Greetings and salutations!
Welcome to my Short Film Research Blog, the series where I break down my greatest projects and cinematic deep dives so you can easily follow along and enjoy the ride. I'm your host Jaydon Smith! And today’s topic is comparing 12 Monkeys (the full-length film) and La Jetée (the short film).
First Impressions
My takeaway from the fact that 12 Monkeys is a recreation of La Jetée is how still pictures can be a foundation for creating a full-fledged film. In a way, La Jetée serves as the storyboard for 12 Monkeys, with each frame acting as a snapshot of the scene. The short film relies entirely on still photography and narration to tell its story, creating a minimalist yet impactful narrative experience.
On the other hand, 12 Monkeys expands on this minimalist style by incorporating dynamic cinematography, dialogue, and a larger narrative scope. Terry Gilliam, the director, used wide-angle shots to showcase his "skewed vision of humanity," which added to the film’s surreal and unsettling tone. These choices not only shaped the film but also served as an inspiration for our group. Observing how 12 Monkeys evolved from La Jetée motivates us to think more thoughtfully about how we will express our ideas in our storyboard and film scenes.
Key Themes and Comparisons
Comparing the themes of 12 Monkeys and La Jetée, it’s fascinating to see how both films tell different stories while sharing the same base. La Jetée focuses on the bleak message that there is no escape from the present, as people can lose themselves by clinging to the past. Meanwhile, 12 Monkeys takes a more forward-looking approach, emphasizing how the past can teach us lessons about the future and warning against dwelling too much on what has already happened.
In essence, La Jetée delivers a more nihilistic and pessimistic tone, while 12 Monkeys offers a slightly more hopeful—though still critical—message about humanity. This contrast highlights the versatility of storytelling and helps our group think critically about the message or theme we want to convey to our audience. What do we want them to take away, and how will we execute it effectively?
That’s all!
That’s it for this Short Film Research Blog! I hope I made at least most of my descriptions and intentions clear. Thank you for reading! And until next time, stay cool and attractive.
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