Grizzly Man Research Paper

After seen Grizzly Man (Werner Herzog, 2005) and Hugo (Martin Scorsese, 2011), I had a better standing of realistic narratives and formalistic narratives. Realistic narratives and formalistic narratives are two opposite ideas in films. Realistic narratives are more concern with the truth of the story. However, formalistic narratives more focus on showing the world of imagination. In my opinion, realistic narratives is more credible than formalistic narratives. On the other hand, formalistic narratives is more artistical than realistic narratives. Grizzly Man is totally fit in the definition of realistic narratives. It is a true story of Timothy. No music elements, no gorgeous dresses, no actors, and no fiction plot. It just tells the story
as a view of the third person without subjective emotions. That makes this work is more trustable. Most scenes are taken by Timothy’s camera. During this documentary, the picture is wobbly sometimes. That make us believe the video is taken by Timothy in a rough environment. It helps us to know Timothy objectively and accurately. Furthermore, in this documentary, it shows Timothy’s personalities honestly. He loves animals with his life. He live with them even the environment in Alaska is not suitable for human living. No food and no drinking water. All of these cannot stop his love towards his wild animals. However, it’s obvious that Timothy is not a perfect man. He has his weakness. He is easy to get angry and his mood is instable. The director doesn’t avoid this part of Timothy that makes Timothy’s image more truthful. This is the advantage of realistic narratives, revealing the truth without performance and imagination. Telling the story in a simplest, truest and purest way. Hugo is the best example for formalistic narratives.
It tells a story about a boy named Hugo fixes his father’s automaton and makes a great artist Georges Melies appear in public again. Even this is a fiction, it is a visual and acoustic enjoyment and pleasure for several reasons. First, the film builds a fresh, vivid, and beautiful Pairs in the 1930s with a lot of details. The stream of people in the station, the buildings in the city, the pipe with steam, and snowing winter. It represent a dreamlike and fantastic Paris. The control in scenes make the whole film like a dream perfectly and warmly. We like to dream and this film satisfies our dreams. Second, there are several scenes make me feel the automaton is not only a broken robot, it has life, emotion and thoughts. Maybe it also can talk. I think it is because of the music and the shooting angle. They give the automaton an unspeakable mystery. Third, the design of Hugo’s clothe reflect his life. He is an orphan. In the snowy cold night, he runs among the crowed with his old shorts and thin coat. That makes me feel like I can experience his cold, helplessness, determination, and courage. His friend Isabelle’s beret is also a symbol of French at that time. The design of clothing is a mapping of characters’ social status, personalities and life situations. Forth, the description of Monsieur Labisse (owner of the library), Station Inspector, Lisette (the florist), and the two lovely old people with their dogs all make
this movie warm and full of love. In addition, the plot of dream within dream is not common in real life. It happens to Hugo and make audience know better about Hugo, the lonely and scared boy. Last, the music make this movie more piercing.
I feel sad or joyful, quiet or full of energy through the whole movie because of the music.
Good soundtracks make people can put themselves into the plot easily and completely. In conclusion, both realistic narratives and formalistic narratives have their own advantages and disadvantages. Our film market need all kinds of films to make it diversity. Neither one of them growing too fast is good for the development of
Film.