Hi Friends,
How are you doing?It's been a while since I blogged... however besides being missed (just kidding!) I do hope that you are in the spirit of charity as Christmas nears when you in your own little way can help make a difference in Joe's life. For those of you who missed the thread of this conversation that I am referring to,here's the link to the post.
Remember,I am not talking of remakes here.Once again I re-iterate my point-I am going to discuss three such films in random order in this month's post and share my observations on how two films of different/same genres can share a similar story structure, plot-line and premise but have been re-modelled under different themes,conditions and situations.
So then let's start with this discussion rightaway!
1. Roman Holiday / It Happened One Night / Notting Hill
When you read the names of these three films,how would you describe it to someone who has for starters not watched the film?
In a line I'd say that these three films are love stories of a commoner falling in love with larger-than-life characters (i.e. those who are beyond their reach!). In other words I'd even say it is a story of reality marrying a "dream"!
Why do I call them larger-than-life characters or refer to them as a dream?It is because these unions are not typical or some of those that you come across often especially when a princess/ heiress/ actress falls in love with a commoner.
And it comes as no surprise that these love stories meet with resounding success at the box-office for they celebrate the much fantasized romantic dreams of a common man.Here's three cheers to celebrating ordinariness!!!
Now that commoner could be out of work/news chasing reporters as Joe Bradley/Peter Warne in search of a sensational story(be it about a runaway princess(Ann)/ heiress(Ellie)) or about a reserved and nerdy book shop owner,William Thacker when America's sweetheart and Hollywood's darling, Anna Scott walks into his life in Notting Hill.(Also, did you observe that there are two such instances in the film that even William Thacker has to pose as a reporter to meet or for that matter even interact with Anna Scott?I guess,the directors love the idea of their male protagonists playing reporter or even for a moment disguising as one!)
However that aside,in all three instances they go on to form a romantic attachment.
These three films are love stories that share a common thread and here's how...
1."The dream"/ "larger-than-life characters"-The female protagonist in these three films are stubborn/ bored/ rebellious celebrity/ icons/ socialites looking out for some adventure to escape the humdrum of a cushy but boring/ predictable life to experience the everyday life of a common man.
2. An ordinary but honest man (with a vocation/ profession) going about doing his daily job bumps into the "dream" and they inadvertently end up sharing many conversations at different crossroads and intersections until their paths finally meet.
3. And finally the thing that's waiting to happen does happen! Yes,they fall in love not before some misunderstandings crop up which are later cleared and true love prevails.
Of course,in films as It Happened One Night and Notting Hill have a 'And they lived happily ever after...' fairy-tale ending but in the case of Roman Holiday it is not so. The curtains fall and the camera slowly pulls out when a forlorn,Joe Bradley is left alone gazing at an empty press conference hall as the doors of royalty close on him with Princess Ann saying her last good-bye.But overall if you observe closely these three films do share a similar plot-line and story structure.
When you must have watched these films at first,I'm sure these subtle instances must have skipped your mind!Even I picked on them later when I noticed these glaring similarities. :)
2. Brief Encounter / Unfaithful
David Lean's Brief Encounter in my view is a subdued version of Adrian Lyne's Unfaithful.And it is actually where Brief Encounter ends that Unfaithful really starts(i.e. the conflict and drama)! And while the former can still be called a drama but the latter can be touted as an out-and-out violent and lustful erotic thriller.
Confused?
I'd describe Brief Encounter as a doomed romance between Laura Jesson and Dr. Alec Harvey which stems out as a need when a man and woman discover how lonely they were in their respective marriages.In fact if you observe closely you'd notice it is their conversations that stimulate their passion and trigger their longing to be with one another as their relationship gradually blossoms. And the maximum their relationship heads to is when they share one brief passionate brief kiss (if I recall correctly) that depicts the heightened romance between the two characters.And of course,they part amicably with the husband not getting a whiff of their short-lived romance even as Laura tells us (intended as a confession to her husband) in first person on how this romance transpired.And finally, when she wakes up from a 'bad dream' with her husband by her side,it is a signal to suggest that here's to a new beginning for the couple as she gives their marriage another shot where Laura would have to silently carry the burden of her guilty secret all her life even as her husband is left in oblivion of her undoing.
