SSC Film Studies

How far do the American films you have studied convey key themes in similar ways?

 The intention of 9/11 cinema is to transmit the anxieties and feelings from that traumatic day. Real life experiences can be reflected onto a screen educating us on how it would have felt.

The paranoia of another invasion occurring is evident in War of the Worlds when Rachel questions “Is it the terrorists?” For a young girl to ask a question about terrorists clearly indicates how her generation fear the threat of Islamic invaders. The character in War of the world’s live in a paranoid society that experienced 9/11 and the trauma of it. The fear after the 1st of September has increased in everyone living in a post 9/11 society. Even the after effect of 9/11 lives with a lot of people and they fear a repeat of the disaster.

Furthermore, when Cruise forms allies with a man he’s just met we see the comparison between a dad figure and someone who wants to protect their country. Cruise accepts that there is nothing he can do other than protect his beloved daughter from the threatening aliens and jumps at every sound. The old man mocks him for sitting in suspense waiting for his death as Cruise is in paranoia. This is an ideology of a father during 9/11 that wasn’t full of spite and had to do everything in his power for his daughter to survive. 9/11 required people to put others before their own needs, regardless of the cost. Ogilvy’s paranoia of his conspiracy theories begins to take toll of him and drive him insane.  He portrays a stereotypical conspiracy theorist, living in an old basement with weapons etc. This perhaps conveys how someone living in a post 9/11 society would have been on edge and constantly suspicious after the attack of 9/11.

Another film as of which I have identified the society living in paranoia is The Invasion of the Body Snatchers. The pods are ideologies for people under the pressure of McCarthyism. The pivotal characters, Miles and girlfriend, have to fit in with everyone else by acting cold and emotionless, enforcing that they have the same beliefs as them. Anyone who stood out would be perceived as a threat, therefore, people were restricted to expressing their opinions.

The moment Miles steps off the train he notices a distinct difference. However, is not sure what it is.  He becomes paranoid as things out of the ordinary start occurring, “Sick people who couldn't wait to see me, then suddenly were perfectly all right.”

Another concern which is highlighted in War of the Worlds is the fear of others. When the explosions are just beginning, the pivotal characters seek help in a robbed car. The characters are not aware of what’s happening or why it is but they are all shaking in panic. The commotion on the roads signifies how everyone is petrified even though they are unsure what they are afraid of. However, they figure that these attacks are from non-American citizens and they question what their purpose is. Due to this film reflecting the after math of 9/11 we can see how the characters immediately assume that they are under attack by a group that object to their way of life.

Similar to the 9/11 attacks we are first aware of the aliens through news reports. Images and videos are replayed continuously, although there is very little information about who they are.  When the machines are visible they are referred to as ‘them’. This implies how a post 9/11 society is well prepared (mentally) for future attacks in their country. Ogilvy’s quote, “This is not a war, this is an extermination” further goes on to suggest that they feel any actions they attempt will be insignificant. The public feel this attack is as a shocking revelation that they are not capable of winning.

The grey smoke and shots of a crashed aeroplane signify the surroundings that would have been present in New York, moments after the attack. Spielberg implies this well with the Mise-en scene used in this particular footage. There are scenes where people are videoing the attack of the Alien’s, this visually gives us an insight to the chaos yet curiosity that people were experiencing on 9/11.  It is no coincidence that Spielberg chose New York as the films location.

There is a great fear of cultural destruction present in War of the Worlds as they fear the presence of immigrants. Fear of annihilation suggests that they are frightened of any of their city being destroyed. Through-out War of the Worlds there are frequent shots of monuments and landmarks, symbolising a patriarchal society. The film is very pro America and has only negative comments about ‘others’. Where-as in Invasion of the body snatchers the threat of change in a small town to the people themselves is there greatest concern.

In conclusion, When-ever the American ideology is threatened in both films, it is represented as a threat. The pivotal characters in each films are typical American citizens and they are portrayed as the good and also the victims.