minutes on each

12
24
24
60

Lesson 1
Hollywood Film

What do you know about Foreign Films?

Do you know any of their conventions?
How are they different from Hollywood films?
Think about:
Visual Style - Mise-en-scene & camerawork
Characters
Themes - Social & Cultural Influences?
Production & Context - Budget, actors, SFX

Lesson Objectives:

To understand the conventions of Non-Hollywood Films

To understand how films from outside Hollywood have an impact on Hollywood

Place the convention

Non-Hollywood
Actio
n-

Pack
ed

CGI

Lo

u
B
w

e
s
a
e
l
e Re

t
e
g
d

se s

v
a
e
H
e
u
g
o
l
Dia
Gritty

m
s
i
l
a
e
R

Slow-Paced

s
e
m
e
h
T
x
e
l
C o mp

s
e
i
r
o
t
S
l
a
Person
Blockbu
sters
Conventional
Narrative

Unrealistic

gs
n
i
d
n
E
y
p
p
a

Hollywood

Heroes

Remakes

Stars

d
i
w
d
l
Wor

Franch
i

Emotiv
e
Mise-e
n-scen

Indepen
d

ent

Stylish Camerawork

Lesson Objectives:

To understand the conventions of Non-Hollywood Films

To understand how films from outside Hollywood have an impact on Hollywood

Artistic

Artistic
Gritty

Heroes

How are the trailers & posters for these

films different?

Let The Right One In

Let Me In

(2008, Tomas Alfredson)

(2010, Matt Reeves)

Lesson Objectives:

To understand the conventions of Non-Hollywood Films

To understand how films from outside Hollywood have an impact on Hollywood

What impact might foreign

films have on Hollywood?
Advantages

Disadvantages

Loss of income
More
Loss of audience
New
Ideas
from abroad Competition
for Blockbusters
Established audiences Bad Reviews
for remakes
for remakes

New Talent

Multi-cultural
cinema
Wider audience

Lesson Objectives:

To understand the conventions of Non-Hollywood Films

To understand how films from outside Hollywood have an impact on Hollywood

Exploring Film and Escapism

WATCH the first clip
WATCH the second clip

def: the avoidance of reality by

absorption of the mind in
What
does this word mean?
entertainment

Avatar

Which clip did you get engaged with more? Can you try to say why?

Hidden

Subtitles
How many subtitled films have you
watched all the way through?
If you haven't watched many, what do
you think it is about subtitles that puts
you off?
Is it because foreign films do not have
recognisable actors/stars?
Or is it something to do with reading
whilst watching?
Or something else?

Lesson 2
Spanish Cinema

Cinematic Expectations
You are going to watch a Spanish film - what are
your first impressions about this? What do you
think this film experience will be like?

Be honest, but try to say why you think like this.

Which one of these 3 posters would make you go and see the film over the other 2, and why?

The Spanish Wave/ Influence on Cinema

As you watch the Spanish film, try to make comparisons in your

head between Spanish cinema and Hollywood films about young
people like...

Institutional and Cultural Context

Spanish/Mexican Production
Director = Guillermo Del Toro
- Hollywood and non-Hollywood film-maker eg., Blade 2

Why would a director want to:a) Work in the Hollywood industry?

b) Work away from it, in another non-Hollywood industry?
c) What does this say about Hollywood, and the films it makes?
d) What do you learn about Del Toro from this youtube clip?

The Director's Intention

What draws you to all these dark creatures in your work?

"Actually, normally I write and direct movies that show the monster
as a creature more human than the humans." Del Toro

Compare Del Toro's attitude towards his "dark" characters to

the "baddies" in a lot of Hollywood films, such as the one's
shown below.

Different Types of Knowledge

1) What does this famous painting by Pablo Picasso tell you about
the Spanish Civil War?
2) What can you learn about The Spanish Civil War from this
picture compared to the opening clip from 'The Devil's Backbone'?
3) Now, with a partner, argue for and against which TEXT (film,
painting) tells you more about the Spanish Civil War.

