cats and cameras

French New Wave was a way for French filmmakers to break free and challenge the literary agenda of that era and use their artwork to address current issues and experiment with new ways to shoot film and tell stories. Most of it was documentary style, and was characterized by short cuts, fragmented editing as well as long takes. From watching tidbits of different films, I could tell they were captivating despite not finding much interest in the themes they portrayed. The stylized cinematography was visually stimulating and very aesthetically pleasing. It was cool to see the difference in the social norms and issues that were highlighted in these films and compare it to our current issues to see the stark similarities and differences brought by eras and time.

From what we watched in class, I think I like Neorealism. Though it's not as visually stimulating as I usually prefer in films, I found myself wanting to know what happens next. In Ladri di Biciclette, it tells you the conflict in the name, Bike Thieves. But this leaves you in a heightened suspense. When will the bike be stolen? What is Antonio Ricci going to do if he needs it for work? How will he get it back? These questions were already swirling in my head every moment we get more information. It leaves you in a state of anxiety and suspense on the edge of your seat and it really helps you identify with the characters in the story because you're feeling anxious for them.