National Cinema

A brief explanation of the National Cinema Theoretical Model.

What is National Cinema

Film made within a country or nation*

Film made reflecting a nations identity.

National Cinema films will depict realistic situations that reflect what the inhabitants of the country will have experienced or relate to.

National films can be made for the audience of the nation it is made in, or to portray to an international audience the realism of the nation.

These films will portray the nation visually, culturally, socially and politically with the typical personality traits such as sense of humour, conservatism etc that is typical to the people of the country.

Domestic Film- Films made within a country economically aiding the country and spoken in the language of the country.

National Cinema Worldwide

French- Visual Style-Artistic, Surreal, Avante Garde. Narrative often pushes boundaries and is innovative.Birthplace of Surrealism and Auteur

Film.

India- Bollywood- Instantly recognisable globally. Song, dance,exagerrated emotion

performed in indian language,following similar narratives.

National Cinema Worldwide

German National Cinema in the Nazi period was filled with propaganda and anti semetic films as the government

controlled people. Social and political films continued beyond that era though now, German cinema is breaking away from

political influence.

British Cinema tries to imitate Hollywood to some extent , with big budget productions, although the unique nature of british cinema works better with indie films portraying suburban everyday Britain.

Evolving Irish Cinema

Irish Cinema has only developed since early 90’s with the financial rewards of the Celtic Tiger state.

Early Irish Cinema: The Quiet Man created the worlds image of Ireland with Hollywoods romance and glamour in an Irish environment.

The 70’s: Films made continued to represent the worlds image of Ireland focusing on colonial issues and stereotyped characters and signifiers. Ryans Daughter is a classic example of this.

In the 90’s an increase in historical, social, political and cultural films were produced, showing the world the issues of Ireland, mostly expressing dark periods and issues of repression and hardship often based on true stories. These were as important and popular to Irish citizens for the emotional and personal experiences, as it was to show the rest of the world what was happening in Ireland. Films such as In the Name of The Father, Angela’s Ashes showed this.

Modern Irish Film

Celtic Tiger boom of the 90’s and Hollywood co-productions brought finance and work to emerging film industry. Co productions were budgeted by Hollywood and written and cast by Hollywood and Ireland, filmed mostly in Ireland.

Modern Irish filmmaking- Independent filmmakers -Re-imaging Ireland. Humour- Mrs Browns Boys.

Humour; Street Crime; Inner City Ireland -Relatable themes typical of any western country. Set in Ireland with carefully placed ‘Irish imagery’. Historical storytelling of social, political and cultural issues deep rooted in Ireland. What Richard Did shows young modern Ireland with signifiers such as Gaelic language, Irish scenery and reflects typical Irish youth activities.

Irish National Cinema: Themes.

Themes can vary from films made in the North compared to the South. Most Irish Cinema will address a range of typical themes within the film, with one or two being the dominant theme.

Poverty: South- Angela’s Ashes, Butcher Boy

Historical: North and South- Irish Independence- Michael Collins

Religion: North and South- Magdalene Sisters

Emigration: North and South- Angela’s Ashes

Politics: North- The Troubles; British Invasion- In the Name of the Father, The Crying Game

Civil Rights: North and South – Bloody Sunday, In the Name of The Father

Colonial: South- Ryans Daughter, The Quiet man, ‘Irishness’, Landscapes

Irish National Cinema

How Irish receive it- Important for culture and personal history; nostalgic, identifying with theme, humour, vocabulary and locations.

How the world receives it-A depiction of Irish life. Characters, accents, landscape, traditions.

Economic benefits-Hollywood productions bring work to the creative industry in Ireland, funding and networking as well as hospitality and tourism. Independent Irish films project Irish image and generate jobs in Ireland and establish Ireland as a Cinema.

Internationally Successful films:Michael Collins, Mrs Browns Boys, The Commitments, Angela’s Ashes.