Psychological Representation in Shadows, Cleo, and Memories

Introduction

Throughout the history of cinema, there are films that make such a profound impact on the industry that they change filmmaking forever. Three examples are Shadows, Cleo from 5 to 7, and Memories of Underdevelopment. Each of these films, representing different national genres, would establish a new way of understanding and looking at the world. To fully comprehend their impact on the motion picture industry requires examining the subtle representations at work in each one. Doing so provides the greatest insight into how these three films would shape the motion picture industry going forward.

Shadows and the Rise of Independent American Cinema

Shadows was part of a broader movement in which the American motion picture industry was redefining itself by taking a critical look at society and at Hollywood itself. Shadows was a quintessential work that offered an outward evaluation of racial relations in New York City during the late 1950s. The film was shot on the streets of New York with nothing more than a 16 mm camera — a significant choice, as it made Shadows one of the first recognizable "indie," or independent, films. This would arguably have a direct link to many modern documentaries shot in a similar format, and it established the critical approach seen throughout films of this era (Carney).

The period from the late 1950s to the late 1960s highlighted a revolution occurring in the motion picture industry. Many individuals felt that Hollywood glamorized life through its standard format, in which studios controlled all production and distribution. Over time, this created a backlash, as these films were widely regarded as staged, reliant on large budgets and big-name actors, and lacking creativity. The changing attitudes among young people gave rise to a new genre. Films such as Shadows would revolutionize filmmaking and the way stories were told, highlighting social issues in a subtle light through an inquisitive approach toward the status quo.

A useful illustration of this impact appears in David James's essay "Underground Film: Leapfrogging from the Grave," in which he observes: "They came not from Hollywood but from the milieus they depicted, and they were produced by people who were themselves as disaffected as the beats with both the film industry and American society as a whole. Deriving from strong currents of extra-studio attempts to develop a film culture more responsive to the pressing issues of American life, these films made it clear that the crisis in cinema could not be solved without substantial reorganization of the conditions of industrial production" (James 85–110). This passage illustrates the depth of change occurring in the motion picture industry during this period, and how films like Shadows redefined a host of social issues affecting society.

Cleo from 5 to 7 and European Social Themes

Cleo from 5 to 7, the 1962 French film, examines various social issues impacting society. It highlights a number of themes affecting its main character, Cleo — among them the meaning of life, mortality, and despair. Cleo, a singer, undergoes a series of emotional changes throughout the film, which unfolds as a reflection on her past life and her present situation between 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM. The first part of the film details her daily life and activities. In the second part, Cleo ends a rehearsal when she realizes, through the lyrics she is singing, that something is deeply wrong. The film then shows her in the present, sitting next to a soldier in a doctor's office — a man about to return to the Algerian War after a period of leave. Cleo has cancer and is awaiting her test results. As the two sit together, the film depicts their underlying emotions as they try to make sense of their lives, their mortality, and the despair of having their futures cut short (Bradshaw; Smith 98–102).

This is significant because it demonstrates how underlying themes can illuminate social and individual issues with great power. In many ways, this type of filmmaking would influence American cinema, as young producers adopted similar social themes and investigative approaches to create their own independent films. The European art cinema thus exercised an influence that extended well beyond Hollywood, inspiring filmmakers who wanted to tell stories long ignored by the major studios (James 85–110). The cinematography and underlying themes of Cleo from 5 to 7 helped inspire international filmmakers, and together with Shadows, the film exemplifies the inward, reflective approach that was reshaping the motion picture industry as audiences demanded engagement with issues that mattered to them (Bradshaw).

Conclusion

The films Shadows, Cleo from 5 to 7, and Memories of Underdevelopment highlight a fundamental shift that occurred in filmmaking from the late 1950s to the late 1960s. A variety of cinematographers began to focus on a new type of genre radically different from the traditional films produced by Hollywood — one that addressed social issues affecting both society and the individual. This shift would influence filmmaking for decades to come, as it highlighted vast disparities through distinct characters and subtle themes. The use of these techniques, along with small handheld cameras, created a new mode of entertainment that gave audiences direct access to a character's inner experience and emotional reality. This stood in sharp contrast to other genres of the time and changed the way social issues were perceived on screen.