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Class Minutes: Tuesday,
7.3.01 Tuesday's class focused on the continued evaluation of
the German film Zuckerbaby, and its American (Hollywood) remake
Babycakes, Excerpts from
these films were viewed in class on Monday, 7.2.01.
Tuesday's class format included: 1. Brief discussion of important ideas and topics to
examine in the two films 2. Discussion in small groups 3. Very brief presentation by each group of their
respective findings 4. Continued discussion/lecture by Prof. Reimer. 5. Viewing of excerpts from La Femme Nikita 1.
Important ideas and topics to examine in the two films: How do we understand the cultures behind the two movies? - Zuckerbaby presents something about Germany for the
Germans. - Babycakes presents something about America for the
Americans. What are the films trying to tell us about their
cultures? 2.
Discussion in small groups: Notes from Group 2: - The two films deal with particular portrayals of obese
women in American and German societies. - married/engagement - The main character of both films
intervenes in the established relationship of a man and a woman. In Zuckerbaby the man and woman are married.
In Babycakes the man and woman are only engaged.
Here we see the consideration for commitment of both societies.
Perhaps the disruption of a marriage as an element of the story
is more acceptable in German society than American.
- dance/fight scene - In both films the affair between
the intruding woman and the man is discovered and confronted by the
man's wife/fiance at a dance club.
In Zuckerbaby the wife storms in and confronts the two, calling
the woman nasty names and hitting her.
Here the husband remains silent and motionless.
In Babycakes the fiance storms in, directs nasty names specific
to the woman's weight, and hits her.
The man defends the woman from his fiance.
Here we see continued social portrayal of obesity and
confrontation. The man's
fiance is more concerned with the image of the woman her partner was
cheating on her with than the fact that he was cheating at all.
Also, the director has created an element of physical
confrontation which we suspect is more suited to what an American
audience would expect. - the main character as a person - The overweight woman
is presented in two different ways in regards to her personality and
emotions in the two different movies.
In the German film Zuckerbaby, the woman is depicted as a
emotionless entity with no life, no friends, or feelings.
In the American film Babycakes, the woman is given a personality,
a best friend, emotions and concerns, and even talents.
These contrasting depictions comment on the expectations of the
viewing societies for the treatment of individuals as well as the
directors' intentions to evaluate these expectations.
3.
Very brief presentation by each group of their respective findings Group 1: Americans expect entertainment as well as resolution in
their movies. Germans are more willing to think and analyze what they
watch. Group 2: *see notes above Group 3: In General, German society is more open minded than
American. Germans can
handle the lack of music in the movie, the pauses, and the presentation
of sex. Americans may demand more entertainment and a toned down,
less direct presentation of sex. Group 4: The German film could be considered a dark comedy.
The American film was more cheery and "happy-ending"
oriented. 4.
Continued discussion/lecture by Prof. Reimer. Zuckerbaby: How is German society being presented?
What kind of society is it? The main character, Maria, is shown as a recluse, an
outsider who is emotionless and utterly complacent about life. She is overweight, older, and cares nothing about her
appearance. With these
characteristics the director is trying to comment on German society as
being overly judgmental, harsh, cold, and dead.
The imagery of death and the coldness of society continuously
dominate the film. Maria's
weight, for example, is frequently the focus of criticism.
Further, the death industry, where Maria works, is shown as
entirely cold, harsh, and without feeling. Babycakes: In contrast to Zuckerbaby, Babycakes portrays
American society as one of emotion, conservatism, and capitalism.
The movie shows a need for justification for things which happen
and a tendency towards sentimentality.
The presentation of relationships is shown with greater care and
compassion about social norms and individual emotions than in Zuckerbaby.
The main character, Grace, is shown to have feelings and concern
for others. She watches a
talk show on TV and feels sorry for a man in a bad relationship.
Americans are shown as conservative.
The relationship which Grace is breaking up in the movie is only
an engagement, not a marriage as in Zuckerbaby.
Further, the subject of sex in the film is much more taboo and is
played down. It should be noted that while both films do portray
distinct commentary on their respective societies, both films are also
created for specific audiences within their societies.
Zuckerbaby was made as an 'art-house' film, while Babycakes was a
made for Television movie. 5.
Viewing of excerpts from La Femme Nikita The same scene from the French film La Femme Nikita and
its American remake Point of No Return were viewed in class.
The scene shows the woman Nikita being given her new career as an
assassin and shows how the French version is a drama while the American
version is an action picture.
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