and Clyde, for example, the masculine characteristics of Bonnie. 1967 was truly the heart of the second feminist movement, the protests for equality, liberalism and pacifism. Arthur Penn most certainly implements these production contexts into the intense and sexual character of Bonnie Parker, a young women unsatisfied with her "quality of life", desperate for an adventurous escape from her midst of boredom. Firstly, Bonnie is an invigorated person, she would rather not comply to how society wants her to be, perhaps the first meeting of Clyde provides her a sense of relief and distraction of her since conformed lifestyle. Bonnie is quick to jump on the band wagon with Clyde, stealing her mothers car, immediately Bonnie represents the opposite of "feminine expectations" of the 30's, to be so quick and accepting into the world of injustice was simply unheard of within women at the time. As the film continues, I noticed how Bonnie presents rather masculine attributes and risky characteristics. Bonnie has an intense fascination into rebellion and criminality, prevalent within the younger generation of the 1960's, this counter-types the representation of women in the films time period, her eagerness for rebellion overrides her "feminine decency" and instead replaces it. Furthermore, she especially shows interest into guns and aggression; when Bonnie and Clyde meet Clyde's brother and wife they decide to take some photos, Bonnie makes the choice of putting a cigar in her mouth and hold a machine gun in a masculine pose. Clearly she displays a fascination into violence, symbolising her independence and fearlessnes. Perhaps Penn directs this in order to be representative of the increasing ideology of feminine empowerment, that women may be independent and can rely on their own strength for their well-being. 

However, the influence of the director can vary due to this point. Although the production contexts in Sunset Boulevard do have a relevant influence to the film, such as the studio system and the star system taking over the industry, Wilder still holds the most influence as he not only reflects personal experiences and regrets within the film, but also is a genius with genre and film form, his choices reflecting how truly powerful symbolism can be to reflect an emotion and metaphor. Personally, as a spectator I believe that Penn has been influenced by cultural and production contexts of the time period; although these significant occurrences provided for a huge liberal jump in cinemas, Penn based his ideas not only from a historical couple but also the progression of society in order to make the film for the masses. As Bonnie and Clyde is a biopic, it doesn't reflect any of Penn's personal experiences like Sunset Boulevard, I can assume that factual information and societal differences are the main influences on Bonnie and Clyde. As the film reflects more of the 60's than the actual time period of the 30's and digresses from traditional ideas, I assume that Penn most certainly took into account that a more progressive interpretation of the infamous story would rake in a higher revenue, making him a less important influence and the societal changes to take the position of most important. 

In conclusion, the director is a huge influence on a film, after all, their decisions and technical choices are what manifests a film to be the professional entertainment we see on the screen. Wilder is most certainly a film auteur, his ability to include a variety of representations in his own personal styles of film form project him to be the most important influence in Sunset Boulevard; Wilder's own experiences are massively integrated into the classic and the inclusion of the star/studio system in Norma and Joe reflect what he has seen in the film industry. In comparison, Bonnie and Clyde is a docudrama that follows the narrative of an already existing criminal couple; as the film is a biopic, factual information provides for most of the influence, of course, Penn has a massive role in creating an enthralling experience for the spectators through his direction, however his influence is preempted by the cultural contexts of the 60's combined with the encapsulating story of Bonnie and Clyde.