Tuesday, 8 December 2009

MY BEAUTIFUL LAUNDRETTE

1985
Originally shot for television, it was later released in cinemas.
The plot tackles many polemical issues, such as homosexuality, racism and England's economic and political policy during the 1980s.

Saeed Jaffrey - Nasser Hussein
Roshan Seth - Ali Hussein
Daniel Day-Lewis - Johnny (as Daniel Day Lewis)

Channel4 Films– Working Title

Social-Realist style
Has a big selling point because it appeals to the gay market. But may be a hard sell because of the homophobic culture.

(www.workingtitlefilms.com)
SYNOPSIS
MY BEAUTIFUL LAUNDRETTE is set in London during the Thatcher years and is the story of Omar (Gordon Warnecke), a young Asian man who takes over his uncle's laundrette. He is helped by his white boyfriend Johnny (Daniel Day-Lewis), who in turn is harranged by his neo-nazi friends who are out to taunt him for his association with Omar.

Directed by Stephen Frears – later went on to be successful and directed “The Queen”
Starred Daniel Day-Lewis – later went on to be successful actor & in “There Will Be Blood” and “Gangs of New York”.

Academy Awards, USA
Year 1987
Result Nominated
Award Oscar
Category/Recipient(s) Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen
Hanif Kureishi


BAFTA Awards
Year 1986
Result Nominated
Award BAFTA Film Award
Category/Recipient(s) Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Saeed Jaffrey
Best Screenplay - Original
Hanif Kureishi


Evening Standard British Film Awards

Year 1986
Result Won
Award Evening Standard British Film Award
Category/Recipient(s) Best Film
Stephen Frears


Independent Spirit Awards

Year 1987
Result Nominated
Award Special Distinction Award
Category/Recipient(s)


National Board of Review, USA

Year 1986
Result Won
Award NBR Award
Category/Recipient(s) Best Supporting Actor
Daniel Day-Lewis
Also for A Room with a View (1985).

National Society of Film Critics Awards, USA

Year 1987
Result Won
Award NSFC Award
Category/Recipient(s) Best Screenplay
Hanif Kureishi


New York Film Critics Circle Awards

Year 1986

Result Won

Award NYFCC Award

Category/Recipient(s) Best Screenplay
Hanif Kureishi

Best Supporting Actor
Daniel Day-Lewis
Also for A Room with a View (1985).

Tuesday, 1 December 2009

MERLIN CLIP - CAMERA ANGLES/CINEMATOGRAPHY

We start with some mid shots, and close ups quickly cut together to go well with the fast paced action.
When the fight is over, we first see a two shot of Merlin and Arthur, and then a low angle of our villainous character. This establishes the “sides” for the programme of good and evil, but also showing Merlin and Arthur together suggests a bond or friendship. The low angle of the evil character, suggests intimidation and power. When Arthur leaves the shot without Merlin this suggests they are together against bad, but not together as equals, further shown when Merlin is covered partly by the framing. He is left in a wide angle shot by himself, suggesting a lack of power.
A long shot shows us a new setting of the castle halls. We see the warrior talking to the woman with many shot-return-shots, and over he shoulder shots. This connotes a bond between these two characters, as they are always shown together. This is cut to a deep field of view shot of Arthur, so we can see his reaction to the scene.
We see a change of time, with an establishing shot of the castle, revealing it’s daytime. We then see Merlin walking alone, with long shots of him in a darkly lit room. This connotes a vulnerability, which we see again with close ups, revealing his facial expressions. Again with the entrance of the warrior, we see low angle shots, suggesting power.
A cut to the next scene, which uses a floating camera, shows the extent of Merlin’s work. We then see Merlin with Arthur again in a two shot, suggesting that perhaps a bond is beginning to be formed between the two. They walk together to the arena, where again they are separated and Merlin left covered by a wall, that connotes a separation either by class or some reason we do not yet know. As the fight begins we see a similar set of shots, to that at the beginning.