Film Theory Part 2 - Realism

Realism in Film Theory: A Detailed Analysis

Realism in film theory refers to a style and philosophy that emphasizes the representation of reality as closely as possible. In contrast to formalism, which prioritizes stylization and manipulation of form, realism seeks to capture the world in an authentic, objective manner. Realist filmmakers aim to depict life without distortion, creating a sense of truthfulness and credibility in their portrayals of characters, events, and environments.

Let’s dive deeper into the key concepts, historical context, major figures, techniques, and examples of realism in film theory.

Key Concepts of Realism

1. Mimesis (Imitation of Reality): Realism in film is based on the idea of mimesis, which is the imitation or representation of reality. Realist filmmakers attempt to depict events, people, and situations as they exist in the real world. They strive for authenticity and accuracy in their portrayal of the world.
2. Minimization of Stylization: Realist films often avoid exaggerated visual effects, elaborate editing techniques, or theatrical performances that draw attention to the artifice of filmmaking. Instead, they focus on natural lighting, location shooting, and believable dialogue to create a sense of real-life experience.
3. Social and Political Engagement: Realism frequently deals with social and political issues, often highlighting the struggles of ordinary people. The idea is to reflect the actual conditions of life, which often includes themes of poverty, injustice, and social inequality.
4. Transparent Storytelling: Realist films generally avoid complex, non-linear structures or experimental narrative techniques. The storytelling is straightforward and easy to follow, allowing the viewer to immerse in the film without being distracted by the medium itself.
5. Long Takes and Deep Focus: Realist filmmakers often use long takes to minimize the artificial manipulation of time and space. Deep focus cinematography—where everything in the frame, from the foreground to the background, is in sharp focus—encourages the viewer to observe reality without being manipulated by selective focus or quick cuts.

Historical Context of Realism in Film

Realism as a movement in cinema has evolved over time, influenced by different social, political, and artistic contexts.

Early Developments in Realism

The origins of realism in film can be traced back to the Lumière brothers, who pioneered the use of film to capture real-life events in their short documentaries in the late 1890s, like Workers Leaving the Lumière Factory (1895). Their films were simple, unmanipulated recordings of everyday life, marking the birth of realism in cinema.

Classical Hollywood Realism:

During the Golden Age of Hollywood (1930s–1950s), films aimed to represent reality within a coherent and immersive narrative structure, but this was still influenced by genre conventions and narrative-driven filmmaking. Hollywood realism presented a polished, idealized version of reality, not necessarily gritty or raw.

Italian Neorealism:

One of the most significant moments for realism in cinema came with Italian Neorealism in the 1940s and 1950s. After World War II, Italian filmmakers turned to realism to reflect the harsh realities of post-war life. Italian Neorealism became a hallmark of cinematic realism, capturing the everyday struggles of ordinary people.

Key films in this movement include:

• Rome, Open City (1945) by Roberto Rossellini
• Bicycle Thieves (1948) by Vittorio De Sica
• La Terra Trema (1948) by Luchino Visconti

Neorealism emphasized location shooting, non-professional actors, and narratives about the working class, portraying the struggles of life in an unpolished, raw way.

French Poetic Realism:

Before the Italian Neorealist movement, French Poetic Realism emerged in the 1930s, focusing on working-class characters, doomed love, and melancholy atmospheres. While poetic realism films were stylized in terms of lighting and mise-en-scène, they aimed to reflect the tragic, everyday realities of life.

Key filmmakers include:

• Jean Renoir (The Rules of the Game, 1939)
• Marcel Carné (Le Jour Se Lève, 1939)

British Social Realism:

In the late 1950s and 1960s, the British New Wave embraced realism to critique the social and economic conditions of post-war Britain. Films often depicted the harsh realities of working-class life, rejecting the escapism of mainstream cinema.

Key filmmakers include:

• Tony Richardson (A Taste of Honey, 1961)
• Lindsay Anderson (This Sporting Life, 1963)
• Ken Loach (Kes, 1969)

Key Figures and Theorists of Realism

1. André Bazin: One of the most influential film theorists associated with realism, André Bazin championed realism as the essence of cinema. In his essays, he argued that the true power of film lay in its ability to capture reality rather than distort it. Bazin advocated for the use of long takes, deep focus, and location shooting to maintain the integrity of reality.
2. Siegfried Kracauer: In his book Theory of Film: The Redemption of Physical Reality (1960), Kracauer argued that the primary role of cinema is to record the physical world. For Kracauer, cinema’s ability to capture movement and the minutiae of everyday life made it a unique medium for representing reality.
3. Jean Renoir: As a filmmaker, Renoir is often associated with realism due to his use of deep focus, long takes, and naturalistic performances. His films, like The Rules of the Game (1939), reflect a concern with the complexity of human behavior and social systems, often resisting easy moral judgments.

Techniques Used in Realist Films

1. Location Shooting: Realist films often reject studio sets in favor of real locations. By shooting in actual environments, filmmakers create a more authentic, lived-in world that reflects the everyday lives of ordinary people.
2. Non-Professional Actors: Many realist filmmakers prefer to use non-professional actors who bring an unpolished, natural quality to their performances. This lack of theatricality makes characters feel more like real people than actors playing roles.
3. Long Takes and Minimal Editing: Realist directors often avoid rapid cuts or flashy editing techniques. Instead, they use long takes to allow events to unfold in real-time, giving viewers a sense of experiencing reality as it happens. This also respects the spatial and temporal integrity of the scene.
4. Natural Lighting: Instead of dramatic or artificial lighting setups, realist films often use natural light to reinforce the authentic look of the film. This contributes to the film’s raw, unfiltered aesthetic.
5. Deep Focus Cinematography: Deep focus, where everything in the frame remains in focus, allows the audience to explore the scene in depth, much like in real life. It encourages viewers to focus on multiple elements of the scene without being guided by selective focus or the filmmaker’s manipulation.
6. Simple, Everyday Stories: Realist films often center around ordinary, everyday situations rather than sensational or fantastical narratives. These stories focus on the common struggles of regular people, often dealing with social or political issues, poverty, or interpersonal conflicts.

Examples of Realist Films

1. Bicycle Thieves (1948) by Vittorio De Sica: A seminal work of Italian Neorealism, Bicycle Thieves portrays a poor man’s desperate search for his stolen bicycle, which he needs for his job. Shot on location in Rome and featuring non-professional actors, the film focuses on the harsh realities of post-war Italy.
2. The 400 Blows (1959) by Fran?ois Truffaut: A key film in the French New Wave, The 400 Blows depicts the troubled life of a young boy growing up in Paris. Truffaut’s use of long takes, natural locations, and an unglamorous view of childhood mirrors the realist approach.
3. Kes (1969) by Ken Loach: Set in a working-class mining town in England, Kes tells the story of a young boy’s bond with a kestrel. The film uses non-professional actors and portrays the struggles of working-class life with raw realism.
4. Roma, Open City (1945) by Roberto Rossellini: One of the foundational works of Italian Neorealism, Roma, Open City was filmed in the streets of war-torn Rome, capturing the realities of life under Nazi occupation. The film’s gritty style and emphasis on real-life events make it a key example of cinematic realism.

Philosophical Foundations of Realism

Realism in film is closely related to philosophical realism, which asserts that reality exists independently of human perception and that art should seek to represent this objective reality.

Phenomenology:

Philosophical movements like phenomenology (associated with thinkers like Maurice Merleau-Ponty) emphasize direct experience and perception, which align with the goals of realist cinema to immerse the viewer in the lived experiences of the characters.

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Vihang Suryavanshi