Historical

Movie Review History 12

PARIS 1919

The Challenge:
Hollywood has created countless motion pictures following ancient, medieval and modern-day historical themes. While some of these films, such as Ben Hur and Gladiator, have won Oscars for their costumes and sets, others, others, such as Alexander the Great (2004), have been subjected to a great deal of scrutiny for inaccuracies and the perpetuation of unfounded myths. Your challenge is to review Paris: 1919 and to assess the historical accuracy of the film, in relation to the overall significance and accuracy of what actually took place. The assignment requires thoughtful research and consideration of historical facts based on credible sources. Your task is to write a review, which accomplishes the following: Summarizes the plot (informative, but concise) Details and reviews/discusses the historical accuracy, Details the entertainment value (acting, costumes, music etc) Provides a ranking for the film, with suggestion for improvement. After viewing the film, select 3-5 areas to focus on (see suggestions below) to discuss the historical accuracy of the movie, based on research gathered from the text and other sources (you must include a bibliography of your sources). Suggested areas of focus may include but are no limited to: Prominent individuals Individual agendas, tactics, strategies, beliefs, values and motives Accuracy Place, location, terms of the Treaty, geographic borders, timeline There are many areas of focus that can be used for assessing the historical accuracy of the movie. Below is a list (though not an exhaustive list), of suggestions. The movie review should assess the historical accuracy (whether correct or incorrect) of approximately 3-5 areas. Your paper should be written in a formal, academic style. Therefore, no I or me or you should be anywhere in your essay! Spelling, grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, language and paragraphing errors will be considered. Your essay must be written in your own words. Information must not be simply 'lifted' or copied from your sources. Summarize, paraphrase and give your sources quotations. In summary, your review must formatted using WRCA Paper Format guidelines and must include: 1) An introduction 2) A plot summary 3) A historical accuracy assessment (3-5 areas of focus) 4) A ranking of the film and possible revisions to improve the film 5) A conclusion 6) Bibliography

How to Watch Historical Videos

From time to time during any course you will be shown a video on a particular theme or subject. Using videos for teaching and learning has both advantages and disadvantages. The advantages are fairly obvious. In the case of documentaries you are able to see contemporary footage of past events and faraway places, and you can hear the accounts of participants who were actually present. In addition, you can learn from the analysis of historians associated with the production. In terms of major motion pictures, they can be very entertaining and when historically accurate and accompanied by additional or supplementary information it can be a very effective tool of learning (especially to visual learners). However, one disadvantage is that you can too easily become passive when watching a video. There is a tendency to treat it as entertainment, and not as a learning tool (of course it could be both). In addition, it is sometimes difficult to take notes. It is therefore necessary to keep a number of points in mind when watching videos. Treat the video as a lecture. Listen carefully and note the most important facts and interpretations, the same as you would in a lecture. If you are watching a feature film (drama) pay attention to the mood created, and the artistic techniques used to create the mood or emotions. As well as, any historical facts it describes (or claim to describes). In either case think about what the director is saying to you and how the message is presented. The choice of dramatic skills and film making technology will have a big impact on how the message is understood by the viewer. Make notes of important passages of narration or dialogue that are central to the film. Pay attention to the ways that the director uses the images in the film- after all, the most basic parts of the film are the images. Look for particular camera angles, sets, lighting, editing techniques, gestures, movements, facial expressions, and s on. In advance of each video, the teacher will usually suggest important questions that you should consider while watching, and later, while thinking about what you have seen. Be Aware of Bias and Perspective.

 Historical Movie Review Rubric

Level Four Level Three Level Two Level One MARK (8-10 marks) (7-8 marks) (6-7 marks) (5-6 marks) *Comparing 4 aspects *Comparing 3 aspects *Comparing 2 aspects *Comparing 1 aspect of the film to the of the film to the of the film to the of the film to the historical research historical research historical research historical research *Citing ample *Citing sufficient *Citing some *Citing limited historical evidence in historical evidence in historical evidence in historical evidence in Comparing making the making the making the making the _____ Historical Research comparisons comparisons comparisons comparisons 10 and the Film *Always providing a *Usually providing a *Sometimes providing *Occasionally clear summary of clear summary of a clear summary of providing a summary relationship between relationship between relationship between of relationship the film and actual the film and actual the film and actual between the film and history history history actual history *Plot Summary * Plot Summary * Plot Summary * Plot Summary is provides a thorough provides a provides explanation lacking in explanation but concise considerably good of story but some and is too short/long explanation of the explanation but may questions still remain, *The review story be too long or short and summary is too infrequently makes *The actual review *The review usually long/short logical conclusions or communicates makes logical * The review generalizations information and ideas conclusions or sometimes makes *Intro established the logical conclusions or point of view, and set Summary and with a high degree of generalizations *Intro establishes the generalizations the historical scene Entertainment, clarity, and with _____ confidence point of view, and sets *Intro established the for the film Intro and 10 *Intro clearly the historical scene point of view *has a conclusion Conclusion establishes the point for the film *Conclusion restates which restates the of view, and sets the *has a clear the point of view and point of view historical scene for conclusion which summarizes the the film restates the point of evidence presented *has a clear and view and summarizes effective conclusion the evidence which restates the presented point of view and summarizes Bibliography Level Four (4 marks) The bibliography applies all or almost all of the skills involved in the inquiry process by: *Including at least three sources *Always using proper bibliographic format Level Three (3 marks) Level Two (2 marks) Level One (1 mark) _____ 10

Written Conventions

The bibliography The bibliography applies most of the applies some of the skills involved in the skills involved in the inquiry process by: inquiry process by: *Including at least 2 including at least one sources source *Usually using proper *Sometimes using bibliographic format proper bibliographic format * Presentation has no * Presentation has no * Presentation has misspellings or more than two three misspellings grammatical errors. misspellings and/or and/or grammatical grammatical errors. errors.

The bibliography applies some of the skills involved in the inquiry process by: *Including at least one ______ source *seldom using 5 proper bibliographic format * Work has four or more spelling errors and/or grammatical errors.

_____ 10