Film Studies key terms

The visual and aural qualities of a film, created through the artistic combination of cinematography, mise-en-scène, editing and sound.

The artistic qualities of a film’s look, sound and style, created through the combination of elements of film form.

A character’s capacity to make choices and act to influence their own life.

The way a film gives spectators access to a character’s experiences and knowledge, encouraging them to follow events through that character’s perspective.

A story whose characters and events can also represent wider ideas or conflicts beyond its literal plot.

A label for a man presented as dominant within a group. Beasley uses it to interpret Fletcher’s authority and Andrew’s desire for his approval.

Background sound that establishes the atmosphere of a location, such as traffic, wind or the murmur of a crowd.

The presence of more than one plausible meaning or explanation without a conclusive choice between them.

An element that belongs to a different historical period from the one being depicted.

An explanation of how particular film choices create meaning or shape spectators’ responses, supported by precise evidence.

A central opposing character or force that creates obstacles and conflict in a story.

The assessment objective rewarding knowledge and understanding of elements of film, including accurate examples and explanations.

The assessment objective rewarding the application of film knowledge and understanding, including analysis of how films create meaning.

South Africa’s system of legally enforced racial segregation and discrimination, established in 1948; its central discriminatory laws were repealed by 1991.

Previously recorded material incorporated into a film, such as historical documentary images.

The relationship between an image’s width and height, expressed as a ratio such as $1.37:1$.

A system of government in which one ruler holds power with little or no effective restraint.

A musical whose story concerns performers preparing or presenting entertainment, allowing performances to become part of the story.

A French suburb. Banlieue cinema explores the lives of people in the suburbs of large cities, often addressing inequality and marginalisation.

A contrast between two characters, ideas or groups through which their differences become meaningful.

Humour that treats disturbing or painful subjects, such as violence and death, in a comic way.

A political movement challenging racism and violence against Black people, which emerged through the #BlackLivesMatter hashtag in July 2013.

A film that achieves very large commercial success, often associated with broad audience appeal and spectacular entertainment.

The planned positioning and movement of performers within a scene.

A low-budget film. The term originally described the inexpensive supporting film in a cinema double feature and later remained in use for low-budget genre films.

The Hindi-language commercial film industry associated with Mumbai, whose traditions include popular stars, romance, music and dance.

The person who earns the money or obtains the resources needed to support a household.