Section A exam question

"What is the importance of narrative in creating meaning in the films you have studied?"


Narrative is very important in creating meaning in the films I have studied. Firstly this is because is give the film a greater underlining meaning and also the narrative of the film reflects the social issues at the time that it was made. A relevant example of this is the french politically driven film, La Haine. The narrative of the film revolves around a trio of ethnically diverse friends and how they deal with the death of their friend who was killed at the hands of police. The plot of the film is inspired by the Makome M'boloe who was held in police station for questioning, and was then interrogated and killed by french police. Due to the film being politically driven with a strong real life event behind it gives the film a greater meaning than if it were based around a fictional story. Due to the narrative of the film being based around a strongly political based event, I believe that the audience will come of seeing the film with greater knowledge of current (if not important) events being carried out in everyday life not only in France but world wide. Going in to the film not knowing about the case study it is based on would make the film appear to be a rather pretentious melodramatic indie film, however knowing the events that inspired the film really gives the film a greater meaning.