Mizoguchi screenings: don't miss!

I strongly recommend the free Mizoguchi film series at the Union this week and weekend. See details night by night here.

If you're curious about or already a fan of Japanese cinema and haven't seen work by this director, don't miss the rare opportunity to see restored prints of these great films:

Seven Masterpieces by Kenji Mizoguchi
Seven beautifully restored 35mm film prints by Japanese director Kenji Mizoguchi, unequaled in their pictorial and narrative richness and emotional force.

All films are FREE and open to the public. Films are in Japanese with English subtitles.
Thursday - Tuesday, December 6-11, 2007

Thursday, 7pm : Story of the Last Chrysanthemums (Zangiku monogatari), one screening only!
Friday, 7pm: Sansho the Bailiff (Sansho Dayu)
Friday, 9:30pm: Sisters of Gion (Gion no shimai) one screening only!
Saturday,5 pm: Street of Shame (Akasen Chitai) one screening only!
Saturday, 7pm: Ugetsu (Ugetsu Monogatari)
Saturday, 9pm: Life of Oharu (Saikaku Ichidai Onna)
Sunday, 5pm: Utamaro and his Five Women (Utamaro O Meguru Gonin no Onna) one screening only!
Sunday, 7pm: Life of Oharu (Saikaku Ichidai Onna)
Monday, 7pm: Sansho the Bailiff (Sansho Dayu)
Tuesday, 7pm: Ugetsu (Ugetsu Monogatari)

Final visual essays due Dec. 13

Final visual essays are due by 12 noon Thursday, Dec. 13!

The assignment, which is similar to essays 1 and 2 but requires substantial revision and must be longer and include more images than previous essays, is available now for download at our D2L site. Read carefully and take note of additional requirements.


Post your final essay on your own blog by the deadline, complete with images. Also submit your blog's URL via the comments field of this post (even if you've done that before, for previous essays).

Happy revising!

Extra credit opportunity this Friday

Don't miss the live musical performance of "Radio Nurse" by Jonathon Rosen and Tom Recchion this Friday at 2pm in Kenilworth Square East. For more info, see this announcement or check out these links on Tom Recchion and Jonathon Rosen.

Arrive early to be sure you'll get in: access to the fourth floor is restricted and the elevator/entrance won't be kept open to the public past 2pm. Seating will be limited.

Extra credit is available: 2 points will be added to your final grade in Film 320 if you submit a one-page response that substantially and thoughtfully relates the performance to an idea encountered in this course. (This would be due by the end of the last class meeting.)

Group presentations Nov. 29 and Dec. 6

Each group will collaborate on a close analysis of one scene or segment of Mulholland Drive. Collaboration will continue over two weeks, after which each group will present its conclusions (using still and/or moving images and, if you choose, sound clips, performance, staging, or other elements). Each group must have one unified thesis and an approach that draws on methods encountered in or inspired by the course readings. Each group member must present a substantial and relevant portion of the collaborative analysis. Each group’s presentation should be between 20 minutes (minimum) and 35 minutes (maximum) to allow time for all groups in a class period.

Requirements of the presentation:

• A clearly stated thesis (about how the segment you studied relates to and reveals something about the film as a whole)
• An approach to the chosen segment that shows some engagement with methods or theories encountered in the course.
• At least one clip from the film, which you analyze in a way that supports your thesis
• Each group member must post at least one (1) comment to your group’s area on the blog (see below). Note: if instead you're going to conduct e-mail discussions amongst yourselves, cc: me on at least one message apiece, so I can see that each person is making a contribution to the discussion.
• A relatively detailed outline, including the thesis statement at the top, e-mailed to me by one group member by 8pm the night before the group’s presentation date

Below this post, I will create one post for each group. In that post, you’ll find links to the scenes your group is studying, so you can look at these off campus. (They're quicktime .mov files, so you'll need a media player compatible with .mov files.) Use the comments field of your group’s post to conduct your discussions (or do this via e-mail and keep me in the loop).

Groups and presentation dates:
Group 1 presents on Nov. 29: Josh M., Todd, Reid
Group 2 presents on Dec. 6: Christina, Josh K., Lauren
Group 3 presents on Nov. 29: Zach, Cameron
Group 4 presents on Dec. 6: Tim and Daniel
Group 5 presents on Nov. 29: Sebastian and Marie

Good luck and have fun!

Unrelated note on visual essays: I'll sending e-mailed comments on your second visual essay soon. Your final visual essays, which aren't related to the group presentations discussed above, are due to be posted on your personal blogs by noon, Thursday, Dec. 13.

Group 1 discussion area

Group 1 (Josh M., Todd, Reid), use the comments field to discuss and plan your presentation (or do this via e-mail, as you said you preferred to do, just let me know that each person's making a contribution).

This link takes you to the Club Silencio scene.

You'll give your presentation in class Nov. 29.

Group 2 discussion area

Group 2 (Christina, Josh K., and Lauren), use the comments field to discuss and plan your presentation. This link will take you to the diner scene.

You'll give your presentation in class Dec. 6.

Group 3 discussion area

Group 3 (Zach and Cameron), use the comments field to discuss and plan your presentation. These links take you to a couple of (literally) pivotal scenes in Mulholland Drive:

Cowboy appears and tells Diane to wake up
Dondé estas? (the blue box)
Diane/Betty/Rita/Camilla superimposed

You'll give your presentation in class Nov. 29.