How to Write a Film Analysis for beginners.

Steps:
  * Outline
  * Thesis statement
  * Introduction
  * Body
  * Conclusion

Film Analysis Outline

The first and foremost step is writing a film analysis essay outline. You need to make a short
draft with the core measures to analyse the film. Mind the instructions in case you have them.
Organize the ideas in a list and proceed to the next step.

Film Analysis Thesis Statement

Pay special attention to writing a film analysis thesis statement. You first need to squeeze out
the central narrative threads and ideas. The thesis statement should focus on what you will prove
in your essay by transforming those ideas into new meanings.

Concentrate on the combination of film expectations, the auteur’s  point of view, and your own
critical opinion. In the end, formulate a concise thesis statement and move on to the introduction
preparation.



Film Analysis Introduction

Your film analysis introduction should be informative. Give the general information about the film.
It may contain the movie title, director, release year, and cast. 

After building an introduction background:

1.     Dive deeper.

2.     Explore the director’s filmography or build possible links between the film and the current
trends or social agenda.

3.     Include as many valuable insights as you can to spark a thought in the reader’s mind. 

Remember that the introduction should validate and complement your thesis statement. 

Body

Having the outline and the formulated thesis statement, you should, in a way, break down a film
into its creative elements and analyse each of them. At once individually, and then as a whole
picture.

What are those creative elements?
  * Directing. Since we have mentioned the role of the director time and again, let’s start with
it. Trace their distinctive directing manner to find new patterns and compare them to previous
works.
  * Scenario. In most films, often except for art-house cinema, the script plays one of the
critical roles in its power.
A well-written scenario helps develop the narrative and each character. It reduces the risk of
silly inconsistencies or mistakes. After watching, try to access the level of scripting consistency
and clarity.
  * Acting. Even though we’ve just defined the role of the scenario, acting sometimes plays louder
than words. Try to answer the question: how accurately does the actors’ performance reveals and
conveys the author’s main idea and your thesis statement.
  * Music and visual effects. Setting the overall mood is what is impossible without soundtracks
and visual effects. Provide an example of how each part, special effects, sounds, make-up, or
costumes, help, or vice-a-versa, interfere in expressing the author’s message.

While analysing, don’t forget to build logic between each element. Make a smooth and solid review.

Conclusion

Once again, make sure your analysis confirms the thesis statement and show it in your resolution.

Remember that movies are complex pieces of art. Don’t be too shallow in your essay. Try to see a
bigger picture and put it in words.









An Example: Solaris

                                           Essay Example

                                    Film Analysis Essay Sample

Andrey Tarkovsky’s Solaris Analysis

Introduction
The film “Solaris” by Andrey Tarkovsky was released in 1972 as an adaptation of the 1960th science
fiction novel by Stanislav Lem. “Let us take you with us to Solaris, the planet of mystery, an
embodiment of man’s latent conflict with the unknown. Man, face to face with his conscience and
past,” the film slogan states. Was Tarkovsky able to convey this message to the viewer? What tools
did he use?
Body
The visuals of Solaris deserve to be taught in cinematic schools. The virtuosity of the camerawork
is impossible to describe in words. Living, sparkling pictures of nature, the chill of the space
station, the alien heart of the Ocean — everything is shot so great that in addition to the color
shades, it conveys even the temperature changes of what is happening on the screen. During a long
time on the station, protagonist Calvin realizes that the one thing that unites him with the mighty
“Supermind” is that every intelligent being in the universe always suffers eternal loneliness.
Throwing away all attempts to understand the Ocean, he plunges into its waves. He ceases all inner
resistance and surrenders to its powerful and incomprehensible willpower.
Conclusion
The overall picture of the setting, script, audiovisual effects, etc., assist the director in
translating the idea of humanity’s unpreparedness for the new. Humankind has not yet reached the
required level to discover unknown cosmic universes. All attempts to understand “another mind” will
fail until man fully explores themselves.