Sibel NORMAN ÇELİK

Close encounters with the real: The films of Mike Leigh

Gerçekle Yakın İlişkiler: Mike Leigh Filmleri Bu makalede, İngiliz film yönetmeni Mike Leigh'in filmleri, temel mizansen öğelerine ve Leigh'in film yönetimiyle ilgili yaklaşımının anlatım yapısı özelliklerine odaklanılarak m etin sel ve bağ la m sal olarak incelenecektir. Leigh'in çalışmalarına sürekli yöneltilen üç eleştiri yeniden ele alınacaktır: Altsınıf karakterlere yönelik gözle görülür alçakgönüllü bir tavır, kadın karakterlerde stereotip kullanımına yönelik eğilim ve hikayelerin içinde varolan daha geniş politik konulara yönelik ilgisizlik. Söz konusu yeniden değerlendirme temelinde, yönetmenin filmle "gerçeği yakalama" doğrultusundaki belirtilen amacının ne derece gerçekleştiği belirlenmeye çalışılacaktır. Bu konu, zorunlu olarak sanatta gerçekçilikle ilgili epistemolojik tartışmalara yönelik birtakım çıkarımları da kapsamaktadır. Makalenin vardığı sonuç, yönetmenin kendine özgü hazırlanma, tekrarlama ve doğaçlama yöntemlerinin Leigh filmlerindeki karakterlerin, ilişkilerin ve diyalogların son derece gerçekçi sunumunun temel kaynağı olduğu yönündedir.

Gerçekle yakın ilişkiler: Mike Leigh filmleri

In this essay, the films of British film director Mike Leigh are analyzed textually and contextually concentrating on the key elements of mise-en-scene and narrative structure characteristic of Leigh's directorial approach. Three recurrent criticisms of Leigh's work are re-assessed: a perceived condescension in his attitude to lower-class characters, a tendency to stereotype in the female characters and a neglect of the broader political dimensions inherent in the narratives. On the basis of this re-assessment, an attempt is made to determine how far the director's stated intention of 'capturing the real' on film has been achieved, a discussion that necessarily involves some implications for the epistemological debate concerning realism in art. The conclusion of the essay is that the director's distinctive methods of preparation, rehearsal ard improvisation are primarily responsible for the exceptionally realistic representation of character, relationship and dialogue in Leigh's films.

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