https://www.kanopy.com/product/war-photographer-0
Directions for Film Critique
How to take a position in a critique: Your thesis in main idea
In this critique you will take the same perspective as a writer that you took for the ad essay. You are analyzing how the film is made by its creators and evaluating how they are persuading you.
The creators are a team and come together to give the film coherence.
In this text, “War Photographer” James Nachtwey is the main character and Christian Frei is the director who directs the scenes and decides how scenes are cut, and how they storyboard the scenes to create the sequence of the film.
Nachtwey is the voice of the film. You can decide to focus on how he describes his development or you can focus on how the director cuts the narrative to show aspects of his growth that Nachtwey may not mention.
Watch and analyze the film by taking notes on how Nachtwey’s character changes.
Support Paragraphs:
1. Topic sentence: Think about what he is like in the beginning of his career. How does the beginng influence how he gets to the next step in the process.
2. Topic sentence: How does he develope in the middle as he bares witness in different countries?
3. Topic sentence: How does he see his role as a photographer in the end of the film.
Natchwey’s perspective: What is his struggle? What are the parts of the struggle?
Main Idea: In this paragraph propose what you think is the main idea of the film. Four sentences.
In referring to the film, you will write: In the film “War Photographer: James Nachtwey” the director ……….
Divide your analysis of the film into three parts. Make sure you name the parts in distinct ways.
Begin each support paragraph with a topic sentence that argues the main thesis in a specific way.
In the Reflection paragraph give your authentic perspecctive on Nachtwey’s thoughts.
Five paragraphs : One main idea paragraph, three analysis paragraphs. Watch your topic sentences that introduce your evidence. One personal reflection paragraph. Keep it authentic.
Write the essay entirely in the present tense. Always refer to James Nachtwey as Nachtwey, never James.
Do not generalize about people, everyone, always, everywhere, the audience etc. This is evidence outside the film.
Please, please, please, put the title of the film in correct punctuation.
Go to the Purdue Owl and read their description of a thesis statement:
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/588/1/
