European Cinema Jan. 16, 2002 This class opened with the discussion of the previously viewed clips (3 Men and a Baby and 3 Men and a Cradle). Dr. Reimer presented the question, "Are these films capturing a culture?" When referring to the French version (3 Men and a Cradle) students suggested that the film "jumped" strait into the story. One student said, "The French film sets up more of an actuality." Dr. Reimer agreed with saying that in the French film camera is not affecting the mood, lights, and events, ETC. Most students agreed that the clip from the American film (3 Men and a Baby) is intended to set the viewer up for a comedy. This is partly because of the light-hearted mood that lighter colors and music set for the viewer. Another difference in the American film is the scene is not what we would see if we were actually at a party. It appeared to be staged. This discussion ended with the conclusion that in the French film we see culture as opposed to the creation of it by camera. The American film was being created as we watched.  (i.e. bachelors were decorating the apartment during credits.  Music was characterizing the men.  Next, we watched "The Famous Diving Sequence" from the Nazi film Olympia directed by Leni Riefenstahl. Dr. Reimer suggested that we watch what Riefenstahl was doing with the camera. Most students agreed that in this scene the camera shots created a ballet through editing, music, lighting, and camera placement. One student suggested Riefenstahl "choreographed" this ballet through the divers and music in ther editing room. Many agreed that the divers almost looked as though they were flying. Dr. Reimer pointed out that 37 cameramen had to be used to provide enough coverage for this scene. The next scene that we watched was the "step sequence" from the Russian film Battleship Potempkin (1925) by Sergei Eisenstein. This film used editing for more that simply telling a story.  Eisenstein thought that a shot A followed by a shot B could lead to Thought C in the viewer’s head.  Ironically, the Nazis, specifically Hitler and Goebbels embraced the film. In this scene we see the story plus brutality. We also watched a clip from an American movie, The Untouchables that referred to this scene. The next class will continue with a discussion on these two clips.