History on Film

1. How does Steve McQueen attempt to "correct" previous screen representations of slavery? 2. Is William Ford somehow less culpable for slavery's sins than Eppes? 3. How does the film convey the idea that there is no escape from slavery? Consider the scenery and other film techniques. 4. Is this a happy ending?

"Now I know it really happened." Schindler's List is the most influential film about the Holocaust produced thus far. It reaches far more people than books or documentaries. Your blog should address the positive and negative legacy of this fact.  Consider the following questions: 1. Steven Spielberg wanted to make the film look like a documentary because to him the film was "history on screen." What are the limits of this approach? 2. For a film about the Holocaust, the only well-rounded characters are German. Do you think this detracts from the film's message? How are Jews represented on screen? Do you agree with Bartov that some of representation is actually antisemitic? 3. Why did Spielberg hold back from "showing" the killing process?  Do you think he was right to not actually show the gas chambers?  Why has this taboo finally been broken? 4. By focusing on story of Schindler did Spielberg give a "happy ending" ...

All The President's Men detailed the Watergate investigation and the central role of The Washington Post just a few years after the scandal ended. This is a difficult position for filmmakers - addressing recent history. How does director Alan J. Pakula reflect some of the values and artistic choices of the New Wave? Does the film valorize journalists? Based on the film, describe the work of an investigative journalist. How did they piece together the disparate parts of this mystery? How does the film use actual TV and audio from the time period? Finally, what other films has All The President's Men influenced? Do you think journalists working today will have a movie like this made about them?