Scenes for Analysis (Max: 5 minutes)

[Liam]

I have been tasked by my school with running a Film Studies GCSE as enrichment.

 

Pupils have to complete a micro-analysis of a scene from a film of their choice, which involves them looking at two out of cinematography, editing, sound and mise-en-scene. The scene analysed must be no longer than five minutes long.

 

We can do this as a class though, where we discuss several options, and then they choose the one they want to develop further.

 

Any recommendations?.

 

Plus points:

- 15 rated or under (due to the age of the pupils)

- Clip available on Youtube

- Not too, too far into the film (this allows me to potentially show the film up to the scene, to give context).

 

 

 

Two I might use. Need about 5 or so.

 

Any help would be much appreciated.

[odessasteps]

The New York Inquirer / dancing girls scene from Citizen Kane. Amazing composition. Also, the cabin scene, with its three levels of deep focus.

[Liam]

Thanks for suggestions.

 

One more addendum to my original post - pupils from a south London school. Their context is incredibly limited, as is their interest to some extent. Needs to be stuff that will engage apathetic teens >_>

[odessasteps]

The duel from Life and Death of Colonel Blimp

http://youtu.be/XMkWqexL1SI

[piranesi]

Opening of TOUCH OF EVIL?

 

But really, the library scene from WINGS OF DESIRE should be it.

[The Z]

[Liam]

 

Was one I had debated.

[Jingus]

I had to write a similar paper last year; from the teacher's options, I ended up going with the "I Want Candy" music video part from Marie Antoinette.  I dunno if my essay contained anything which wasn't me just taking the wildest blind guesses about what might symbolize what, but at least the teacher liked it.  

 

The shower scene makes me think that there's plenty of Hitchcock which would qualify pretty well for this sort of thing.  Despite the split-second precision he did everything with, his technique usually tends to be relatively simple and easy to analyze.  If you want to err on the side of not boring the apathetic children, then you could go with something rather slam-bangy like the cropdusting scene from North by Northwest.  

[Liam]

Yeah, was thinking of using the Cropdusting scene, but didn't want to err on the side of too much Hitchcock.

[Jingus]

Big action-y stuff is probably your best bet if it's a public school and none of the kids want to be there, I guess.  Like the end of King Kong, that sort of thing.

[Swift]

Either of these might work.

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApdECER-tkw

[Swift]

The lip reading scene in 2001. So much menace in a shot of a single red light.

 

 

A classic. A ton of tension created by the editing and sound.

 

[Fat Spanish Waiter]

The Dennis Hopper Sicilian scene from True Romance

[odessasteps]

Yeah, was thinking of using the Cropdusting scene, but didn't want to err on the side of too much Hitchcock.

No such thing as too much Hitchcock.

[Brian Fowler]

You could try something they've likely seen, as well, to get more in-depth on.  Could be a good hook.

 

Like maybe the "puny god" scene in The Avengers or something from Avatar or something like that.

[roofiethebutcher]

The slow car chase scene in Way of the Gun or the staircase fight in Tom-Yum-Goong: The Protector. 

 

 

[Gonzalez]

[Execproducer]

Wait, what does 15 rated mean?

[RonL21]

Dominic Toretto giving life lessons I still use to this day.

[Jingus]

Wait, what does 15 rated mean?

I was wondering that myself.  Doesn't seem to have a clear Hollywood equivalent.  Seems like 15-rated hovers back and forth between a hard PG-13 and a soft R.  Which makes me wonder if my next suggestion of "the elevator scene from Drive" is appropriate.  

[Bustronaut]

MOLOCH! from Fritz Lang's METROPOLIS

[Control]

We used to (still do?) have PG15 in Canada. I assume it's similar. So Tarantino is right out.

 

Kinda lame, I know, but what about the UP montage?

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yjAFMNkCDo

 

Better option: the long take from near the end of CHILDREN OF MEN:

 

 

(Car scene is closer to the begging and also awesome. Actually, any segment of CHILDREN OF MEN).

[JRGoldman]

The two I thought of right off the bat are the opening at the train station from Once Upon a Time in the West and the Niagra Falls scene from Superman II.

[The Z]

Is this 15 and under? Who cares.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CC0VLvP6zU

[Brian Fowler]

Up montage is good, but if you want an early scene from Pixar, the opening sequence of Finding Nemo is more or less perfect film-making.