Documentary film comparisons:
1. Michael Moore’s 2018 film Fahrenheit 11/9:
a. What stylistic traits/techniques are present in the film which are similar to Bowling for Columbine?
- Using news reals/ media footage
- Addresses social and political issues about American society- left wing view
- Addresses the way in which the media presents people/ issues
- Interviews filmed on location- Moore follows the everyday lives of people and interacts with Americans
- Uses comedic irony
- Moore is in the foreground of the documentary- uses narration and footage of him to guide the film
- Uses flashbacks and historical references to help make his point- doesn’t use a linear narrative
- Shows the influence of politics/ political leaders
- Presents America as a corrupt society
- Use of comedy and dark satire- uses to attack institutions that he has targeted
- Focuses on a specific issue to target a wider issue (Water poisoning- Trump administration) (School shootings- Gun control)
- Same shocking and appalled response from the spectator
b. What stylistic traits/techniques are present in the film which are different to Bowling for Columbine?
- 11/9 is heavier on Moore’s narration, whereas BFC more footage of him leading interviews and interacting with people
- 11/9 uses more sit-down interviews (Moore being behind the camera) with witnesses of the water poisoning, whereas BFC uses footage of him leading the interviews.
- 11/9 uses more archive footage like news reals and features less of Moore as a documentarian
- In 11/9 Moore uses facts and truths to make his point, whereas in BFC we see his opinion about gun laws more prominent in order to influence the spectator
- In 11/9 Moore interviews people with the same political views as him, whereas in BFC he mainly speaks to those who are pro-gun and oppose his views to create conflict.
2. Kim Longinotto’s 2008 film Rough Aunties:
a. What stylistic traits/techniques are present in the film which are similar to Shooting the Mafia?
- Observational film- follows the subject around
- Don’t see the directors- behind the camera the whole time
- Documentary led and guided by what’s happening and the people on screen
- The subjects sometimes act as interviewers- provoking certain convocations for camera
- Focus on women as their subjects- give women a voice
- Both focus on specific people/ groups (Letizia Battaglia/ Bobbi Bears)
- Address issues that we may not be aware of- taking place in Italy/ South Africa
- Use music to change mood
b. What stylistic traits/techniques are present in the film which are different to Shooting the Mafia
- STM uses archive footage- photographs from the photographer
- Rough Aunties is all filmed in present day- we see the events unravel at the time they are happening
- STM uses voiceover where as Rough Aunties rely on the women interacting with one another and having convocations
- STM reflects on the past whereas Rough Aunties talks about current issues
- STM Letizia Battaglia (the subject) interviews and questions people
- In Rough Aunties we sometimes see the women sat down talking to the camera (briefly). Other times their convocations are recorded.
Emma Coe Film Studies 