'Oh! What a Lovely War'

The theatrical production-turn film, Oh! What a Lovely War (1969), is a refreshingly cheery satirical depiction of the First World War, in which we experience its development, as well as the social and political aspects, through the relaying narrative between the Smith family and the European leaders/British aristocracy.

'World War One' in glitzy lights is one of the first scenes we see - it is the first sign the audience sees of the glamorization of war. Propaganda is shown to be an essential link in the process of war; the public is sweetened through marching bands, parades and plays, producing a huge surge of patriotism, thus convincing many to sign up.

The Richard Attenborough film remains intact with its theatrical roots, with most scenes taking place in a simplified reproduction of the Brighton pier, with a backdrop that emulates a misty seaside morning, and has the cast singing sickly sweet songs. Yet its Alice in Wonderland-like twists and seamless transition from scene to scene gives Oh! What a Lovely War a dreamlike quality, in which soldiers horse around on carousels - a scene which is also mainly metaphoric, to symbolize the men galloping into battle. Such scenes of singing and dancing are often interrupted by the reality of war, and there is a constant juxtaposition of the 'keep smiling' and 'keep normal' attitude back home (which reminds me of the scene in Carry On Up the Khyber!) and the facts of the situation; that the soldiers were challenged physically and mentally, driven mad by the experiences they had witnessed, deafened by gunshots and in some cases severely hurt or even dead. Though the upbeat songs of the trenches tend to mask this reality, yet it is only upon listening to the lyrics that one realises the truth. 

Carry On Up the Khyber (1968)

I found this film quite eccentric, which is a quality I enjoy, I had never before seen a film that had theatre as such a huge influence to its final outcome, combined with its almost comic outlook on war. It is also a reasonably easy film to follow, especially in the progression of the First World War, which meant that you needn't know each and every event to enjoy Oh! What a Lovely War. Throughout watching it, I began to gain many ideas for my upcoming props project, which were influenced by the many objects featured in the film.

'The White Ribbon'

The White Ribbon (Das weisse Band) 2009 Michael Haneke

Haneke's The White Ribbon accomplishes a painful sense of Realism through the unidealised way in which the plot is depicted, revealing a quaint pre-war German village to be somewhat of a Pandora's box once the first of the sinister happenings have occurred. 
It has been composed in such a way that it could be mistaken for artwork. The monochromatic film, though made in 2009, retains the gothic essence of silent movies of the 1920's. The moody atmospheric lighting means that the dark is very dark and the lights very light, which I found to heighten the senses, lessening any distractions and adding focus onto the reality of the situations presented. Not only was it the way in which the film had been shot that manipulated the audience into believing it could have been produced decades before, it was also the quality of the characters, script and actors which seemed to compliment each other, thus adding another dimension - as there can be nothing as disappointing as a half-baked film!  

It is refreshing also to watch a film that does not overwork the scenes or script - leaving things unsaid or unseen, forcing the viewer to use the hints provided to work out what has happened, which for a film depicting such monstrosities, it tiptoes around these delicate subjects without leaving the audience feeling short

changed. 

We are reminded also of the shocking inequality of roles of the man and the woman, as well as the fundamental relationships within the family units of the different classes. Showing the stark differences in wealth and quality of life within the social hierarchy - which is thought to be its main objective, yet the moral of the story is that no matter what one's financial situation is, happiness is not guaranteed, but if one does have money it creates the illusion of happiness to the outsider, and it is only once becoming a fly on the wall, such as in this film, that you can only begin to see past the facade. 
Not only is the contrast in classes a strong theme, but so are death and violence, which combined with poverty and hardship, strongly opposes with the unexpected blossoming of love of the school teacher. The theme of innocence also has an important part to play; innocence so desperately trying to be preserved, is at the same time being quashed by the happenings of everyday life - the cycle of life and death, which is repeatedly reminded throughout the film.