In the section “the making of a native tradition,” the author depicts montage applied in the film “Street Angel.” The author’s description of the opening shots piqued my interest in this movie. After watching the film, I found the film’s opening credits to be very innovative, and the way the credits were presented by montage was very different from the static credits of other films of that time.
In addition, the constantly moving camera stitches together Shanghai’s disorderly cityscape, reflecting a prosperous scenery where Chinese and foreign cultures merge. As the author puts it, “a metaphorically forced coupling of Chinese feudalism and foreign powers.”
However, after such an excellent beginning, the film turns to realism. The film tells the tragic story of those at the bottom of Shanghai in the 1930s. From my point of view, It shows the social background of bullies, economic decline, and the wide gap between rich and poor.
Name: LI Jia tong
UID:3036097554
I appreciate your comment and analysis on Street Angel, especially its opening shots. Please further consider why such a realistic-genre film centered on the lower class takes the splendid metropolis scenery as the beginning short. Also, the top-down lens movement from the top of Hong Kong Shanghai bank to the street life is inspiring. To what extent do foreign culture and native historical background influence this film?