Now contrast Brief Encounter with Unfaithful.Once again we have a bored housewife,Connie Sumner meeting a stranger-a carefree, rare books collector,Paul Martel in a lustful and erotic affair that begins with an instant attraction from their very first meeting. Though Connie steps into Paul's apartment to bandage her knee when she gets bruised in the storm;but the way Paul looks at her,gently tends to her bandaged knee with an ice-pack and gives her a book with an apt "quote" (that she instantly relates to when she reaches home that night) together with his calling card in it are evident hints to suggest of a stormy affair ahead!The 'storm' according to me is a lovely metaphor and treatment by the director in the film to suggest the violent and turbulent nature of what their relationship would be coming to where everything would be torn and blown apart which is what exactly happens later in the film.
So,if Brief Encounter was an affair that was more about two protagonists sharing intense conversations on how well-suited they were for one another and ended with Laura saying her last goodbye to Dr. Harvey after realizing that there was no future in their relationship then Unfaithful showed us the tipping point in the relationship of a man and woman where a loving husband becomes a criminal owing to his wife's adulterous affair when anger and jealousy takes the better of him and in a fit of rage he inadvertently he ends up killing his wife's young lover.
Thus that's how I came to the conclusion when I said that it is where Brief Encounter ends that Unfaithful actually begins!(Remember the final scene where Laura and Dr. Harvey decide to end the affair after their last meeting which we also see in Unfaithful where Connie calls off her relationship with Paul Martel over the telephone unaware of the fact that it was too late to salvage the situation as the damage was done with her secret out to her long-suspecting husband and the crime already committed.It is in fact from this scene onward that we witness a myriad of emotions in the strained relationship between the husband and wife-Of hate,anger and guilt when finally we see a window of reconciliation,hope and love towards the end of the film.)
3. The Matrix / Kung Fu Panda
Many of you would ridicule me to start with when I compare a cult classic cyber-fiction blockbuster film of all times,The Matrix with a computer-animated action comedy martial arts film as Kung Fu Panda.And I don't hold that against you!
Besides the reference of Kung Fu in both The Matrix (in the scene where Neo says,"I know Kung Fu" after undergoing a simulation program in the Matrix) and a Kung Fu loving panda called Po in Kung Fu Panda...what else do you think could connect these two unique yet diverse films of different genres together?Yes,the same films which have had an appeal and impact on audiences of different age-groups?
Have I set you thinking here? Could it be about-"The One"? Ah yes,that's exactly what I was coming to!In both films if for a moment you discard the outer shell (i.e. the setting and theme) and peek into the inner soul, they are essentially talking about 'The One'.
Now observe this.Both films begin with the search for 'The One' and it is only when he is found that we witness a journey towards their growth, progression and self-discovery in their respective character arches.All of which firstly starts with some extensive training not before several bouts of self-doubt.And it is once these cobwebs of doubts are cleared that comes the transformation (or re-birth I'd call it).And finally,The One's skills are put to test on the field where he triumphs over the nemesis that he comes to believe.
Character-wise so many parallels can be drawn as well.Just as we have Morpheus,Captain of the Nebuchadnezzar in The Matrix confident about Neo being 'The One' and takes him under his wings then it takes Master Shifu, the stern Kung Fu master in Kung Fu Panda a great deal of convincing at first to believe that Po was the next Dragon Warrior!And once Master Shifu comes to believe that Po is indeed the One then like a true master he trains Po to be the next Dragon Warrior.
And just as we see the prophecy of the much revered prophet,The Oracle about Neo coming true in The Matrix likewise we also have the wise old giant tortoise,Master Oogway who believes there are no accidents when it comes to selecting Po,an obese yet energetic giant panda over the Furious Five as the next Dragon Warrior.
And if Trinity is shown to be in love with Neo in The Matrix then from what we see in Kung Fu Panda,we can say that Tigress has a soft-corner for Po (obviously not in love as the former is a Tiger and the latter a Panda!)
And just as we have the invincible sentient,Agent Smith who is mission-bound to destroy Zion in The Matrix likewise we have the mighty Tai Lung who comes to antagonize Master Shifu and threaten the unity of the Furious Five until Po comes of his own and defeats him with his wit and wisdom.
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So these were some of the films that I had randomly selected to be a part of this study as I went on to decipher story-structures.I loved writing this post as it opened yet another facet when it came to understanding films.As a budding film-maker,I believe each of us could evolve in our story-telling technique if only we watched and observed.
Hope you enjoyed reading this month's post?If you did,then do not forget to write in!I look forward to reading your thoughts and notes in the comments section below.
Till then, take care and ciao!
Love,
Sonyaa
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