Poetry and Music in Film

“The Set Up”

The film The Set Up is about a boxer on the wane, Bill “Stoker" Thompson who loves his profession, but his wife Julie wants him to put boxing behind them because it is a dangerous sport. As this conflict goes on, his manager loses faith in his ability to box, so he sets him up to lose. Stoker and Julie have a conversation about starting a new life if he finishes one last fight, Julie says the money is not important and Stoker states, "If you're a fighter, you gotta fight." This is an iconic statement because it can interpret so many different meanings and allows the audience to freely think about their own meaning. This is the impact when changing mediums in moving from regular films to poetic films. Films that have poetic power influence how the audience reacts through their use of poetic techniques.

“The Indian Runner”

The film “The Indian Runner” entails a man (Frank Roberts) getting in trouble with the law, he confides in his levelheaded brother who happens to be a police officer. Frank hopes to start fresh, and his brother has faith that he can do it. So, Joe agrees to let Frank stay -- despite the admonitions of his wife, Maria (Valeria Golino), who would rather not have Frank in the house. And though he performs well at first, Frank's inner turmoil eventually erupts, creating chaos in their once tranquil home. The plot of the film is poetic in and of itself because it shows that things can get in the way to success. For example, Joe and Franks mother passed away and soon after their father commits suicide. The death and love that is presented within this film is very symbolic and allows for free thinking about how you interpret both death and love.

How does film feel poetic?

The definition of a poem is literary work in which special intensity is given to the expression of feelings and ideas using distinctive style and rhythm, poems collectively or as a genre of literature. According to The Artifice, a journal regarding film, Brandon T. Glass states, “How can film be poetic? Some artistic filmmakers incorporate so much beauty, visual storytelling, and music in their films while tackling some very profound narratives, that they are able to elevate their work from a “film” to an “experience.” The epitome of this kind of filmmaking breaks the laws of linear storytelling, and expresses ideas and feelings through the visual and audial; using the senses to both communicate and translate themes. In order to appreciate poetic cinema (or art film in general), an understanding of film’s artistry (not merely it’s entertainment), visual storytelling, storytelling in general, and how directors and cinematographers are able to create meaning using their medium is required. (Glass)” Now this is a pretty lengthy quote that I have provided, and I did this because the words and expressions that Glass uses is a terrific way to describe how films feel poetic. Glass describes that poetry in film elevates the experience to make you one with the film. Moreover, when you watch a spectacular film, you feel as if you are on the screen playing that role, that is why some people get very emotional while watching films. For example, imagine the movie Marley & Me, now if you did not cry when Marley died there must be something wrong with you. This is what makes a great film that uses poetry to capture the emotion and love that is portrayed throughout the film. Going back to Glasses' statement, the way that artists and directors are able to create meaning within their film is what makes a film feel so poetic because it gives emotion and value. Next, I would like to talk about how people portray poetry in film. When looking at poetry in film, they evaluate the words, free-thinking, and emotion that goes into the writing. All these aspects get turned into a beautiful art piece that displays emotion and storytelling in an artistic way.

How does music affect the way in which stories are told?

To begin, I would like to describe how music in general makes me feel. I listen to all diverse types of music ranging from rock 'n roll to country music to Abba, and every single time I play a song I feel a certain way about that song. For instance, when I listen to music from the movie Mamma Mia by Abba, it brings back memories from when I was a little girl in my room having a dance party by myself, enjoying life. Or when I listen to the song Paradise city by Guns N’ Roses, it brings back memories of my family and I driving down a dirt road to go up to our lake house, and every emotion comes right back to me like it never left. This is the power that music holds over people, and especially in the film industry. As I have mentioned and provided examples of, music conveys emotion and how you feel in the present time. This is how directors incorporate music into films, to provide the film with more emotion and an extra edition to the feelings that you are already feeling. Film composer Bernard Herrmann of Centerline digital states, “[Music] can propel narrative swiftly forward or slow it down. It often lifts mere dialogue into the realm of poetry. It is the communicating link between the screen and the audience, reaching out and enveloping all into one single experience” (Herrmann). This quote perfectly describes how music plays a role in film, to captivate its audience into feeling one experience rather than just watching a film and feeling nothing.

Overall, films in general have a lot of distinct factors that go into the process of filmmaking. Poetry and music are just two of those factors but have a significant impact on the emotional toll that the film takes on your person. Therefore, films are so diverse and artistic in order to create an emotional experience rather than just an experience.