1) What different knowledge does reading text books on The Spanish Civil War give
you that paintings and films cannot?

2) What are the advantages of watching a fictionalised (made up) account of the
Spanish Civil War, such as from 'The Devil's Backbone' over written text from a
book?

1) What different knowledge does reading text books on The Spanish Civil War give
you that paintings and films cannot?

2) What are the advantages of watching a fictionalised (made up) account of the
Spanish Civil War, such as from 'The Devil's Backbone' over written text from a
book?

Main areas of focus, study and revision for The Devil's Backbone:

Characters/Props
Events
Themes
Settings/Locations
Representation

1.
Characters

 Use the stills below to create a list of words that define Carlos'
personality.

CHARACTER - Carlos - Hero/Protagonist

How are the AUDIENCE made to feel sympathy for Carlos in the early scenes?
Don't just think about the story (characters and action)
Also, how his character is filmed - think about the scene where he runs after the leaving car

CHARACTER - Carlos - Hero/Protagonist

Heroic Carlos - In what later scenes does Carlos do something the audience
would ADMIRE?
In terms of FILM TECHNIQUES, how are the AUDIENCE persuaded
to like and IDENTIFY with Carlos?
Consider:Eg., In this 2 shot, Carlos is framed to show how he is the
1 Camera
equal of the bully, Jaime, even though he is physically weaker
2 Sound
3 Mise-en-Scene

High angle shot of Carlos

highlighting his vulnerability
and with the bomb in the
foreground it re-emphasizes
the danger he is in.
Carlos has an inquisitive and curious
nature, acting as the "detective" in the film,
finding out about Santi etc
This scene shows how Carlos is the one
character who truly bridges the ADULT/CHILD
worlds

 identify the character

give a reason why there is
conflict
give an example of this
conflict from a specific
scene

Character Rela+onships.
One way to spot dierences between the characters is by nding out
their character binary opposites

Carlos

Santi

Living

Dead

Whole

Ghost/Transparent

(Living in the) Present

(Trapped in the) Past

Inexperienced/New

Experienced/Old

Dr Casares
Old
Good
Honest
Caring
Wise

Jacinto

Now try your own for hero Carlos and antagonist Jacinto
(This will help with question 1c)

Carlos

Jacinto

CHARACTER - Jacinto - Antagonist

Sexually Domineering?

The sex scene between Jacinto and Carmen tells the audience a lot about Jacinto.
Apart from using the opportunity to get access to Carmen's keys, why else do you think Jacinto cheats
on his girlfriend Conchita?
Consider Carmen's position in the orphanage, and also Dr. Caseras

What do these shots tell you, the

audience, about the way Jacinto
views women?

CHARACTER - Jacinto - Antagonist

A Big Fish in a Small Pond?
How is Jacinto shown as
the dominant force in the
opening of the film?
Is Jacinto a coward? Why
is he still at The Orphanage,
during the War?

CHARACTER - Jacinto - Antagonist

Sympathetic?
CLIP ANALYSIS - 'Climax 12 minutes'
What does this clip and these stills tell us about what
else is (most) important to him? Think about why he
wants the gold.

What is the relevance of this

photograph?

Describe Jacinto's
facial expression

Does your attitude to his character ALTER in any way due to this scene?

Spanish Cinema antagonists v Hollywood

Cartoon Villains
How are Hollywood Villains different to Jacinto's character?

Do a PERSON PROFILE of both these characters

Which character.........
Most complex/complicated?
We identify with the most?
Goes through the biggest change?
Story is based around?
We feel the most sympathy for?
Most 'Un-Hollywood'
We dislike the most?
Keeps the narrative moving forward?
Main?

2.
(a) Name one female character in your chosen film. (1)
(b) Briefly describe this character. (3)
(c) Explain the importance of this characters role in the
film. (6)
(d) How is gender represented in a key sequence from
your chosen film? (10)
[20]

(d) How is gender represented in a key sequence from your chosen film? (10)

males/females

stereotypically
non-stereotypically
positive
negative
strong
weak

Think of a key scene from the

film where Conchita's female
character goes through a key
change.

