Task 1
Scene Analysis: Inglourious Basterds:
The above scene is a portion of the opening sequence from the 2009 film Inglourious Basterds, directed by Quentin Tarantino. The sequence introduces us to the main antagonist of the film, deceptive and calculating Colonel Hans Landa, as he questions the dairy farmer Perrier LaPadite. The sequence showcases a psychological battle between the two parties, one where LaPadite must maintain his mask in order to protect himself, his family, and the family of Jews hidden under his home. Whereas, Landa wears a mask out of the sheer pleasure of his role. To poke and prod and scrutinize those he comes in contact with so that they can crack and reveal their secrets.
We open on the morning of a scenic French countryside in 1941, with LaPadite and his daughters doing chores. Chopping logs for firewood, hanging laundry, a sense of peace is felt in the mundanity. However, this does not last long when the proverbial curtain is pulled back and the all-black car of Landa is seen approaching from faraway, almost like a shadow slowly encroaching on the family to enshroud it in darkness. This mirrors the historical events of the setting, with the German army encroaching upon France.
With LaPadite readying himself upon the arrival of the colonel, their cat and mouse game begins. LaPadite answering the colonels questions calmly and concisely, meanwhile Landa's every move feels relaxed and dragged out, adding this looming sense of dread as the scene progresses, though neither character gives the other extra ground. This is seen through the framing whilst cutting between the two characters. Keeping to their own area within their respective frames. That is, until the perspective changes, and we are given a peek under the floorboards to see the true weight of the situation, and the tension rises exponentially. All of a sudden this is less a cat and mouse game and now we the audience enter the shoes of LaPadite, playing the tense waiting game.
However, LaPadites facade quickly falls once Landa stops playing around. In that moment of intense silence and an ever-increasing close-up, the colonel stops smiling, subsequently dropping his mask and ending both his own and LaPadites charade in one fell swoop. A true feeling of dread washing over all as the audience once again mirror LaPadites thoughts. He was being toyed with as soon as the colonel stepped foot on his land, all his actions up to this point, meaningless.
With confirmation received for the whereabouts of his targets, music swells for the first time as Landa puts his mask back on, beckoning in his men like the horsemen of the apocalypse and laying waste to the souls who were already stuck in hell during life. The closing shots of the sequence see's one lone survivor of the family running away. However, the framing of the dark door indicates the shadow that will forever loom over her. The shadow of Hans Landa.
BAGHDAD MESSI Review:
Directed by Sahim Omar Kalifa, Baghdad Messi tells the story of young Hamoudi a monoplegic boy living in war-torn Iraq on the outskirts of its capital city Baghdad. The main themes of this film, that being, perseverance and hope are conveyed directly through Hamoudi as the boy endures because of his love of football and his desire to connect with his peers.
Hamoudi does whatever he can to be accepted by the neighbourhood children. He participates in matches despite his disability and the insults thrown at him daily by the surrounding children. Though not shown in the film itself, we can infer from Hamoudi's body language and general confidence in his position that he does play with them on a regular basis. Though more often than not the results of the match are not favourable, yet Hamoudi endures returning day after day to find whatever chance he can to play.
The team and player Hamoudi supports further showcases his need for acceptance from the children. While he could side with the adults by supporting Ronaldo and Real Madrid, Hamoudi without hesitation will side with the other children and choose Messi and Barcelona, even if it means losing the ability to watch matches. Eventually this need to fit in and please the other children causes Hamoudi to invite the children to his home as he has a television that broadcasts the matches, that is until it breaks prompting the rest of the children to once again ostracize Hamoudi, unless he gets it fixed in time for the finals.
Hamoudi once again shows his determination by travelling on foot with his father to the conflict zone within the city. It is a tense sequence filled with the nonstop sounds of violence and near misses. At every moment both Hamoudi and his father must step cautiously and be patient whilst moving lest they get caught in the crossfire. While they are successful in their endeavours to get to the shop and get the television fixed it is on the way back when tragedy strikes. Caught in the crossfire of combat Hamoudi's father is seriously injured, however he urges his son to continue moving and return home, assuring Hamoudi he will be right behind. Yet upon returning to his home there is no sight of his father.
While the television is fixed and the neighbourhood children are able to watch the match, Hamoudi's face is filled with melancholy. In his one-track goal to connect with other children Hamoudi had forgotten about those who were already supporting him unconditionally. Those who never hampered him or doubted his ability to do anything. It is in the loss of that very important connection between father and child that Hamoudi realises who his true connections were.
Task 2
Title:
Loose Threads
Logline:
On the verge of retirement, a tailor must open his heart to create one final suit for a mysteriously familiar customer.
Summary:
Nearing the twilight of his life, bespoke tailor Nathan Pritchett is preparing to retire after 60 years in business. However, before he can close up shop for good, a unique customer named Sebastian walks through his door, carrying a suit that’s more scraps than anything wearable. Sebastian has one unusual request: to remake his late father’s wedding suit for his own upcoming wedding. What seems like a straightforward task quickly becomes a challenge when Nathan’s logical, methodical approach to tailoring clashes with Sebastian’s cryptic and nonsensical feedback.
Character Sketch:
Nathan Pritchett: a calculating, methodical man and our protagonist, has been in the tailoring industry for sixty years. He has built a reputation of working fast and communicating effectively, though he has not been the same since an argument with his son has left them estranged for the past twenty-odd years, leading his heart to be closed off. Now in his old age, he plans to retire after one last request.Sebastian Pritchett: Nathan's grandson who is soon getting married. Having lost his Father at a young age, Seb realises the importance of connecting with your loved ones so in an attempt to connect with his grandfather and preserve the legacy of his father, Seb comes to Nathan as his final customer before retirement. With the request that his Father's ruined wedding suit be repaired or remade for his own wedding.
Step-Outline:
- Nathan is mid-conversation with a customer
- Going over details of changes and crossing them out in a red ledger
- As the customer leaves complimenting Nathan, Sebastian walks in
- Seb presents the suit to Nathan
- He mentions how he wants this suit repaired as it was his father's suit and Nathan was the one to originally make it years ago
- Nathan says it will be impossible to recreate as he does not remember making the suit and the suit in front of him is far too damaged, however he will strive to make something close to the original
- Seb tries to refute this but gets interrupted midway by Nathan
- Nathan once again takes out his red ledger and starts asking Seb questions related to the suit, whilst sizing him up
- Nathan's questioning style is very logical and to the point (Occasion, Preferred fit, Pinstriped, number of buttons, colours etc.)
- Seb is barely able to get a word in other than his answer before he is swiftly cut off by the next question
- Nathan finishes his questioning and assures Seb that he has never let a customer be unsatisfied with a suit
- Seb tell Nathan his wedding is in 2 weeks and needs the suit by then
- Nathan again reassures Seb and tells him to come back in a week
- Seb returns a week later to see the suit, but he is not satisfied with the suit
- The feedback he gives does not help Nathan ("The suit feels souless/feels like there's no form" etc)
- Seb tells Nathan about the child of his fiancée who will now be his son
- He tells a story about the boy which reminds Nathan of his own son
- Nathan reminisces about his son by looking at some old photos and suits
- Upon inspecting the suit Seb gave him Nathan comes to a solution
- He takes the inner lining out of the old suit and into the new one
- Seb is finally satisfied and hands Nathan an envelope
- The envelope contains the payment and a wedding invitation
- Nathan mentions how he might have lost his relationship with his son but he won't make the same mistake with his grandson
Task 3:
Please find presentation here