Thelma and Louise is very different to other thriller films as the main characters are women. However the film has many typical conventions of the thriller genre. The start of the film shows a typical western America and is very cultural with its setting, and music. The director is British and portrays Western American males to be misogynists.
The film begins to show thriller aspects as Thelma and Louise go into a bar. They end up splitting up as Thelma drinks allot and dances with a man called Harlan. Thelma starts to feel ill as she has drunk to much alcohol and is very drunk. The atmosphere of the lively bar suddenly changes to a darkly lit car park. The shadows of the cars create tension. The car park is a generic location in thriller films. The camera slowly pans over the car park towards Thelma and Harlan.
This creates a feeling of isolation.
Harlan starts to get forceful with Thelma as she says she feels better after being sick and wants to go back in the bar and he doesn’t want to. She panics and says Louise will be looking for her. This shows that Louise has authority and is Thelma's protector as Louise gets Thelma out of terrible situations. However Harlan has power over Thelma who is weak compared and doesn’t care if Louise does come find them because Louise is only a female and has little power against him. Harlan hits Thelma as she doesn’t cooperate with him and let him have sex with her.
The film begins to show thriller aspects as Thelma and Louise go into a bar. They end up splitting up as Thelma drinks allot and dances with a man called Harlan. Thelma starts to feel ill as she has drunk to much alcohol and is very drunk. The atmosphere of the lively bar suddenly changes to a darkly lit car park. The shadows of the cars create tension. The car park is a generic location in thriller films. The camera slowly pans over the car park towards Thelma and Harlan.
This creates a feeling of isolation.
Harlan starts to get forceful with Thelma as she says she feels better after being sick and wants to go back in the bar and he doesn’t want to. She panics and says Louise will be looking for her. This shows that Louise has authority and is Thelma's protector as Louise gets Thelma out of terrible situations. However Harlan has power over Thelma who is weak compared and doesn’t care if Louise does come find them because Louise is only a female and has little power against him. Harlan hits Thelma as she doesn’t cooperate with him and let him have sex with her.
Louise holds a gun to Harlan's head forcing him to let Thelma go. She uses a male weapon- gun. Louise is therefore in control and not the stereotypical weak woman in the thriller, like Thelma. Louise reassures Louise and tells her to get in the car. This authority is essential in Louise staying in control of the situation. As Louise starts to follow towards the car, Harlan shouts that he should of raped her. Showing that women are insignificant and have little power against men, it also states that Louise wouldn’t have actually shot Harlan. By this time Louise has had enough of the vile creature that Harlan is and shots him. There is a shot of Harlan who is slumped on the car bonnet, dead. This adds emphasises on the change in roles of authority and the change in times as women don’t except being belittled and treated unfairly in society.
As Thelma and Louise hit the main roads they are struck with lots of traffic. They struggle to get onto the main road and created havoc as they do. The road is occupied by mainly lorries which are male transport. Thelma and Louise's car is insignificant and weak compared to the huge trucks and lorries. The bleak shots show their bleak future as they struggle.
Thelma and Louise then pull over and try to go over what they have just done and what has happened to them. Louise takes control again and tells Thelma what their plans are.
I liked your point about Louise's character reflecting that woman do not accept being victims in contemporary Western society, unfortunately not all thrillers reflect this enlightened attitude.
ReplyDeleteNote that the large lorries are male signifiers whilst Thelma and Louise's small car indicates femininity. The road is dominated by heavy lorries which connotes Louise and Thelma's world is dominated by men (a strongly patriarchal society) and they have to fit in and serve them.
This reinforces the way the two women are represented at the beginning of the film; Louise is represented as a waitress serving others, whilst Thelma,a housewife is constantly trying to appease her husband Daryl. Thus they have little economic power within society.
The comment I made on "Essex Boys" has been removed by you, probably by accident. Posts from tutors need to be visisble as they serve a dual purpose: 1)To offer students advice on how to impprove their work 2) Indicate assessment level student is working at.
ReplyDeleteYour "Essex Boys" analysis tends to be descriptive, but this was one of the first pieces of work you've put on your blog.
Your analysis tends to be undeveloped.
For future research the following needs to be engaged with to strengthen marks.
The purpose of technical aspects of mise-en-scene, camera angles and movement, lighting, sound, colour, character, costume and sound both diegetic and non diegetic.
Try to engage with how specific social groups are represented. See yellow booklet for advice.
Endeavour to read reviews of these films to strengthen your knowledge and understanding of film language and critical reception.