American films

American films

Introduction

As American films are having some elements of more celebrated comedy, France produced an essential comedy on their own. That is Mon Oncle by Jacques Tati. Even though the film was listed among the relatively short films, the producer of the film has remained in the heart of many theatergoers.  Using his Mon Oncle as his third movie, Jacque delves on some thematic issues concerning modernity. All the issues raised by Tati about modern age are seen to be pertinent nowadays as compared to the time the movie came into the public domain. Jacques Tati is regarded as a philosophical thinker within the field of comedy. He takes care of the meticulous arrangement of the film to make all the series unfolding. The film reveals effortless delights that are helpful to the audience.  Hulot stays within an ancient, shabby suburb which has personal sentiments distinctly having a close-knit community that cares and knows one another. The house is co-habiting eccentric building off the square of the town. He stays in a lifestyle that is relaxed and akin to the past periods where many people were happier within their tumbledown existence. Contrastingly, the sister to Hulot, nephew, and brother in law reside in a contemporary structure having each bit of gadget which they desire. They stay in the new town. Arpel, who is Hulot’s in-laws, are devotees to the digital globe. They form more magnificent inspirations to the middle class. This is because they are capable of striving to maintain moving images and shrugs off their past life.

On the other hand, Beauty and Beast have been regarded as the classical ” tale as old as time” about a beast who out to learn loving Belle, thus earning her love in reciprocate otherwise continue remaining a beast all the time. This was done like an original Disney musical set in a small French village during the middle of the 18^th century.  When the price is turned into a monster, he hides away until Belle comes along, where their original aversion towards each other finally turns into a bitter-sweet love. Later Gaston, who is one of the Belle’s arrogant /suitors, comes to kill the beast, and before dying, he keeps stabbing to the creature.  The time Belle notices that the beast will be dying soon, she whispers that she in love with him, thus breaking such spell which had been in existence. Such whispers turn the beast back into becoming a prince as well as the enchanted objects in his castle into his servants

Thesis Statement:  the plots of the two films appear thin. However, this is due to the fact that the scenarios in the two movies are not the point. The pieces have been orchestrated carefully through shenanigans, which form significant points in the two films. In this essay, a comparison of class tensions and mobility in Mon Oncle and Beauty and Beast would be made. For instance, a comparison between Mme Arpel –Hulot’s sister, and Belle would be compared.  Plot analysis would lead to insightful comparisons in the two films.

Mon Oncle-Jacque Tati

In the plot, Arpels necessarily is viewed as attempting to bring Hulot desperately into the world. Arpels gets Hulot towards conforming to their modern approaches in life. In essence, they are struggling to promote their son in various ways-Gerard. Gerard has a love for his uncle. He has warmer associations with him as compared to whatever he does to the parents. She is drawn towards a disheveled area of the town, just like it is opposed to a clinical new globe of his homestead. The effort of Arpel conforms to that of Hulot. She starts attempting to acquire him a job within a factory of plastic, which is being run Arpel.  This fails to get into the stage of the interview. The scene has one of the most beautiful visual gags, as well as being distinctive of Tati Jacques. Upon this failure, Madame Arpel provides a suggestion to Hulot up on dates having slighter odds of neighbors at garden parties. The Arpels’ attempts in managing to secure a job for Hulot are disorganized. However, she arranges to secure a Hulot job at a factory during the party. Though Arpels regrets the decision because while at work, Hulot creates more disharmonies in that factory (Specta Film n.d).

The primary thing which is remarkable in the framework indeed becomes the relativity of the comic piece in this film. Jacques Tati managed to incorporate multiple social commentaries as well as wry observations that are incredibly true. The notable analysis is the way he frames the modernity concept, uniformity, and apparent progress. By all these aspects, the author employs Arpels as an inspirational example in outlining such ideas. The lives of people are governed by whatever is known as en vogue within contemporary households. Many people are playing expensive games to keep up with the Joneses, albeit they probably not fit to afford such games. For instance, Madame Arpel has her fountain running whenever she is having guests at the door.  The existence of fallacy is evident in the way in which an open house plan has been designed.

The design provides conducive to communication. However, Arpels is living a life of cookie-cutter as though she has been churned out by the company. She has little interactions with the world, not like Hulot, who is very talkative. The notion of old versus new, a lifestyle of rat race versus relaxed lifestyles has been studied in the film. In the film, Tati exhibits to the viewers both old and new lifestyles (Specta Film n.d). Many viewers get to empathize with the titular hero that is Hulot (Specta Film n.d). When the old suburbs are being demolished, we get horrified by the cold nature of the new structures.

Overall, the film does not only portray social commentary but is remarkably performed at its center. Mon Oncle runs only for two hours, but it happens at a slow pace. The humor in the film is delivered in a leisurely approach. However, this is not exhibiting the negative aspect of the film. Tati has filled the time using gags that are carefully constructed. As this might never be appropriate delivery speed for the film, there is something which can be said concerning letting material breathe as well as permitting oneself towards sinking into the world of Hulot (Specta Film n.d).

