A typical spaghetti western is an Italian-made western film. Westerns were made abroad in Europe from 1964-1973 because they were cheaper to film in Italy than in the West of the United States. During this brief span, around 400 films were created. Conventions of this genre include extreme close-ups, dramatic lighting, the theme of anarchy and the thematic element of right and wrong. Also, themes of civil war and genre subversion are typical. Spaghetti westerns tend to be male dominated. Examples of spaghetti westerns include Django Unchained, The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly and Appaloosa.
The spaghetti western genre is an interesting choice by Quentin Tarantino to depict a World War II era movie. By utilizing the conventions of this genre while simultaneously subverting it, Tarantino is able to depict the dynamics and nuances of World War II in a nontraditional light. He utilizes close-ups, dramatic lighting, and violence to create a dramatic feeling and larger than life characters. He utilizes revenge plots through the character of Shoshanna which is strongly reminiscent of spaghetti westerns. Additionally, the violence and the scenes with dust and dirt are also indicative of the genre. The intriguing part of Tarantino's genre choice is the aspect of reality and truth that is often associated with historical dramas and which he is able to neglect because of his genre selection. Yes, the film is set in a historical context but because it is a spaghetti western he is able to dramatize and create caricatures out of historical figures and situations.
Additionally, Tarantino plays with genre subversion and subversion of audience expectations. Due to his previous films including Kill Bill Vol I and II, his audiences have come to expect gratuitous violence and vengeful, aggressive character. In Inglourious Basterds, while violence is still present, there is a larger focus on dialogue and on cultural and linguistic nuance. Much of the movie contains English subtitles as much of the dialogue is in German or French. This gives the film a foreign feel in a way that is not typical of a western. Tarantino also alters history within his film, subverting the audiences expectation that the film will play out according to true and accurate history. Additionally the duel-narrative structure is rare and again subverts expectations by complicating the storyline. Overall, the use of the genre spaghetti western is unusual but effective.
The spaghetti western genre is an interesting choice by Quentin Tarantino to depict a World War II era movie. By utilizing the conventions of this genre while simultaneously subverting it, Tarantino is able to depict the dynamics and nuances of World War II in a nontraditional light. He utilizes close-ups, dramatic lighting, and violence to create a dramatic feeling and larger than life characters. He utilizes revenge plots through the character of Shoshanna which is strongly reminiscent of spaghetti westerns. Additionally, the violence and the scenes with dust and dirt are also indicative of the genre. The intriguing part of Tarantino's genre choice is the aspect of reality and truth that is often associated with historical dramas and which he is able to neglect because of his genre selection. Yes, the film is set in a historical context but because it is a spaghetti western he is able to dramatize and create caricatures out of historical figures and situations.
Additionally, Tarantino plays with genre subversion and subversion of audience expectations. Due to his previous films including Kill Bill Vol I and II, his audiences have come to expect gratuitous violence and vengeful, aggressive character. In Inglourious Basterds, while violence is still present, there is a larger focus on dialogue and on cultural and linguistic nuance. Much of the movie contains English subtitles as much of the dialogue is in German or French. This gives the film a foreign feel in a way that is not typical of a western. Tarantino also alters history within his film, subverting the audiences expectation that the film will play out according to true and accurate history. Additionally the duel-narrative structure is rare and again subverts expectations by complicating the storyline. Overall, the use of the genre spaghetti western is unusual but effective.
Works Cited:
https://somefilmsandstuff.com/2013/11/25/inglourious-basterds-review/
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