Films are a representation of society and are often used as a way to influence culture- it goes both ways. Current events influence the creation of films and in turn, films influence the cultural norms that people believe to be true of our society. In many ways, films are not given the credit they deserve for the amount of time, effort and consideration that goes into them. We often fall in love with the actors and actresses because we see ourselves in them, want them and want to become their new best friends or want to become them. These actors and actresses work extremely hard and spend long hours perfecting their craft to become these characters. Not to mention, there is an entire crew of directors, writers, producers- the list goes on- of people who create this alternate reality for us to consume in the comfort of our own homes or a large cinema.

To appreciate film, we first need to understand where it all began. Film, at its inception, was very short and sometimes only a few minutes or less. In its beginnings, Europe, Scandinavia and Russia were the dominant industries- American filmmaking really didn’t take off until the first World War. The powerful storytelling tool continued to grow in popularity with the addition of sound and color. Cinema rose to its peak popularity in the 1930’s and 1940’s. In Britain, the highest attendance occurred in 1946, with over 31 million visits to the cinema each week (A very short history of cinema, 2020). With advancement in technologies and increasing interest, films are now one of the most popular forms of media in the world and continue to catch the eyes of millions of viewers daily.

Why do people watch films? What makes them so interesting? It’s all the things we don’t think about that continue to draw us in to consume more. So much thought, energy and time goes into making films enjoyable to its viewers. To fully understand a film, we must critically think. Hellerman (2023) recommends 9 critical aspects of film to consider when sitting down to watch: the plot, character development, cinematography (meaning camera angles, lighting, etc.), sound, direction (meaning the directors decisions, including shot composition and pacing), acting, historical context, cultural significance and your personal thoughts. Hellerman (2023) says, “The point of art is not only to explore someone else’s vision but also to dig into your own. What does the material make you feel? What can it help you understand? What can you discover about yourself?” Film allows us to explore our own realities in an out-of-body experience where we watch the characters on screen show us what our world could, or maybe already does, look like. It helps us explore our own emotions and to think critically, we can get just that much more out of it. 

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2021) recommends watching films undistracted and twice. The first time, it says to “pay close attention to details and make observations that might start leading to bigger questions.” In the second viewing, “you will want to focus specifically on [the chosen] elements of film analysis” (UNC at Chapel Hill, 2021). There are four types of film analysis.

The first is semiotic analysis, which is a symbolic way of viewing a film. In this type of analysis, someone might ask the questions: What are some recurring objects or images? How does the director associate certain colors, sounds or physical objects with certain characters? Paying attention to these details gives you a greater appreciation for the consideration of a director’s decisions and ability to carry those out throughout the entirety of the film.

Another way to evaluate films is through cultural/historical analysis. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill says, “Whether films intentionally comment on their context or not, they are always a product of the culture or period in which they were created” (2021). Sometimes this can be fairly obvious in films, when the script uses current buzz words or the set design includes something notable to pop culture in that time period. However, this version of analysis should include deeper consideration to the decisions of certain characters and director choices in specific moments. Often, there is an underlying story behind what meets the eye. Ask questions that consider themes of sexuality, race, ethnicity and gender.

Next up is narrative analysis, in which the viewer pays close attention to the narrative structure, plot and characters. This analysis is less focused on the narrative and what the characters make us feel, and instead, it asks us to evaluate how the story will be told and from what perspective. Will the story be told from multiple points of view? In what order are the details being presented? This version of analysis is all about structure and the choices of the writers and directors.

The final version of film analysis is Mise-en-scène. “This type of analysis organizes the individual elements of a scene to explore how they come together to produce meaning” (UNC at Chapel Hill, 2021). This analysis is all about setting. What colors were represented in the film? What was the costume design for the characters? Where was the film shot? What lighting decisions were made? All of these aspects of a film can deeply affect the way a viewer consumes and thinks about the film. This is where “context clues” can help us better understand the overarching theme of a film.

When you are first starting out evaluating films, it’s recommended to pick one type of film analysis and watch a film in its entirety with that version of critical thinking. The more you practice each type of film analysis, it will start to become second nature to watch films with all analysis types in mind. Films are a wonderful reflection of our society and culture. To critically think about the decisions of the filmmaking team will make sitting down to watch a movie that much more enjoyable. Let us learn from the great director, Steven Spielberg, who once said, “my imagination won’t turn off. I wake up so excited I can’t eat breakfast. I’ve never run out of energy.” Let films take you on a magical journey of self exploration and appreciate your wildest dreams come to life.