Cinema of Unease
Through their eyes
Cinema of unease is a genre viewers often find ‘Awkward’ to watch. This is because of the atypical behaviour that viewers are not use to viewing. In the films ‘In My father’s den’ directed by Brad McGann and ‘Heavenly Creatures’ directed by peter Jackson the audience are drawn into this film genre ‘cinema of unease’ it maybe that the unusual behaviour we find rather attention-grabbing. Both films are directed by New Zealanders showing the same effect of brooding and dark themes that are shown in a way which the viewer’s feel as if they are in the movie and feel the impact realistically.
`In My Fathers Den’ director Brad McGann successfully uses characterization and develops a character who takes a ride through regression. Brad McGann progresses the character Paul, as he is first shown as a man who is all alone yet mysterious and private the audience sees this in the opening scene. Then goes onto developing him into a person who blocks out his emotions totally which makes the audience intrigued to find out what has happened in his past that has made him the bounded character he is today. McGann also uses a series of flashbacks for Paul to revisit the disturbing past and then back to the unclear present to deal with the outcome of his memories challenging the audience to follow the story line. He also uses sounds such as music or silence to draw in the audience, and symbols throughout showing the significance for each one. The story includes themes and setting found familiar to many New Zealand films, dark family secrets, small-town claustrophobia, and the appeal of the outside world. The film describes a world of emotionally damaged characters remote from each other in blunt lands. The idea of escapism is consistently grabbing the audience’s attention throughout.
The story line can be very hard to follow the first time. This is because of the editing. The story line jumps between the present, the past and the distant past. This editing of
Cinema of unease is a genre viewers often find ‘Awkward’ to watch. This is because of the atypical behaviour that viewers are not use to viewing. In the films ‘In My father’s den’ directed by Brad McGann and ‘Heavenly Creatures’ directed by peter Jackson the audience are drawn into this film genre ‘cinema of unease’ it maybe that the unusual behaviour we find rather attention-grabbing. Both films are directed by New Zealanders showing the same effect of brooding and dark themes that are shown in a way which the viewer’s feel as if they are in the movie and feel the impact realistically.
`In My Fathers Den’ director Brad McGann successfully uses characterization and develops a character who takes a ride through regression. Brad McGann progresses the character Paul, as he is first shown as a man who is all alone yet mysterious and private the audience sees this in the opening scene. Then goes onto developing him into a person who blocks out his emotions totally which makes the audience intrigued to find out what has happened in his past that has made him the bounded character he is today. McGann also uses a series of flashbacks for Paul to revisit the disturbing past and then back to the unclear present to deal with the outcome of his memories challenging the audience to follow the story line. He also uses sounds such as music or silence to draw in the audience, and symbols throughout showing the significance for each one. The story includes themes and setting found familiar to many New Zealand films, dark family secrets, small-town claustrophobia, and the appeal of the outside world. The film describes a world of emotionally damaged characters remote from each other in blunt lands. The idea of escapism is consistently grabbing the audience’s attention throughout.
The story line can be very hard to follow the first time. This is because of the editing. The story line jumps between the present, the past and the distant past. This editing of