How many ways can a similar story be told?

I was recently asked to write a piece for my film class' new blog. I was actually surprised by how well it came out, and am actually happy to share it here on my personal blog. I hope you enjoy this little slice of film theory.

How many ways can a similar story be told?

This year, this Film Studies has looked at four world cinema films for analysis and comparison. The films are La Haine, City of God, Tsotsi and Once Were Warriors. These films all demonstrate ideas and concepts that stem from the cultures in which they were created, however despite this all the films share some common ideas and concepts. So this raises the question, How many ways can a similar story be told?

Well, that depends highly on what the similarities are. For example Tsotsi and Once Were Warriors, both incorporate the idea of family into their narratives, more specifically of the violence and horror that can befal families in certain environments or cultures. Tsotsi does this through flashback, non-linearly retreating into the past to show the effects of the titular character’s past on his current actions. We see how the violence and death that surrounded his childhood has warped his view on the world, turning him into a predatory thug.

Some of these ideas are also displayed in Once Were Warriors, however the framing has changed. The horrors of a dysfunctional family is far more pressing in this film, the danger and corruption is in the present. Tsotsi often shows it’s flashbacks in the form of dreams, the character will awake to end one of these sequences for example. However, Once Were Warriors lacks this fantastical barrier. The pain and violence is immediate in this film, and the details are shown far more explicitly.

The results of these different styles are numerous. Tsotsi is a softer film, the emotions and ideas of what it means to come from a broken and violent family are felt very strongly, even if the details are vague. Furthermore the method chosen by Tsotsi allows for a greater sense of character change, we see the character as a child, a predatory thug and finally as a man. Once Were Warriors’, approach however is far more shocking. The film aims to make the viewer feel uncomfortable and sick, with the acts of violence being of greater importance than the characters participating. This film is far more visceral, aiming to move the audience in a more physical manner.

This is only a single example of how similar ideas can be used to totally different effect. There are several more present across the four films, and more importantly, across all of cinema. Other good examples are: how gun violence is portrayed across the four films, the concept of childhood in Tsotsi, Once Were Warriors and City of God, and substance abuse is displayed in City of God and Once Were Warriors.

These ideas and themes are great jumping on points for analysis, and comparing four films which differ so greatly and share so much is a wonderful way to begin thinking about film in a more critical fashion. We have four films to discuss in this part of the course, so compare and contrast their ideas and use of themes. Just some thoughts from me.

By Jack D. Phillips