To what extent can the films you have studied for this topic be accused of reinforcing rather than challenging stereotypes?


Stereotypes are how a group of specific people are assumed to be or people are prejudice towards because of differences with class or race for example. Throughout the variety of films I have studied, a wide range of stereotypes have been challenged and supported. This helps the story or narrative to become more complex and assists the audience in being a more active audience and helping them to become more involved by challenging how these stereotypes are represented.

Throughout many years of film, especially from the Western side, a classic stereotype is a white man saving the world. In the films I have studied the stereotypes aren't along the lines of white men saving the world but about the working class or immigrants, whether that is on a negative view or not. For example, in 'La Haine,' although our three main characters are all French speaking they are all from different countries living within the projects. Hubert is black so likely from an African origin, Vince is Jewish and Saiid is from the middle east. So, this would mean that the stereotypes exhibited within the film are to do with their race or class, as they are as low as you could possibly get, being immigrants living in the projects, and living there during the social and political state of France at that time caused these 3 men to be looked at as troublesome before anyone met them. A prime example of this is when the trio ventured into Paris city centre in the look for Astrix. But while there they entered an art exhibition, the looks that they received showed that because they weren't from that area and the difference in clothing to the rest of the people that people thought they'd be a nuisance before getting to meet them. Although they did show their true colours after Saiid was rejected by a woman, this was an unfair representation of them, especially Hubert who had set up a gym in order to stay out of trouble and help younger kids also not become part of the gang culture against authority.

Men's stories in general has always been in the limelight and it can be seen that female characters are used in films as second class, purely for the attraction to look at or used as romance to assist with the story's narrative. Because this sexism doesn't always get seen by the naked eye, it's probably the reason that filmmakers create stories ,without women as a first class character, that have any significance. City of God (2002) is a perfect representation of this. Although at the start Angelique has the protagonists eye, Rocket, on her. Because he is so madly in love and wants to impress her, he is put in dangerous situations. Firstly, he is led to a drug den in order to satisfy her, but instead of continuing the romance in the story from here, it helps advances the story down the crime route. Secondly, a female reporter is put in the limelight but negatively. She steals Rockets stories and publishes them as her own before seducing Rocket moments after, meanwhile Rocket is only in his young teens and this could be seen as statutory rape. So, after labelling this woman a thief the film continues to degrade in a way where it can be seen she doesn't have respect for herself but also how she does this with a child.

Hacksaw Ridge

Released in 2016, Hacksaw Ridge is a war film following the life of a soldier who wishes not to participate  in violence and save lives rather than take lives because of his religious beliefs. Andrew Garfield plays our protagonist Desmond Doss who is a real person and did in fact receive the Medal of Honour, which is the most recognised to be given out and Desmond was the only man to receive this without killing a single person.

Being nominated for various Academy awards Mel Gibson has constructed a breath taking piece with his hands on type of work. There was only one point within the film I will have to criticise. The use of green screen when lowering injured comrades while Desmond was having shots being fired at him. The green screen was too visible, by this I mean you could tell it was there and that is what you call lazy editing.

Other than that I found nothing wrong with the film, it followed a simple linear structure which is simplistic but allows the audience to feel more a part of the film as they watch Desmond's child hood and gain an understanding of why he chose to never be violent. Which was a blow to his brothers head that he threw and it could've been fatal to his brothers life.

The mise en scene within the film was a big factor into its success. The costumes and settings were spot on, this allowed the film to feel more real and especially with me I felt more engrossed in the film because everything looked so real or as a replica to the real war.

White Helmets

White Helmets is a documentary released in 2016 which follows the work done by a group of people that name themselves the 'White Helmets'. They're a volunteering group of men who aim to save lives from the air raids in Syria from Russia as Russia attempt to fight ISIS.

Directed by Orlando von Einsiedel, the filming gives a POV feeling as it follows the group of men enter buildings that have just been bombed as they dig through the rubble in an attempt to save lives or retrieve bodies in order for them to have a proper funeral. Being that is an issue in todays world and the violence is ongoing not just from the Russians but also the attacks from ISIS, it is a real eye opener into why there is such a vast number of refugees seeking a new home and causes me as an audience to feel empathy towards them.

The use of talking heads was vital in order for the documentary to produce more than just shocking scenes and hope to win the audience over from what I would call the action shots. Talking heads can usually come across as boring when over used but for this film it was used at vital moments in order for the emotion from the White Helmet members could be felt from us as an audience. It assists us in giving a better insight of the struggles they face, not just because of the violence but the fact some are raising a family and seeing as they're volunteers how are they meant to raise that family with no income?

Was truly eye opening hearing about something that is on our news through out the day and week but gives a side of the story we would've probably never heard if it weren't for Netflix producing this as many mainstream news broadcasting focuses on the tragedy and deaths.