Contemporary Latin American Film

Contemporary Latin American FilmPIIE 411-01

Course description

This course invites students to explore Latin America through the eyes of contemporary Latin American filmmakers. With a thematic emphasis, we will watch and analyze films considering them as complex representations of the region.

Course learning objectives
With the successful completion of this course, students will grow in their ability to:

? Discover, recognize and discuss the main characteristics of Latin American film

? Develop a personal opinion and point of view of Latin America, stepping away from stereotypes

? Analyze the different styles, esthetic characteristics and ways of telling a story in film.

? Compare and discuss the main differences between film and documentary related to Latin American issues.

? Become familiar with a group of well known contemporary Latin American filmmakers

Course Themes

The themes that will be studied during the class will be based in the critical study of a group of films. This critical study means not only watching the film, but also reading texts that talk about the film, placing the film in its context of production, connecting the film with sociological issues and writing about the film.

i. Approaches to women and gender through contemporary Latin American film

ii. Documentaries and fictional films. 1973-1990: Chilean Dictatorship

iii. Marginal urban societies. Representations of Brazil, Mexico and Chile
Course Methodology

? Group guided viewing of shorts and documentaries in order to fight the life-long habit of quickly consuming films as forgettable entertainment.

? Class discussions will require your preparation at home. This may include items such as a list of discussion questions, a study guide, related web sites, and/or class exercises for discussing the film.

Readings. Chapters selected from the following texts

? Bordwell, David: Kristin Thomson: Film Art, an Introduction

? Burton, Julianne: The Social Documentary in Latin America

? Nichols, Bill: Representing Reality, Issues and Concepts in documentary

Course evaluation

? Participation in class discussions
? Written appreciations of the films: Movie review / Critical essay / Frame analysis
? Oral presentations

Film selection for the course

? Amores Perros
Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu (Mexico)
Year: 2000

? Ciudad de Dios
Director: Fernando Meirelles y Kátia Lund (Brasil)
Year: 2002

? La Teta asustada
Director: Claudia Llosa (Perú)
Year: 2009

? Machuca
Director: Andrés Wood (Chile)
Year: 2004

? Tony Manero
Director: Andrés Wood (Chile)
Year: 2003

? Football Stories (Historias de Futbol)
Director: Andrés Wood (Chile)
Year: 1997

? The maid (La nana)
Director: Sebastián Silva (Chile)
Year: 2009

? Madeinusa
Director: Claudia Llosa (Perú)
Year: 2006

? Como agua para el chocolate
Director: Alfonso Arau (Mexico)
Year: 2003

? Coronación
Director: Silvio Caiozzi (Chile)
Year: 2000

? Captain Pantoja and special services (Pantaleón y las visitadoras)
Director: Francisco Lombardi (Perú)
Year: 1999

? La ciudad de los fotógrafos
Director: Sebastián Moreno (Chile)
Year: 2006

? Dawson, Isla 10
Director: Miguel Littin (Chile)
Year: 2009

? El chacotero sentimental
Director: Cristián Galaz (Chile)
Year: 1999

EVALUATIONS

The final grade of this course will be an average of the following items:

? 2 Critical essays
? 1 Oral Presentation
? Homework: Readings, Movie reviews, Questions
? Participation in class discussions: Informed arguments, motivating questions, propose topics of discussion
? Attendance and punctuality