Points the shotgun at Jacinto

Stabbing scene

Lesson Objective:

Exam Preparation: To analyse the themes

and issues covered in our key text The
Devil's Backbone.

 What do you think is meant by themes and

issues?
Where have we looked at this previously?

Theme/Issue:
A recurring idea or scenario
which is explored throughout the
storyline of a film.

self-sacrice

moral
dilemmas

good vs evil

Superhero
themes &
Issues

right vs wrong

Heroics

society needs
saving

Socialism

Fascism

A system of social equality

A system where one person has all the
where the control and ownership power and controls society, by
oppression and violence if necessary.
of land and power is shared
amongst a group.
Values: Equality, society, teamwork, fairness

'Republicans'

'Reds'

Popular Front
Government

Values: Power, hate, greed, violence, discrimination

'Nationalists'

'Monarchists'

General Franco

Themes:
Make a table like the one below
List the main themes in the column headers

War & Violence

(Bullying)

Socialism
v fascism

Entrapment
in amber

Waiting

4 Examples

Key Scene
key characters?

Task:
Split up in to the groups shown.
Each group has been given a theme from The Devil's Backbone.
Collaborate in your groups and complete the worksheet
Feed back to the rest of the class - completing the table that
covers all 5 themes and issues

Groups & Themes

War & Violence

Entrapment (in amber)

Socialism vs Fascism

Waiting

War & Violence

War/Violence

Key Scene: "Ending/Jacinto death..."

Waiting

Jacinto:

Santi:

Jaime:

Waiting

Bomb:

Orphans:

Everyone in
the orphanage:

Conchita:

Entrapment (in amber)

Entrapment

Key Scene: Closing montage "What is a ghost?..."

Socialism vs Fascism

Socialism
v Fascism

Key Scene: "Ending - Jacinto death"

Ghosts/The Past

Ghosts/Past

Key Scene: "Pit / water jug scene."

Children & Adults

Children
& Adults

Key Scene: "Limbo water, or, Jaime/Conchita ring"

CHARACTER - Jacinto - Antagonist

A Physical Representation of Fascism?
a person who is dictatorial
A DEFINITION
A governmental
system led by a
dictator having
complete power,
forcibly suppressing
opposition and
criticism, regimenting
all industry,
commerce, etc., and
emphasizing an
aggressive nationalism
and often racism.

"Orphanage reflects the

Spanish civil-war but on a
smaller scale"
"Jacinto represents fascism"
"Jacinto is power-hungry and
uses violence to get what he
wants"
"The boys work together and
are equal like socialists"
""Jacinto is a dictator and like
the mammoth, is killed by the
group of boys working
together, even though they
are weaker"

24 mins

Terminology!!!!

Theme: War & Violence(or) Socialism vs fascism

Choose a theme above, watch 'Jacinto's death' scene and
answer question 2(c)

Concentrating on the mise-en-scene and sound, how does this

sequence reflect the theme you have chosen? (24mins)

note
taking...

Mise-en-scene
Colour

Lighting

Setting/Location

Props

Costumes/Make-up

sound
non-diegetic

diegetic

dialogue
(quotes)

sound-effects

music - pace/tempo

1. Socialism vs Fascism

A*?

Do a brainstorm of each picture above - what do you see

(denotation) and what thoughts and feelings does they encourage
(connotation)?
Consider these film stills and what you have seen, what do you
think are the differences between the TWO ideologies (big ideas)

Think about the different ways you are taught - what are the positives and
negatives when taught in a strict way, and in a less strict way. Which do
you prefer and why?

A/A* - Symbolism!
Are there any connections between the Spanish civil war and the
main storyline in The Devils Backbone?
List as many as you can

Guns
Firing Line
Explosions & Bomb
Fighting
Group vs Powerful Individual
Poor living conditions
Lack of food
Fear of fascists/dictator

question paper 2012

 What are some of the key props in the storyline of The Devil's
Backbone?

