Sample Oral Assessment

The Piano Film review (HL)

I listened to the oral of the piano film and looked at the examiners comments. Based on the IB rubric my score to this student is 24/25, but the score given by the examiners is 23/25. For me the student explained thoroughly the importance of the extract of the film by using film language and always relating it to the film as a whole. She shows insightful interpretation and supports it by talking about cinematography, editing, and genre. In addition, she also talks about the music, though I wish she would explain how that creates meaning and what effect does it has on the film. 

The Bride of Frankenstein review (SL)

This review was scored by the examiners with 22/25, but the score I would give him is 24/25. The examiner explains that the only reason it didn't get the highest score is because of absence of social-culture, however, I feel that he does explains the social culture of the film and how it affected the film. In addition, his explanation is well organized making it easier to understand  and most importantly he connects the extract to the film as a whole. The only reason why I would not give him the maximum score is because I feel he could have explored the genre a little bit better. 

The Grapes of Wrath: Film Language and Representation

Film Language and Representation

The 5 minutes extract is at 30:04-34:44min right before the Joad family leaves Oklahoma to go to California  they're finishing packing the truck. The main characters on this scenes are Ma, played by Jane Darwell and Grandpa, played by Charley. Grapewin. They are presented as the rock of the family and through this scene it's shown how they deal with the idea of leaving California. The issues of economy and survival are presented by the situations are given, having to leave their home and learning to move on. The actors do a great job of portraying the sadness and disillusion caused by Great Depression and contribute to the genre of drama. Ma shows emptiness and sadness in her eyes when she's looking at herself in the mirror with the earrings in flower shape. Grandpa looks tired and unwilling to leave his land as he says "this my dirt, it aint good, but it's mine, mine". Their acting was "invisible" meaning that their performance was believable  they embodied their character and it couldn't be told it was acting because of how realist it was. 

The camera work is simple, but effective. At first there are several MS and CU, but later when they're talking to Grandpa the use of LS and MS is used more often. Usually the camera is positioned on the side of the actor and not directly in front of them unless is a CU. There's no camera movement; it never follows a character o tilts up or down. To changer perspective, it changes angle of shot. The cinematography emphasizes drama because it focuses on the actor's face when it's necessary to convey an emotion and then uses further shots to add suspense and uncertainty. This film is closed form because in the CUs the characters seem tapped trapped, they are static thus implying how they felt in the story line, not free. The editing is slow cutting because it goes with the sad mood of the scene. In addition it has reaction shots, 180 degree rule and movement match just to name some of the editing techniques used. Analyzing the editing it can be interpreted as a way to reassure that this is a classical film because of it's features. Another important aspect is the lighting, there's dominant contrast in order to emphasize Ma's emotions and the objects that she's holding. Her face and the objects in her hand are brighter than the rest of what's in the scene. Since there's black and white, the black color represents the situation America is in, a dark time. But the white is the light of hope that things will get better. 

The sound is critical in the success of this scene. There's diegetic sound when we hear, the fire burning, the door swing, and the steps of Grandpa on the dirt.  In the beginning of the scene there's background music playing, the song is called "Red River Valley" which is a sad, melancholic track that it's used throughout the entire film when there's a sad moment. This song is slow tempo and low key because it want to go along with the depressing mood. Furthermore, there's symbolism in the scene, especially when Ma is holding those earrings in shape of flower which represents life, which is ironic because the land was dead due to the Dust Bowl. As Ma looks at herself in the mirror she realizes it's no time to wear nice things, but yet she saves them implying that she could use them in the future, it's symbolism for the theme of hope. Lastly the setting is at inside the house and outside the house. It establishes the setting which is a rural environment because of The Great Depression and also because John Ford liked to do his films in real environments. 

Socio-Cultural Influences in The Grapes of Wrath

The film's themes are hope and democracy and they basically represent the Great Depression era. America was suffering the Great Depression and the farmers specially in Oklahoma were severely affected because they lost their land due to the Dust Bowl and they had to migrate to California. The Film questions democracy, it makes a strong statement on weather all they're doing is worth it because the people are suffering the most. It's a difficult and depressing time for the people, but yet John Ford decides to include the theme of hope because of the difficult era. These themes bring conflict to the story plot and because the characters struggle to survive, which is a familiar situation for the American, they develop interest and grow attached to the characters. All this contributes to the genre of drama; the critical situations, the conflicts and the suspense all are part of the drama genre. In addition many of the values that the characters fight for are values that the audience share and they feel related to them, this part of what makes The Grapes of Wrath a classic film. Another film that can be related to this work is Our Daily Bread directed by King Vidor in 1939. These are american film and target the American audience because they're the ones that can relate to the film, especially adults. The Grapes of Wrath represent the American culture and make a huge impact of society, because they see the story of their lives being played on the big screen. But it also inspires other films to attempt to bring reality to a film and appeal for the audience's emotional attachment to the characters and story. 

