Respond to the film, Le Hérisson, screened in class. How does this film inform your understanding of French culture? Does it change your opinion of French culture? Do you see any similarities between French culture as depicted in the film and your own?
Mathew Dumay
ReplyDeleteFRN 101
11/16/2016
RR 11
To begin, this film was quite artistic. With the camera angles, narration, and some of the final scenes in the movie. As we talked about in class, French cinema is quite cynical, leaving out traditional western happy endings. I thought French cinema would be quite opposite, so this movie left me surprised. Also what left me thinking, is how the film handled the death of one of the protagonist. In America, I feel as if we are do desensitized to violence, that when there is death, the value may not be as impactful. The movie did well by questioning death, and some of the norms that exist within the culture. It was so heart wrenching to imagine what could’ve happened between the janitor and the elderly Japanese man. We could clearly see that the main character, loved the janitor very much, maybe even more than her own family. Proving that love is not one-dimensional, it’s more than just what is in your family. If this was released in America, it would probably be seen as an Independent film; due it’s too darker qualities, and very different tone. Some of the same perceptions are held about life and love in today’s society as well. Love I believe is quite cynical, and no one can really give a solid definition. Love, and the feeling of it drive people to the extremes, leaving us with hate, friendship, knowledge, and in some cases death.
I like your comment on the film.The film to me seem it was going to be about the young girl and the Japanese guy getting to know one another. I thought when the movie made a turn to a relationship between the widow and the Japanese guy it would be a love story but it ended sad. David Gibson
DeleteI agree with your statement of how the movie does emphasize the questions about death and how we take it for granted. It was indeed surprising to see them have the main character die, but I loved the way the writer did it.
DeleteIn a way, I'm surprised that a response as insightful as this was one of the first. Also, almost everything in this film would make it independent from Hollywood's standards, so I'd agree with it, Matt. Not sure if this is your great writing at work, but still; great in general. Keep it up! Brandon Aspan
DeleteI agree with what you said about love being relatively cynical, and how the word is so abstract that you can't really give it a proper definition.
DeleteReader Response 11
ReplyDeletewhat i formulated from this film is the fact that we all do not agree with how we are raised at times and do not follow the lifestyle that was either chosen or forced upon us. what is understood to be true was the correlation of how negative or posismistic the characters are the french can be when it pertains to life, death, and relationships. although i did enjoy the fact that the french had the demension on a topic that could have ended nicer or even more negatively. originally, i thought that the typical french movie wouldnt have had as much negativity and be more positive. instead this movie in particurl had a very sober feeling and feeling of a dark cloud following the main characters. the one part where i saw the most similarites where at the end when the janitor died and had it be pretty violent and grusome similar to american films, where violence in movies are in popular vote. ina way we are desensitized but, on the other had i flet it was more violent to witness the women dying because, when i watch a movie with someone dying the scene is so fake that i know its not really realistic; while in this movie i felt that it was kinda realistic, almost a little to realistic to what it looks like when you are hit by a car.
I wasn't actually there in class to watch the end of the movie but from what you say that must have been pretty sad to watch the concierge basically die.
DeleteNice response, but did you have examples of films in mind when you said "when i watch a movie with someone dying the scene is so fake that i know its not really realistic"?
DeleteBrandon Aspan
The film le Herrisen is very different from American movies in a way that it is more real and relatable. Most American movies tend to exaggerate things or make them so unrealistic no one can relate to them. This movie makes me think that the French culture as a whole are very realistic people. I don’t want to say they aren’t dreamers or idealists but they seem to think more realistically in their creativity. In American movies there is almost always a happy ending but it doesn’t seem that way in French cinema. This informs me that the French stay true to most people’s reality because most situations don’t have happy endings like in the movies. This movie really gave me perspective on how unrealistic we Americans are as a society. I mean when you really think about even American books always end with happiness or fulfillment in some way or another. This film exemplifies that a story doesn’t have to be happy to grab the attention of others. It also doesn’t have to be ideal it can be real. Maybe Americans should try making more realistic and less exaggerated films so people can relate to them more and see a different perspective than what we are used to.
ReplyDeleteDavid Gibson.I agree this film is not like a American film it has a sad ending.I thought most French stories was about love and passion and fun. This film woke me up about French films.
Deletei agree that i only thought french films were lovey lovey and not sad and Gorey.
DeleteTo start off the film was very different to what is expected from American films. From the story line to the way the main characters play out, it is all very different from what we are use to seeing on our screens. It is quite surprising to see that French films do not necessarily contain a happy ending, they try and focus on sad endings. Were as most popular films are portrayed in a way that allows a happy ending every time. I think it definitely shows more of an appreciation for the characters or the movie in itself. I am use to always having a happy ending so, it is of no surprise to me with what happens or will happen in the end. Regardless of the entirety of the film, we all know how it ends. But, in French culture it seems they like to keep the audience in suspense because you really have no idea how this movie will end, going into it. I can guarantee that a majority of people in class thought Paloma would be the one to die, but we were all stunned when it was the concierge. It changes my opinion on French culture a bit, I think it is great that their movies are more built around the actual story line rather than just on the characters. There is not much similarities to our culture as depicted in the film, because I think our culture is more based on technology and advancement. While in the movie, it focused on telling the story of the lower class and finding your inner self. Not many movies in American culture have a moral behind it.
