Yr 12 Film

As promised, here are the notes from the power point we created in class. If you ahve any questions, please ask sooner rather than later as the year is fast coming to a close.

One significant idea in the title sequence is that firearms and ammunition are made and sold as though they were any other ordinary factory product.  The title sequence is a montage of p.o.v. shots summarizing the “life” of a single bullet.  The director, Andrew Niccol, used this technique because  it reinforces the idea that it is seen as an everyday item. However because of the way this sequence ends, with a child being shot in the head, it also suggests that this ‘product’ is not just an ordinary factory product. This one kills.

The sequence emphasises the economics of arms dealing by revealing the range of people involved in the process. From the people who make the guns, to the customs officials, to the  soldiers who use the bullets.

It emphasises the tragic consequences of arms dealing by showing us, through the barrel of a gun, a battle scene in which a number of people die, including a young African who was apparently not involved in the conflict. This reinforces the idea that the arms trade is responsible for the deaths of many innocent people.

When Yuri is watching a gunman in Afghanistan fire upon his enemy the sound of the bullets changes from that of a bullet firing to the sound of a cash register. This sound effect helps us see that Yuri did not see bullets as a ‘means to keep killing people’, rather he saw them as a means to make money. The sound effect reinforces the idea that some people see bullets as just a commodity, like a toaster or cell phone.

The sound effects in the scene where a man was firing a gun changed from the sound of a gun shot to the sound of a cash register opening. This helped me understand that gun runners don’t think about the effect their trade has on people.  Rather they think about the money they will receive. This shot highlights the gun runners focus on their own gains, instead of the impact their actions have on others.

1.6

In the film Lord of War, directed by Andrew Niccol, an important character was Yuri Orlov. Yuri was important because he helped illustrate the important theme of this film which was the impact that the arms trade has on the lives of innocent people.

2.6

In the film Lord of War, directed by Andrew Niccol there were a number of production techniques used to help develop my opinion of the theme. These techniques included lighting, background music, sound effects and the voice over. These techniques helped me see the effect that the arms trade has on innocent people.

• Analyse how two or three production techniques helped develop your opinion of the main theme.

In the film Lord of War, directed by Andrew Niccol there were a number of production techniques used to help develop my opinion of the theme. These techniques included sound effects, lighting, background music, and the voice over. These techniques helped me see the effect that the arms trade has on innocent people.

When Yuri is watching a gunman in Afghanistan fire upon his enemy the sound of the bullets changes from that of a bullet firing to the sound of a cash register. This sound effect helps us see that Yuri did not see bullets as a ‘means to keep killing people; rather he saw them as a means to make money. The sound effect reinforces the idea that some people see bullets as just a commodity, like a toaster or cell phone.

Lighting was used to reinforce the central idea in this film of the impact of the arms trade on the innocent. In the scene where Yuri arrives home after his wife has discovered the truth about what he does. She feels devastated by the truth, unable to touch anything he has given her saying “everything has got blood on it”. This feeling of devastation and shock was reinforced by the lighting. This scene takes place at night time, during a storm. The darkness and rain were used to reinforce how alone Eva felt.   Lightening was used to punctuate the interaction between Yuri and Eva reinforcing her loneliness and horror.

Lord of War is a dark film. The main character, Yuri is consistently filmed in dark settings. His face is consistently shown in part shadow. This reinforces the idea that he has dark secrets that he keeps hidden. It also casts aspersions on his morality as the secrets he keeps are connected to the deaths of many thousands of people.

When Ava discovers the truth about her husband she discovers her entire life has become a lie. Her art career is not a success as Yuri was the “important businessman who wanted to remain secret” that bought her first painting. The clothes she wore were bought using the money made from selling weapons used to kill innocent people, including those from her homeland.

Whereas Yuri has no problem putting his morality aside in order to do business, Interpol Agent, Jack Valentine, is his opposite. Agent Valentine is not prepared to break the rules in order to catch Yuri illustrates to us that he is an honourable man. When a fellow agent offers to “make him disappear” or “cut off his legs” saying “who would know?” Valentine replies “We would.” This suggests that he listens to his conscience, something Yuri does not do.

Lord of War script extracts

There are over 500 million fire arms in the worldwide circulation

That is one fire arm for every twelve people on the planet

The only question is

How do we arm the other eleven?

I supplied every army, but the Salvation Army.

There are three basic types of arms deal. White being legal, black being illegal

and my personal favorite color, gray.

Sometimes I made the deal so commaluted

it was hard for me to work out if they are on the level

to keep authorities in the dark, I had often spoken code.

Rocket launchers were mothers, rockets children,

AK-   assault rifle was the angel king

I had a number of methods for discurging a search.

I rutinely mislabeled my arm shipments as farm machinery

and, I have yet to meet the lowly-paid customs official

who will open a container marked "Radioactive Waste" to verify its contents

The end of the Cold War was beginning of the highest time in arms dealing

Those   45 years of mutual hatred between the East and the West had generated

the highest weapons build-up in the history.

An elegantly simple 9 pound of algemation of forged steel and plywood

It doesn't break, jam or overheat.

These are my Kalashnikov kids, my boy bridgades

I can see what you are thinking

We need every man we can get

Even if they are not man?

A bullet from 14    year old just as effective as

one from our  14  year old

often more effective

It will shoot whether it is covered in mud or filled with sand

It's so easy. Even a child can use it.

And, they do.