The film What Women Want is directed by Nancy Myers. In this film, the issue of the catalyst initiating change is looked at and the affects of this change. This film shows how the protagonist, Nick Marshall, a middle aged advertising agent develops his perception of women and creates strong relationship with his daughter. Nick loves the world he initially lived in. He did not treat women with much respect, yet had no trouble finding dates and was content in living this way. The change initiated is accidental when Nick is electrocuted in the bathtub, allowing him to hear women’s thoughts.
This scene is important as it shows the catalyst responsible for Nick’s transition into a new phase. Slow motion is a filming technique used as the audience can become fully aware of the significance of the scene. As the hair dryer falls into the water, it falls slowly. Rapid camera angles are used with non-dietetic music (mood music) in order to create a humorous tone for the scene.
At first, Nick opposes this change as he tries to get rid of this new gift of his by electrocuting himself again. This does not work. This opposition to change is parallel to Old Bill in The Simple Gift, as his change is also not expected or welcome. As the film goes on, Nick’s perspectives change, both towards women and this gift he has. As shown in a particular scene where Nick is sitting around laughing, enjoying women’s company. This film technique of gesture show Nick enjoying the women’s company, but also show the women enjoy having Nick around.
The Essay on Native American Women in Film
White directors have often steered clear of representing Native American women in film. They prefer to focus on the savage Indian man who battles the brave white man. Simply being a Native American woman, from the perspective of the white spectator, have been seen as contradictions. Motherhood and the care and responsibilities that the role entails humanizes Native Americans and makes their varied ...
Nick is now learning to understand women more. He is beginning to respect and care for women. The technique of voice overs are used so the audience also hears what the women are thinking, for example, when Nick walks past some women he hears them thinking “Oh, he’s so adorable” and “I wish my father was like that.” The women around him are welcoming to the change as they are treated with respect by Nick and they enjoy his company. This change deals with the topic of “Into the World” as Nick’s whole personality changes. He develops new perspectives of women and the relationships he shares with them. This leads into a new stage where he revives and strengthens the relationship with his daughter Alex.
At the start of the film, he is constantly tactless and misunderstanding with her such as when he asks her new boyfriend probing questions “How old are you? … Don’t you know my daughter’s only sixteen? !” , then when she is angry with him, he does not know why. With the help of his gift of reading her mind, they form a strong bond, an example of this development is when Nick overhears his Alex’s thoughts about the upcoming ball and how she doesn’t have a dress. Nick uses this and offers to take her shopping, a bond like that of Billy’s and Old Bill’s in The Simple Gift. Alex was like Old Bill in the manner that she gives him some guidance into the new world he enters. At the end of the film, he loses this gift when he is once again electrocuted and, contrary to his feelings in the start of the film, he does not wish to lose this gift.
He may have lost this gift but what stays with him is his appreciation and respect for women and the new perception of them he develops. The people around him also now find him enjoyable as he is no longer rude or dismissive. This film is applicable to this Module as its protagonist undergoes a transition into a new phase in his life, in which his perspectives develop as do relationships he creates with other significant characters. Also, the development of the perspectives of the characters who know the protagonist. This film has extended my understanding of the Module of “Into The World” as Nick is a perfect example of somebody who makes a change in his life which results in him leaving his old world, and entering a completely new world, this world, in this case, is where he sees women as equal and creates strong relationships with some of the more significant women such as his daughter.
The Term Paper on Heros in western films – Their relationship with the community
In the genre of western films, the hero plays a key role. Humanity portrays 'civilisation overcoming the hostile country.' (Miller 1983: 66) In many films the American civil war is over, people have turned their attention to more constructive pursuits. Battling nature to progress America's future rather than each other. In between this wild country, fraught with danger and corruption lies the role ...
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