ReplyDeleteIn most possible ways, the film we watched would not qualify as a typical film by our standards. While themes dealing with lingering depression in children, and their effects are getting more common, even as of the year this film debuted (2009 just to mention it). But, the film was made to accommodate the tastes of the French, even if it’s different such as not having a clear genre. Most of the books on culture emphasize greatly the use of “assimilation” as a key part in France. But, in the film itself, assimilating to even a family culture evidently failed the film’s viewpoint character, a young girl named Paloma, the result: depression. If the experiences of Paloma are true, then it seems that despite the claimed “open-mindedness” the French culture will still be overwhelming to notably quiet people. The scene parts where she hears lingering conversations seemed to demonstrate this, it’s happened in my case as well.
ReplyDeleteUsually, one of the explanations given for unfortunate situations for children are something at school, when its known that problems at home aren’t in fiction. While it likely would be in this film if it was produced here, this film made a different statement. I felt it made a more impactful statement by intentionally not emphasizing her time at school, or saying in passing only. Most stories from here would have made that top priority for this subject. When it ended, it had the opposite effect than what was expected. In spite of what it seemed, it let out on a somewhat positive note. It still wasn’t as outright positive than what U.S. films expect to be, but it just middle of the road.
Brandon Aspan
After watching “Le Hérisson” in class my idea and thoughts about France did change. When people think of Paris more so than France they think of the city of love. Because it’s referred to as the city of love I would also then think that happily ever after stories would go right along with it. This movie was more dark and kind of had a good ending because Paloma didn’t end up killing herself as planned but, the janitor Renée ended up getting her life taken away as soon as it started going well for her. I think this movie shows that French culture isn’t all happy go lucky and they face their hardships and don’t hide them. Even though I am more for happy endings, I’m interested in seeing more French movies to really get the film of the French cinema. I would have to say though that I prefer the little kid movie we watched earlier in the semester over “Le Herisson”. The biggest difference that I saw between my culture in The US and French culture was that here we baby proof everything so you don’t hurt people and watch out for feelings more than in France where everything is straight forward.
ReplyDeleteWith Paris being called the city of love, I also thought it gave the country as a whole (as well as films that originate from it) a more positive vibe. Therefore, it was interesting to see the more somber nature of the film.
DeleteThat is a very interesting concept. We do think of Paris as the city of love but this movie did have a dark theme to it. It was very different than what I was expecting.
Deleteit makes me think twice on stereotyping a country based on a previewed notion that it's movies are one sided and are not as complex as movies are here in the United States are. and instead look to other countries as a bleak-en of hope to share in the complex films we know and love.
DeleteAfter watching Le Hérisson, I was surprised to see how dissimilar the movie was from a typical American film. Contrary to any of the American movies I’ve seen, Le Hérisson contains different ideals and values when it comes to concepts such as death, suicide, relationships, love, and the meaning of life. This is exemplified within the first line of the movie, where the main character Paloma expresses her intention of killing herself on her next birthday. Right from the start of the movie, I was shocked to see someone of such a young age even fathom the notion of suicide. Throughout the film, viewers see Paloma’s increased fascination with the thought of killing herself, as demonstrated through her obsession with constantly trying to obtain pills from her mother. This cynical depiction of such a young character is not very common in American films. Another thing I found surprising within Le Hérisson was the death of the janitor. Within American films, death is often dramatized through illustrations of blood and gore. Within this French film, however, the death of the character was a lot more somber, and almost respectful, to the point where the body of the character that died wasn’t even showed on camera.
ReplyDeleteThis film slightly did change my perception of French culture. Majority of the ideas that presented themselves in this film were displayed in a more subdued manner, which is not something I was expecting. In addition, the way love was described within the film changed the way I saw French culture; the love between the janitor and the new resident in the apartments seemed unconditional and almost pure, which is very different from how love is depicted in American movies.
Rachel M. D'Andrea
ReplyDeleteLe Hérrison felt, in every aspect, to be a very French film. From what we have discussed in class and learned through our independent reading, France is a country of absolutist and pessimistic views of life. The film beings with a stubborn young girl, disenchanted with her idea of life. Instead of looking forward to the future, she makes the dark decision to kill herself and spare the years of confusion and hypocrisy she views adulthood to be. From the very beginning, viewers are advised not to expect a happy ending. Despite this, the film introduces intriguing, likeable characters to whom both Paloma and the audience grow attached. If Le Hérrison were an American movie, Paloma would learn important life lessons from her relationships with these characters about how to live life for herself, not how others expect her to live. Paloma would begin the film in a solitary depression and emerge at the end an optimistic child surrounded by a newfound support system. In other words, the film would take a turn for the positive and continue to have a happy ending. This is one of the strong fundamental differences between French and American culture. Americans desire stories of positivity, transformation, and success. From my experience, American films usually focus on heroes and happy endings and often lack an element of realism. American media is a means of entertainment and escape from the daily routine. From my experience of French culture, they do not enjoy the same blind optimism and positivity. Le Hérrison was not an overwhelmingly negative film, but it did not end with a grand happy ending the way it would have were it made by Americans. While this film did not change my view of French culture, it did give another element of perspective with which I can more clearly understand a culture so different from my own.
