A2 C2SD Experimental Film: Daisies & SMV

Question 1

“the action of observing or testing; an observation, test, or trial”. Name the term.

Answer 1

Experiment

Question 2

What does ‘avant-garde’ mean, literally?

Answer 2

advanced guard (French)
The term refers to art that is innovative, introducing or exploring new forms or subject matter

Question 3

What is an auteur?

Answer 3

An individual, usually the director, who creates a consistent signature in terms of both style and themes across a body of work.

Question 4

‘ so profound that you might think she had an entire career behind it’
Which film is being referred to?

Answer 4

Saute Ma Ville (Chantal Ackerman, 1968)

Question 5

Who directed Saute Ma Ville, and in which year?

Answer 5

Chantal Ackerman, 1968

Question 6

Who directed Daisies, and in which year?

Answer 6

Vera Chytilova, 1966

Question 7

‘A surrealist exploration of feminist issues in a politically repressive society’
Which film is being referred to?

Answer 7

Daisies (Vera Chytilova, 1966)

Question 8

There is no involvement, no
conventional chronology, no psychological
development…no narration’
Which film is being referred to?

Answer 8

Daisies (Vera Chytilova, 1966)

Question 9

What are the key differences between film movements and film genres?

Answer 9

Genres are defined via shared, conscious use of codes and conventions which both producers and audiences understand, rather than historical or geographical boundaries.
Film movements are defined by the activities and practices of specific directors, often working in specific, brief moments in time and place.

Question 10

Name three film movements

Answer 10

Czech New Wave, French New Wave, Italian Neo-realism, New German Cinema, German Expressionism; New Queer Cinema etc etc.

Question 11

To which film movement did Vera Chytilova belong?

Answer 11

Czech New Wave

Question 12

Name the place where most members of the CNW learned to make films

Answer 12

The Film and Television School of the Academy of the Performing Arts in Prague (FAMU)

Question 13

When did the CNW start and end?

Answer 13

1963-1966

Question 14

Identify three common features of CNW films.

Answer 14

A wry & dark humour, bawdiness, absurdity, pathos, and sometimes startling surrealism

Question 15

Name three films other than Daisies by Vera Chytilova.

Answer 15

Fruit of Paradise, Traps, Tainted Horseplay, A Bagful of Fleas, Something Different.

Question 16

Name the two protagonists in Daisies

Answer 16

Marie 1 & Marie 2

Question 17

What does the protagonist in Saute Ma Ville put out of her window (hopefully onto the balcony!)?

Answer 17

A black cat

Question 18

What does the protagonist in Saute Ma Ville drink during the film?

Answer 18

Half a bottle of red wine

Question 19

Name three CNW films

Answer 19

Black Peter, Something Different, A Blonde In Love, Daisies, The Ear, Closely Observed Trains, The Fireman’s Ball, The Cremator.

Question 20

Name three CNW directors

Answer 20

Vera Chytilova, Milos Foreman, Jiri Menzel, Stefan Uher, Ivan Passer, Jaromil Jires

Question 21

Both Ackerman and Chytilova were heavily influenced by a French new Wave director. What is his name?

Answer 21

Jean-Luc Godard

Question 22

Ackerman names a specific film by Godard which made her want to make films. What is its title?

Answer 22

Pierrot Le Fou (1965). Chytilova is also clearly influenced by this film.

Question 23

David Bordwell identifies some key features of the narratives of experimental films. How many can you list?

Answer 23

Narratives are explicitly against the classical narrative mode.
Looser narratives and looser sense of cause and effect.
Narratives have a drifting, episodic quality
A realistic cinema with use of real locations
Characters may lack defined desires and goals
Violations of classical film time and space – e.g. jump cuts,

Question 24

In what ways does auteur theory challenge the industrial (Hollywood) model of filmmaking?

Answer 24

It is an individualistic model, with the idea of ‘inner meaning’ & the importance of the director’s personal experiences, influences, world view and intentions.
It is based on the idea of the filmmaker as an artist with creative freedom
It does not consider the significance of pre-existing codes and conventions (i.e. genre)
It does not consider the needs of the audience.

Question 25

‘Her distinctive, choleric bitterness had less to do with her personality than with the constant frustration that comes with being under condescending [male] scrutiny, be it of the totalitarian or democratic kind’.
Who could this be?

Answer 25

Vera Chytilova

Question 26

‘I have no desire to………………….’ what?

Answer 26

‘…cuddle my audience’ (VC)

Question 27

Identify three uses of experimental film techniques in Daisies

Answer 27

Montage inc. Kuleshov effect
Expressive use of colour
Jump cuts
Loose narrative with little cause and effect or motivation

Question 28

Explain distanciation

Answer 28

This is a specific effect created initially in Brechtian theatre. Brecht wanted to “distance” or “alienate” his audience from his characters so that they become objective observers who would not identify individually with characters emotionally & psychologically.
He believed that they would then be able to make considered, rational and intelligent judgements about any social comment or issues in his work.
He saw this as a way to combat the manipulation of emotions in theatre, film & propaganda.

Question 29

Identify three film techniques which create alienation or distanciation.

Answer 29

Use of direct audience address/ breaking the ‘fourth wall’
Drawing attention to construction of the film, often by removing some cinematic codes
Creation of flat, archetypal characters with little emotional depth
Removal of most character motivation
Use of slapstick, absurdity and exaggerated gesture
Use of montage, split screen/collage
Stop-start, episodic or loose narrative - open or ambiguous endings
Signs, posters, placards, subtitles
‘Stagey’ or unconvincing locations, costumes & props
Exaggerated cinematography, ‘uncomfortable’ framing
Voice over to draw attention to construction of the diegesis

Question 30

What is another word or phrase for the ‘Verfremdungseffekt’ ?

Answer 30

V-effect, alienation, distanciation, distancing

Question 31

“I was daring enough to want absolute _____________,
even if it was a __________.” VC

Answer 31

freedom
mistake

Question 32

Identify two key reasons for Vera Chytilova not wanting to be regarded as a feminist, despite the content of her films.

Answer 32

1. VC was a highly individualistic person and filmmaker, who did not want to be part of any group.
2. In 1960s Eastern Europe (inc. Czechoslovakia) , where the struggle between social classes was seen as the primary source of inequalities, the activism of western (i.e. US) feminism tended to be ridiculed or belittled and viewed as a posturing western import.

“I’m an enemy of stupidity and simple-mindedness in both men and women.” VC