During the first couple of weeks of Ital 152, many film concepts were thrown at us. We had to get a solid foundation of film terminology before we could fully grasp analyzing a film. Terms such as mise en scene, cinematography, and montage are categories to judge a film on. We learned different framing sizes such as close up, medium shot, and long shot. Knowing what shots are used for and intentions of shots allow viewers to gain more from films. Angles, as well as lighting, have a big impact on films as well. They can set the mood of the film as well as engage viewers more. It’s important to know the impact of tedious things such as angles/shots to gain a deeper understanding of the film. Once you understand why producers light the room a certain way or shot from a certain angle you can understand the intention behind the shot. A lot of times films won’t say everything that’s happening. But through angles and shots, you can fill in the blanks and assume what isn’t shown.

We then read the article Italian Cinema by Christopher Wagstaff. This article spoke about the history of Italian cinema. More specifically about how there weren’t a lot of Italian films kept in history. Most films had been destroyed/lost so there wasn’t much to look back on. The article spoke about the struggles Italian cinema faced throughout the years as well as the positives. It seemed Italian cinema would go through a period of being at the top and thriving then down to the bottom struggling. Italian cinema struggled to keep up with Hollywood films as well as trying to escape fascism in their own country. The article spoke about events after the wars and more specifically about the emergence of neorealism. Neorealism allowed Italian filmmakers to make a film cheap and fast. They also had the opportunity to express what life was like during the war. Neorealism was the Italian film niche. This was where they saw the most opportunity and ability to grow. 

The first film we watched was Cinema Paradiso. This film was about a man’s life and his love for cinema. The film showed a man, Toto, as a child and showed the progression of his life. We saw his growth and struggles which made you feel a part of the film. The film showed everything from poverty to heartbreak to loss. This is one of Italy’s most known films and most loved films outside the country. This is because the film is very relatable. Anyone from any culture can resonate with it in some way. The storyline/plot was very engaging and you never knew what was going to happen next. It’s a timeless, classic film. Meaning the older it gets doesn’t make it irrelevant/unrelatable it only makes it better. You could watch the film 10 years from now and it would be just as good. Cinema Paradiso brought a lot of hope to Italian film. It made Italian filmmakers realize their films could succeed outside the country. As well as make films in a non-traditional way, neorealism, and still thrive. Cinema Paradiso was a glimpse of what Italian film was to be

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