The Auteur Theory In Raise The Red Lantern

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The auteur theory is the assumption that the director of a film is an artist of their medium in the same way that a writer is the author or their book. Writers often use similar themes, have similar characters, and write in a stylistic manor that is recognizable. The auteur theory suggests that the same can be said of directors of films, that they will be recognizable as the creative force behind each film they produce. There are three premises to auteur theory that film viewers can use to identify a director through the techniques used in the film. The first premise is that the director must have knowledge of film techniques such as lighting, color, and editing and the skills to utilize them to create a picture that fulfills the narrative …show more content…
The use of large, open spaces in this film allow the framing devise to have a larger impact because it forces the character to remain in a smaller space despite the vastness of the room they are shot in. Framing, although visually appealing, is not as important thematically in the action-packed film, Hero. Zhang follows a pattern of slower narrative build up to a loud and fast fighting sequence followed by a slower and calmer resolution. The fast pace of the fighting scenes is often abruptly halted with the use of slow motion that focuses in on a sword moving, a water droplet falling, or a limb flying. The slow motion is only used during the fighting scenes to break up the action and add drama and length to the scene. During the slower portions there are significantly less cuts than the fighting scenes and the sound is much softer. Despite the differences between the films you would be able to recognize Zhang as the director because of the way he positions his actors and actresses in the sets to achieve the most symmetrical and visually appealing

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