Suffocating Interracial Issues

CinematicallyMelina Garcia

European and American Interracial Youth Films

• Typically touch on many different social tensions and issues

• Both European and American intercultural youth films superficially address cultural tensions and differences through diverse cinematic styles and techniques. Why do they stifle serious issues such as race, gender, sex, etc.?

• Intentions of youth films: social commentary… or to please an audience

Quick Film Overview• Bend it like Beckham (2002) UK: Asian football

loving Jess struggles to fit in in England and push the boundaries of her parents cultural restraints to become a football player.

• Ciao Bella (2007) Sweden: Iranian Mustafa is a football player who travels to a large football tournament with his sex-crazed teammates. Mustafa becomes Massimo, a cool, suave, Italian soccer player who steals the heart of a troubled Swedish girl.

• Save the last Dance (2001) U.S.A: Sara loses her mother and moves to an urban area with her father. She is a minority, and struggles to fit in, be in an interracial relationship, and regain her passion for ballet.

Soundtrack• Save the Last Dance (2001): popular urban club music

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEEQ2FmWQQk• Club Scene: “Oil and milk don’t mix”• Bend it like Beckham (2002): cultural mixing of Asians

and Englanders• Popular Hindi artist gone mainstream in England

Soundtrack (cont.)• Mustafa only truly fits in when in Italian disguise

as Massimo. The girls only really like him when they go to the popular techno dance club and party to the tune of famous techno DJ Benny Benassi.

Comedic Relief• Ciao Bella: Cultural miscommunication between

Turkish and Swedish people. • Mustafa has to become Massimo, just got the

Swedish girls to accept him. • Comedic relief: Mustafa shaves his mustache, puts

on a stylish outfit, but sun glasses, and practices his “ciao bella” to the girls in the mirror.

• Save the Last Dance: cultural miscommunication between blacks and whites

• Club wear: “this aint no how down”

Costume Design• “the teen-oriented movie's success isn't so

surprising when one glimpses the youthful crowds flocking to theaters such as the Cineplex Odeon at Universal CityWalk. With their ultra-baggy cargo shorts, doo-rags wrapped around their heads, and bodies festooned with tattoos and piercings, the look of these young moviegoers mirrors the multiethnic mélange of actors on the screen.” – Robert Welkos

Save the Last Dance: “slammin”

Ciao Bella

Editing

• Parallel cross cut editing: worlds beginning to collide

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bn0-7zClnWA

Editing (cont.)• Wide angle shots: Isolation

• Sex crazed boys cheering on a team mate as he loses his virginity- Mustafa standing alone in sorrow and jealousy, watching.

In all cases: happy endings are promised

• Sara and Derek end up in med school and Juiliard despite racial differences and financial setbacks

• Mustafa and Linnea happily together, despite teenage pregnancy

• Jess gets to fulfill her parents wishes and pursue her dreams in California.

• Pleasing the youth audiences has box office effects.