Beauty and Beast- Jean Cocteau

For the plot, while mopping the floor at home, Belle gets an interruption from Avenant- who is the friend to her brother. Avenant offers suggestions to Belle that she deserves the best and proposes to marry her. The marriage proposal by Avenant gets rejected. Belle opts to stay at home, taking care of her father, who has been suffering as a result of losing a ship into the sea. The father of Belle arrives home and makes it known to everyone that he has attained more considerable fortune for the daughter. Ludovic, who is Belle’s corrupt brother, has the belief that soon, they are going to be wealthy. He signs a contract from Marco- money lender to allow him to have the capability to sue his father in case he would be capable of paying the money (Essential Films n.d).

The sister of Belle-Adelaide asks for gifts such as monkey and parrot. However, Belle, on the other hand, requests for a rose a gift. Belle’s father gets the fortune that has been seized. He clears the debts, which makes him penniless just as earlier. He lacks the money to even pay for the lodging. He is compelled to return home via the forest at night. He gets lost into the forest then, later on, gets himself in a magical home having more massive castle gates and doors. The doors and gates open themselves. Upon entering the castle, he gets the guidance of Candelabra, which steers him towards a laden dinner table of which he falls asleep. Later on, he is awoken by louder roars and starts wandering the ground floor of the castle. He gets to remember the gifts which his daughter needed. For instance, Belle requested for roses. He plucks roses from the tree, thus making the Beast appear. The Beast makes threats of killing him due to stealing. He suggests one of his daughters assume his place. The beast gives him a horse to offer him guidance while wading through the forest up to his home (Essential Films, n.d).

Upon reaching home, he explained the instance to Belle and Avenant. Belle accepts, taking her father’s place. She rides the horse magnificent up to the castle to meet the Beast. When she reached the castle, Belle fainted upon viewing the monstrous appearance. Belle wakes up to discover a magic that permits her to observe everything which is taking place in the castle. The Beast attempts to inviting Belle for dinner. During the dinner, Belle is informed that she has been made to have the same command, just like the Beast. And she would be requested more often to lend a hand to the Beast in marriage (DeNitto 124). Belle gets accustomed to the lifestyles of the Beast, albeit she incessantly refuses the marriage proposal to the beast. Through the use of a magic mirror, Belle views her father becoming terminally ill. Subsequently, she begs to be permitted to see the family (Essential Films, n.d). Reluctantly, the Beast provides her with permission so that she can visit the family for only one week. She is offered two magical things while moving home. A  glove to transport her wherever she goes as well as a golden key which is can use for unlocking the pavilion of Dianna- which the basis of true riches for the Beast. Belle employs the gloves to make an appearance into the room of her ailing father. At any point, he visits his father, his life restores. The family of Belle is still wallowing in the abject poverty since the deal between the money-lender has never been settled.

Adelaide and Felicie become jealous of the wealthy life Belle has been living. They steal the golden key then devise a plan towards turning Ludovic together with Avenant against the Beast. Ludovic and Avenant commence hatching a method of killing the Beast in an attempt to aid their two sisters (Chion 67). Later on, Belle returns to the castle with only the magic glove where she gets the Beast lying in the courtyard nearing his death with his heartbroken. Ludovic and Avenant reach the Pavilion of Diana. The Beast later dies in the arms of Belle while Avenant gets into the Pavilion through the rooftop. He gets shot with an arrow that is animated as a statue and later turns to be Beast.

Comparison of Arpels and Belle in both the Films

From the two films, it can be noted that the female characters Arpel and Belle, each have family love. In the Mon Oncle Madame, Arpels attempts searching for her brother a good life through trying to secure a job in the factory. The brother upon assuming the job caused mayhem and later sacked. On the other hand, for the Beast and Beauty, Belle is caring and worried by the fact that her family is still wallowing in abject poverty. She was determined to remove the family from poverty. However, the jealously among her sister could not see her succeed. The sisters made of a ploy of stealing her golden key and even planned the killing of the Beast, whom they considered as the source of wealth Belle possessed.

Conclusion

In summary, the two narratives are insightful in struggles that people go through in their quest for success. Belle and Arpels are main characters who are out in ensuring that their families get the best from them.

Works Cited

Beauty and Beast. Directed by Essential Films (2018) Web Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBTChA2jvBY

Chion, Michel. The Films of Jacques Tati. Vol. 40. Guernica Editions, 2003.

DeNitto, Dennis. “Jean Cocteau’s” Beauty and the Beast.” American Imago 33.2 (1976): 123-154.

Mon Oncle,. “Directed by Jacques Tati.” France: Specta Film (1958). Web source https://www.imdb.com/video/vi1232189977?playlistId=tt0050706&ref_=tt_ov_vi