This handout introduces film analysis and offers strategies and resources for approaching film analysis assignments.

WRITING THE FILM ANALYSIS ESSAY

Writing a film analysis requires you to consider the composition of the film—the individual parts and choices (FILM ELEMENTS) made that come together to create the finished piece (including THE CULTURAL CONTEXT). 

Film analysis goes beyond the analysis of the film as literature to include directing choices, camera angles, lighting, set and settings layouts, sound elements, costume designs, editing principles, etc. in making an argument. The first step to analyzing the film is to watch it with a plan (LINK) and followed by structuring it through paragraphs.