Your goal is to present a close analysis of a single memorable scene

Choose a scene from one of the films we’ve watched in the last several weeks – Grand Illusion to Umbrellas of Cherbourg – a scene that has stuck in your mind. Watch the scene several times while making note of the elements of film (mise-en-scène, cinematography, etc.). Now ask yourself: what makes this scene powerful? Are their elements you see on the second or third view that you didn’t notice on the first?

With this work in hand, write a short paper to present the scene and your analysis. Start with a short description of the scene and include a time stamp. You may organize your paper in any way that makes sense to you, but be sure to explain 1) why this film sticks with you and 2) how it works. Use the terms of film analysis that we’ve been cultivating.

As with paper #1, no deep background on the film is necessary. Don’t summarize the story or write a review. Instead, look closely at how one scene works.

Length: 2-3 pp. No AI tools permitted in any way. And please, don’t go down the rabbit hole of “research.” This is an exercise in close observation and analysis. If you do want some basic background you can read the Wikipedia entry (and then cite it in a footnote or bibliography). Give your paper a title. Note early in your paper (whether in parentheses or in footnote) the exact time stamp of the scene you are discussing. Save as pdf and submit on Moodle.

Criteria. A good paper will demonstrate:

• Close observation of your scene
• Precise use of the the language of film analysis
• Engaging ideas about how the scene creates its impact