David Gibson. French 101
ReplyDeleteLe herisson is about a French girl filming her life and the life of others. She obtain the camera from her dad.She was told by her dad not to film any people. The question is asked is the film like a French culture. I think it is in a way because love is involved. It shows something to do with a relationship.The French culture is shown through out the film. The way family was made and the subjects of family and relationship. People meeting people.The film to me was different than other French films because the way it ended. It ended sadly in which I thought many of French films was love stories.In the beginning of the film it talked about death. That gave me a sign that death might be in the film. This film showed me some similarities about the French culture but it did change my mind about the French culture. What changed my mind is that you can't predict the ending. You have to be intense and listen.
This movie portrayed that everyone in the movie was very self-oriented and focused only really on what was going on in their lives except for Pamela. This confirmed by opinion of French culture where it seems very prestigious and everyone is focused on themselves. However, it seemed like they were wanting to connect with other people like Pamela. She was the child and was always watching others and even video recording them. The movie was very dark at times when it showed Pamela contemplating suicide. That wouldn’t be necessarily appropriate in the U.S. and I don’t think kids would be allowed to see that nowadays. I do like how there is less of a filter with those sort of things in French culture because it is more real and not hiding the truth. With all of that, it was a much different film than that which would be popular in the U.S. There wasn’t much music in the background and was a little slower moving than I think most Americans would be used to and like. Also as one student mentioned in class, the cast was very female driven which was a little different to what we are used to be seeing. There does seem to be a very high respect for children in French culture. Two of the movies we have seen have child actors as the main characters. Seeing different culture movies is such a drastic difference.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't exactly say they're prestigious, but I understand why you say that they are a bit conceded based on the tune and characteristics of the cast.
DeleteI absolutely loved this film, despite the sad ending. I think it provided a distinct insight into French culture as far as clothing, cuisine, and greetings. I was completely unaware that many French people are not as warm and fuzzy as some Americans. The French are very direct in all of their actions and their words. I gained a wealth of knowledge from the movie in respect to French culture, and I am excited to watch more French movies in hopes to see more of the culture. It is very different from American culture, in my opinion. I am an eternal optimist, so this pessimistic view was hard to understand. Unfortunately, I didn’t have much of any opinion of French culture before this movie, but I know have a good understanding of the culture. I don’t think this was an extremely negative movie, but it did have distinct aspects with a negative outlook such as the ending.
ReplyDeleteThat is a great comment, I didn't even think to add about clothing and greetings. Yes I also said that in this film it was prevalent that they were a little cold to one another and were very self-oriented.
DeleteLe Hérisson shows the difference between what is expected to happen in a comedy-drama like movie in France versus what is expected in America. In America, we expect to see the main character come up on top based on a positive climax and ending where the main character grows in a better person. That is not how things turned out in Le Hérisson. Paloma is obsessed with death from the very beginning of the film to almost the very end. This changes when Renee is hit by a car while trying to save the building’s drunk. The impact on her death is what changes how Paloma views death and stops her quest to kill herself before her birthday. American directed films rarely shock the audience with such a sudden, and impactful death. It seemed that her death was device used to uplift Paloma’s story arc but left her story feeling incomplete and depressing. The bleak view that once a person achieves happiness it is almost immediately snatched away is a good representation of how our outlooks are. There aren’t many similarities between my views and the ones depicted in this movie, but I do think that when a person goes through trauma it can make the look at life in a different light an then I turn change the way they live.
ReplyDeleteLauren Carr
ReplyDeleteIn the movie we watched, it shows how completely different it is from American movies. American movies have drama, but they always end with a happy ending. In my opinion, French movies showed more reality than American movies, in this movie. It's not normal when the main character of the movie would be the one to die. Watching this film, makes me think the French culture is more harsh than Americans. In movies in America, they're all basically the same concept. It has the beginning, it shows the protagonists and the antagonists throughout the movie. When the movie is getting closer to the end, they would have some huge conflict that would happen between them. By the end of the movie, the conflict is resolved, and everyone is happy. But, in the movie we watched in class, I would say I loved how they surprised us and it wasn't all just a happy ending. Before she died, they showed her smiling because she loved and enjoyed her life. Even though it took us all by surprise, we all realized how important life and the people we love are to us. Not only did it show love, but it also showed how they greet each other differently, and even their clothing is differently from Americans. Americans show more warmth and sweetness in conversations; as well as in France, they are more direct in they conversations. They speak with some force and can be demanding. This film was a great film to show the diversity between Americans and the French.