Topic 5: Identity and Editing

Julia Rodrigue 

Joe Saphire 

COM 126 

Showing Identity through Film 

In the three films Mean Streets, Do The Right thing and Annie Hall all showcase race and identity in their very different cultures. Each film uses New York City as a backdrop. Through each film you can see how much diversity there is in each different part of the city. However all three directors despite being from different backgrounds choose to use editing within their films to showcase each character's identity. When critiquing and analyzing films through this lens of not only narrative but technical choices. It becomes evident that these editing choices play a huge role in creating films. 

Mean Streets focuses on Charlie as he grapples with his italian Catholic identity and how that’s affected by his job as a mobster. A main theme in this film is the disconnect for Charlie between his job and what he considers to be sin. The opening scene is a perfect example of him grappling with this. The scene showcases him in a church as his voices over his frustrations with the priest telling him to repent. As Charlie is framed in the shot almost as if a higher power is watching him. As he holds his hand above the prayer candle flames almost as if he is contemplating if he will go to hell or not. Throughout the film Charlie is plagued by his own catholic guilt as his job is not inline with his religious morality. I found this to be particularly relatable as someone who was also raised Catholic. From what I understood about the film was that Charlie trying to help Jonny was his attempt at absolution. Almost as if he could get Johnny out of trouble he could also be forgiven himself. 

Do The Right Thing by contrast is about what it is like to live in New York as an African American. Lee is also showing the racial divide between the three communities of italian, black and Koreans. Another character in this film would be the heat itself. As if this ominous background of heat is leading up to the shocking climax of the film. Lee also does a great job showcasing how a single day in this neighborhood, he does this by using light in a consistent way. The movie starts off almost similar to a comedy. For example I found the shot of Da Mayor talking to Mother Sister on a side angle to be a really great use of the camera. As Da mayor is obviously drunk we see this conversation from his point of view. The final scene also uses editing to showcase the out of control situations. As shots are placed at upward and downward angles. Almost as if the audience flips back and forth between Sal or Radio Raheem arguing. Lee uses his editing to make the audience feel as if we are there. As I watched the film I felt the same anxiety and dread as the crowd. With the use of editing and camera Lee allows for the audience to experience this horrible moment with his characters. 

Annie Hall in comparison to these three movies is not a social commentary on society but a romantic comedy. Through the film we see a non linear story of Annie and Alvy falling in love. This film at the time was groundbreaking for showing a Jewish leading man. However while watching the film I found it hard to separate Allen from his character. I found he showed himself to be the victim of not allowing himself to be happy. As his relationship with Annie/Diane did not end in the traditional love story way. It was even harder for me to separate Allen’s own identity knowing he had previously dated Diane Keaton. Alvy and Allen’s identity are intermixed in a rather weird way. You can see that this is Allen attempting to show the way in which he views himself. After learning about his sexual assault allegations it becomes hard to view Alvy as only a character. I did see the beauty within the film's depiction of the relationship. However it felt as if it was Alvy’s own retrospective interpretation of the relationship. Through the use of editing you feel as if you are seeing a moment through Alvy's memories. Which is very relatable to anybody who has been in a relationship that didn’t work out. 

All three films and their filmmakers used New York City as a backdrop to show different communities. As a film critic it felt as if you were almost transported through the decades to these different communities. With the help of editing and their stylized film making each movie allowed for the audience to view these communities through their own lense