Devil's Backbone
PROPS

Props...
3.
(a) Briefly identify one important prop in your chosen film. (2)
(b) Why is this prop important, what does it represent? (3)

gold bars
amber jars
shotgun
wooden leg
bomb
knife
photos in safe
'spears'
plastic 'ring' (cigar band)

Prop

Bomb

1 Character
associated
with the prop

Santi

Themes the
prop could
represent?
War & Violence!(civilwar reminder, dropped by
enemy)
Waiting (to go off,
characters waiting etc)

Major or Minor
Significance/importance of
the prop in the film's story?
Minor importance to storyline!
At the heart of the orphanage, represents
Santi's death - a reminder to Jaime/Jacinto.
Carlos talks to the bomb - communicates
with Santi via it.

3.
(a) Briefly describe one important event in your chosen film. (2)
(b) Why is this event important? (3)
(c) How is film language used to show this event? Refer to one or two
of the following:
mise-en-scne
camerawork
sound
editing
performance (body language, facial expressions, gestures). (5) [10]

 What are some of the key events in the storyline of The

Devil's Backbone? (Which move the narrative forward or are significant for
most characters?)

Devil's Backbone
EVENTS

Death of Santi

Socialists murdered in village

Carlos' arrival

Climax/ death of Jacinto

Choose 2 of the key EVENTS in the Devil's Backbone?

Complete the grid's 3 columns as below:

Key event
important to the
entire story

why is it important?
the consequences of the
event are...

Describe the scene where

the event takes place mise-en-scene/sound/
camera/editing?

Settings & Location:

What are some of the most memorable and important
locations in the Devils Backbone
They can be large-scale settings or smaller ones that are key to
the narrative.

Complete the table using the guidelines below to help you plan an
answer for the 3 exam questions:

Settings
Important scenes in the film that are
set here
Mise-en-scene to describe this setting
Characters associated with setting

Spanish plain

the orphanage

How many are shown in the lm's opening?

the courtyard

the pit

Exam questions on setting:

Choose an important setting (1)
Briefly describe this setting (3)
What does this setting suggest to the audience? (6)
(what does it represent, how does it make you feel describe it
through mise-en-scene etc)

h/w
Research who wrote and directed the
Devil's Backbone.
What was his name.
Where is he from?
Where did his ideas and inuences
come from for the lm?
What other lms has he directed?
(both Hollywood and non-Hollywood)
What recurring themes do his lms
contain?

Q3

5
5
5
5

24mins!

reviews
In pairs look at reviews for The Devil's
Backbone.
Highlight/annotate your thoughts and
opinions on the:

Introduction to the film

film's entertainment value
film's characters
the themes and issues
people and places (historical maybe?)

Feedback to the class and discuss what

criteria is essential for your film review.

When answering the second part, you should carefully consider

which character you write about...

Why might you choose to

NOT write about the
characters on the left when
answering this part of the
question?

Dr. Casares
What is his role inThe Devil's Backbone?
What does his appearance suggest about his
character?
Describe his relationship with both Carmen and
Jacinto. How does he fit in to this love-triangle?
Do we sympathise with him?
What is his reaction when carmen is killed?
Describe how this scene makes you feel.
Discuss the final moments in the scene
before he dies. Does his role change or stay the
same at the end of the film?

Jacinto
What is his role in the film?
Describe his personality and behaviour in the first
half of the film, why does he behave like this?
Describe Jacinto's lust for power. What lengths
does he go to to get it?
How does this character dominate the screen
and the other characters around him? (Camera,
body language, facial expressions, dialogueetc)
He is the film's villain.How is he different from
typical hollywood 'baddies'?
Describe the scene where he talks about his
childhood. Do we feel differently towards him in
this scene? Sympathy?
Jacinto is responsible for his own death.Do
you agree with this? If so, give examples of how he
is responsible.

Spanish history

WAR!

children,
victims of war

equality, working together?

greed, justice(morals)