Fiction Meets Reality

 Films are more than just entertainment, they are a window into our world. They show us what is happening in society, reflect our values, and sometimes even challenge us to think differently. The connection between cinema and society is a two-way road, films take inspiration from real life, and in return, they shape how we see and understand it, and that was the main objective of this blog. One way films connect with society is by showing us its struggles and challenges. Social issues like inequality, discrimination, and politics often take centre stage. For example,  The Pursuit of Happyness  (2006) (Swank, n.d.) tells a story about financial struggles and the power of resilience, while  Parasite  (2019) takes a look at differences in classes and how they affect people’s lives (Weinberger, 2020). These films feel so real because they are based on challenges many people face in their daily lives. Films also capture the aesthetics and memories of their time. In t...

Cinema, often referred to as the "seventh art" by Ricciotto Canudo (Wiktionary, 2023), is a medium where visual images meet motion. However, in the history of films, there is a strong connection to static visual art forms. Many filmmakers take inspiration from classical and modern art, turning the screens into moving canvases that feel as deep and emotional as the paintings. By carefully using colour, composition, and lighting, the director turns his film into something truly artistic. Film as an Artistic Palette Filmmakers like Stanley Kubrick and Wes Anderson are renowned for crafting frames that resemble paintings. Kubrick and Wes Anderson often took inspiration from Renaissance and Baroque paintings. (“Renaissance art and architecture relied on mathematically precise compositions and designs which explored ideal harmony and the golden ratio. Artists and designers arranged elements of height, width, symmetry and proportion carefully against one another to create ca...

Freedom of expression is one of the most basic human rights in a democratic society. Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) says that everyone has the right to share their opinions and ideas, as long as it follows the law and as long as it is for the greater good. This right also includes being able to receive and share information without any interference from the government (European Court of Human Rights, 1950). However, with great freedom comes great responsibility. This right must be practised responsibly to ensure it does not lead to violence (European Court of Human Rights, 1950). Freedom of expression is not something that is found only in law, it is also something explored in art and media. Creating films to express and share ideas, has been one of the best methods of freedom of speech media. Freedom of Expression in Films A great example of this is Sound of Freedom (2023), a film where the director used his freedom of expression to highlight t...