The Grapes of Wrath: Narrative and the Film Extract

The narrative structure is being told by an unknown narrator. He's the omniscient narrator because he knows everything. It's a 3 act narrative structure;there's the beginning, middle and end. The story is direct, only present time is being used given that there're no flashbacks nor frontwards. The narration is being organized by the plot, the chronological order of events. Since the story is about the Oklahoma family that moves to California because they have lost their land due to the Dust Bowl, during the Great Depression era. The protagonist is Tom Joad through the narration we learn that he's being in jail and now that he's out he just lost his home. The narration doesn't take a side of the farmer and shows how they struggle go to California and find jobs. Because of the background given and the fighting spirit of the Joad family, the audience engages into the story and develops interest for the characters. All this is product of the narrative and 3 act structure. In addition, theme of hope, racism, and democracy is explored in the story and portray through the events occurred in the film. 

Historical and Institutional Influences

The Grapes of Wrath by John Ford is a 20th Century Fox production in 1940. It won the academic awards of Best Supporting Actress (Jane Darwell) and best Director (John Ford).  The film's historical significance relates to The Great Depression and explores the migration of farmers to California.These farmers have lost their lands due to the Dust Bowl and also to the landlords taking over them. The film also explores racism, lack of rights and makes the statement that the people will get America out of the Great Depression. The Grapes of Wrath is an iconic film because the story itself talks about how Americans were suffering in the Great Depression. John Steinbeck, wrote a story that protested the government propaganda and demonized the union out of indifference and greed. However, for the film the ending was different from the book because Ford wanted to end the story with a positive note that would give Americans the hope that they need.  

The Grapes of Wrath was also successful in the film industry, it had 5 academy award nominations and it was given positive reviews by the critics. The movie was ranked #7 on the American Film Institute's 2006 list of the Most Inspiring Movies of All Time. And in 2007, ranked #23 on the American Film Institute of the Greatest Movies of All Time. In addition, several newspapers lie The New York Times gave memorable reviews to this film

 "The Grapes of Wrath is just about as good as any picture has a right to be; if it were any better, we just wouldn't believe our eyes."
-Frank Nugent, New York Times, January 25, 1940

"Through Nunnally Johnson's articulate script, Ford is pleading, pleading, pleading, and in the film's last quarter he offers perhaps too optimistic a salve...Jane Darwell as Ma gives a wholly committed performance, but it is Fonda, with his cat-like walk and his deep-etched gaze, who takes on the features of an Everyman, suffering with grace and every so often lashing out against exploitation. Few Hollywood films have taken so stern a stand against the realities of social injustice."
- Peter Cowie, Eighty Years of Cinema

Finally, the 20th Century Fox already had explore great success with other films such as Young Mr. Lincoln which also happens to be directed by John Ford. Thus implies that this household name qualified John Ford the best candidate to bring John Steinbeck's story onto the big screen. The budget for this film was about 750,000 which partially explains why The Grapes of Wrath was such a successful production.  

The Grapes of Wrath- Genre and Audience

The genre of The Grapes of Wrath is Drama. The topic of the Great Depression is addressed in the film, the story plot is about an Oklahoma family that moves to California looking for jobs during the 1930s. There are many obstacles presented in their trip to California and the grandparents don't make it to the promised land. Other work that might be connected to this film is Of Mice Of Men directed by Lewis Milestone and Our Daily Bread directed by King Vidor. These two film are during the great depression and face similar issues as The Grapes of Wrath. Of Mice Of Men in particular is an adaption from the book Of Mice Of Men by John Steinbeck, which is also the writer of the book The Grapes of Wrath, which was adapted into a movie and directed by John Ford. The producers of this film were Darryl F. Zanuck and Nunnally Johnson. In addition the cinematographer was Gregg Toland, whom had gain experience over the years in this area. This film relates to other significant work from Ford such as Young Mr. Lincoln and Drums along the Mohawk in terms of genre and story plot. They address social and political issues which develop the story in. In addition, the significant narrative addresses socialistic views. The people in the community are being victims of government land takeover and they're struggling to survive. They can't find jobs in Oklahoma and decide to move to California in search of opportunities. This narrative is communicated through visual and technical elements such as the variety of shots, mostly longs shots. Also the costume, setting and props help make the feel more realistic and appeal to the audience's sentiments. In relation to the audience, John Ford targets the an adult audience by exploring social issues and themes that they can understand and relate to. The theme of the film is growth and maturity; in the beginning Tom Joad is portrayed as a selfish character that as the story develops he become to understand maturity and responsibility.