How are genre and themes expressed in the films you have studied,and show that values have changed over the years? (Roman Holiday and Lost in Translation)

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How are genre and themes expressed in the films you have studied, show that values have changed over the years?

The films I have studied for this section are ‘Roman Holiday’ by William Wyler 1953 and ‘Lost in Translation’ by Sofia Coppola 2003. Initially we can see that both films are of the same genre, romantic comedy, and that they both have similar themes like they are both set in a foreign country, the character are ex-patriots, they both have A-list actors and there is an age difference between our main characters with the man being much older than the women. So from these two films which are so formulaically similar and are made fifty years apart we should be able to see the extent to which some values may have changed over time and other perhaps not as much.

The comedy of both films shows a difference, in ‘Roman Holiday’ when Irving comes to the cafe where Joe and Ann are sitting, there is the miscommunication between Joe trying to get Irving not to reveal he is from the press because he is deceiving Ann, every time Irving is about to say something Joe kicks him, or spills his drink on him and it’s funny in a very obvious almost slap stick fashion. However in ‘Lost in Translation’ the comedy is more subtle, like having a Japanese man sing ‘God save the Queen’ by the Sex pistols or when Bob gets in the elevator and he’s much taller than everyone else, which I didn’t even realise on first viewing. It was jokes like the latter which brought controversy to the film as racist, some would argue here is a value degeneration where we now need to laugh at someone (or group of people) whereas ‘Roman Holiday’ did nothing but portray Rome lovingly and the jokes where at no one’s expense.

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The films have different styles of filming, ‘Roman Holiday’ is very conventional with mostly still shots and a formal structure, whereas ‘Lost in Translation’ is obviously hand held camera and has a more messy structure to it. This further ties into the representation of the cities each is filmed in, Rome is the classical traditional ideal of love whereas Tokyo is everything new.

Loneliness is a theme which is common to both films, when Princess Ann is in her room and dreams of just being able to do normal things. Or the way Bob will sit at the bar on ...

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