World Cinema - Part 2: Crash Course Film History #15

Summary

This script explores the impact of cinema on national identity, particularly in regions like Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East where film arrived during political shifts. It discusses the evolution of Egyptian cinema, the rise of Algerian and Senegalese film, and the distinctive styles of Cuban and Brazilian cinema. The script also highlights Iran's significant contributions to world cinema post-revolution, emphasizing the influence of directors like Abbas Kiarostami and Asghar Farhadi. The narrative underscores cinema's role in expressing cultural identity and resistance against colonial and external influences.

Takeaways

• 🌍 Films can serve multiple roles including mass communication, personal expression, and business, and they can also shape or reinforce national identities.
• 🎥 In regions like Africa, South America, and the Middle East, cinema often emerged during political changes, with filmmakers using it to tell local stories and establish collective identities.
• 🇪🇬 Egyptian cinema, particularly dominant in North Africa, had a 'golden age' from the 1940s to 1960s, producing Hollywood-style movies before facing government control post-1952 revolution.
• 🎬 Youssef Chahine, an Egyptian director, gained international recognition with films like 'The Blazing Sun' and an autobiographical trilogy reflecting modern Egypt's social history.
• 🚺 The 1980s saw the rise of feminist themes in Egyptian cinema with directors like Asmaa El-Bakry and Inas Al-Degheidy contributing significantly to the industry.
• 📉 The Gulf War and satellite television in the 1990s nearly halted the Egyptian film industry, but it rebounded by the mid-2000s and continues to thrive.
• 🇩🇿 Algerian cinema, post-independence, initially focused on 'freedom-fighter cinema,' with films like 'Chronicle of the Years of Fire' gaining international acclaim.
• 📽️ Post-1992 violence in Algeria led many filmmakers to work abroad, with films often exploring the struggles of Algerian expatriates.
• 🇸🇳 Senegal, a former French colony, is known for Ousmane Sembène, who made films addressing themes of isolation and identity in colonial and post-colonial Africa.
• 🌐 Other African countries like Angola, Burkina Faso, and Nigeria have developed their own film cultures, contributing to the diversity of African cinema.
• 🎬 Latin American cinema, despite U.S. film dominance, has seen自主发展的国家如古巴和巴西，其中古巴电影在革命后成为政府宣传工具，而巴西的'新电影'运动则反抗好莱坞影响，强调本土故事。
• 🇮🇷 Iranian cinema, after the 1979 Revolution, saw strict censorship and a drop in production, but later recovered with a focus on 'art cinema,' gaining global recognition with directors like Abbas Kiarostami and Asghar Farhadi.

Q & A

How has cinema been used to establish national identity in various regions?

Cinema has been used as a tool for personal expression and to create, clarify, or reinforce national identities, especially in regions outside the United States and Europe where it arrived during times of political upheaval.

What is the significance of Egyptian cinema in the Arab world?

Egyptian cinema has been dominant in the Arab world for decades, with its 'golden age' occurring from the 1940s to the 1960s, producing Hollywood-style genre movies and prestige dramas.

How did the political changes in Egypt affect its film industry?

After the Egyptian monarchy was overthrown in 1952 and a new military regime was established, the film industry was nationalized in 1966, leading to significant government control over film production and stifling creative freedom.

Who is Youssef Chahine and what is his contribution to Egyptian cinema?

Youssef Chahine is an internationally recognized Egyptian director known for his autobiographical trilogy that traced the social history of modern Egypt, with his first feature film directed at the age of 23.

What impact did the 1991 Gulf War and satellite television have on the Egyptian film industry?

The Gulf War and the emergence of satellite television in 1991 nearly brought the Egyptian film industry to a standstill, but by the mid-2000s, domestic production had rebounded and continues to thrive.

What is the role of Algerian cinema in North African film industry?

Algerian cinema, emerging after a war for independence from France in 1962, initially focused on 'freedom-fighter cinema' and later gained international recognition with films like 'Chronicle of the Years of Fire'.

How has the political situation in Algeria influenced its cinema?

The militant Islamic insurgency starting in 1992 led to violence that forced many Algerian filmmakers to live and work abroad, influencing contemporary films to focus on characters struggling with their identities as expatriates.

Who is considered the father of Senegalese cinema and what are his notable works?

Ousmane Sembène is considered the father of Senegalese cinema, known for films like 'Black Girl', which stands as one of the first anti-colonial films to gain international recognition.

What is the significance of the Iranian film 'The Cow' in the history of Iranian cinema?

Dariush Mehrjui's 'The Cow' was the first Iranian-produced film to break out internationally, setting the template for the Iranian New Wave and exploring the lives of ordinary people.

How did the Iranian Revolution in 1979 affect the country's film industry?

The Iranian Revolution led to strict theocratic censorship over Iranian film, decimating production and prompting many established filmmakers to flee the country, before the industry began to recover in the 1990s.

What are the two main camps of Iranian cinema that emerged in the 1990s?

In the 1990s, Iranian cinema fell into two main camps: 'populist cinema' that produced commercial entertainment, and 'art cinema' that made more personal and esoteric films.