LONG ESSAY
You will write about ONE of the following two films: Alfonso Cuarón’s Roma or Ciro Guerra’s The Wind Journeys.
Why these two films? Because, in their own unique ways, both films embody each and every one of the subjects touched upon in class: the resurgence of a vibrant, continental cinema as a result of a series of national and international incentives, co-productions with other countries and the rise of digital methods of production and delivery; an embrace of genre; a cinema where the political becomes personal and viceversa; a cinema where the artistic and the commercial are not at war with each other;the treatment of Latin America’s indigenous cultures from their perspective, etc.
For this assignment, I expect you to do some basic research on the making of both films. Feel free to follow that research wherever it takes you. You will be required to support your arguments with specific scenes from the chosen film. You are expected to analyze at these scenes both thematically and cinematically.
These are some of the issues you might want to consider as you watch your chosen film and think about the assignment.
For Roma (available through Netflix):
The portrayal of Cleo, the lead character in the film. How does it compare with the indigenous characters we have seen throughout the term? Are critics of the film right in condemning Cuarón for his portrayal of Cleo (some critics feel that he didn’t provide her with a point of view or much of a background story).
Film as memory: how Cuarón represents a slice of Mexico history. Keep in mind that this is a very personal film for him.
Portrayal of key historical moments.
Commonalities with Y tu mamá también? Differences?
For The Wind Journeys:
This was Ciro’s second film and yet it shares some visual and even thematic elements in common with his third film Embrace of the Serpent. Compare and contrast the two films.
In its own weird way, you could consider The Wind Journeys a road movie. In what ways does it conform and in what ways does it break away from the genre?
The role of landscape in the film: how it reflects or highlights the protagonists’ journey?
Length: 1200-1500 words
