Melodramatic: Overview

    Almost everyone enjoys watching films. Engaging with the characters, the plot, the solution and the overall message the director is delivering. I will be taking you on a journey to research the specific characteristics of "melodramatic" films, also known as "tear jerkers", "weepers" or "soap operas." 

   Melodramas can easily over lap with other genres a film has been categorized. Overall true melodramatic films are not very popular today, however they are still emotionally swaying. Technique wise the genre is known for having close ups, fast cutting, location shooting and parallel editing. Close ups are important to viewer can accurately see the actors facial expressions to demonstrate the mood. There is fast cutting to create chaos and heighten the excitement in the scene. Location shooting is used to have realism and making the audience further believe what is happening on screen is not artificial. In melodramatic films, if there is more than one plot it makes the story more interesting. Therefore parallel editing shows two different story lines occurring at the same time but are not in the same location but somehow connect. The content forces viewers to tap into their emotions through an increase in drama. The word "melo" means music therefore music is added to create a tone for the scene at times. Examples may be where there is chaos between character versus character or character versus the world. There are stereotypical characters that will stick out with certain titles. Such as good vs evil or love and war. There are intense and elongated fight scenes or romantic scenes to enhance the tone the director wants. On scene you would see characters with animated facial expressions and body language to demonstrate how they feel. These films play with ridiculousness to go as big as they can. However directors or writers must be careful with avoiding anything too over the top as it may come out as cheesy. This genre is marketed by having an obvious theme of romance or conflict, some sort of strong relationship between characters with a conflict. The trailer may introduce the problem as melancholy or as a desire for something. The emotion of the characters pulls the audience wanting to know what happened to the character. The characters may also represent everyday people in their lives. Earlier melodramas focused on woman having confrontations about marriage or how they are running their home life with their children because while these were most popular the ideology that woman stayed home was still a major social standard. Comparing this to today's melodramas the character(s) may be getting a divorce or having a failed relationships with partners or friends are more understandable situations to the public even if it's not personal. 

   That may all sound more interesting for females with all the sappy and overly dramatized story lines and at times that is the target audience. Adults in general are the main targets because the stories are usually mature and need a certain understanding to truly enjoy the film. A filmed I named in my last post was called "Wuthering Heights". This is a melodramatic film due to the strong romantic relationship, the tragedy of not being able to be together and  how there is a love triangle. The drama of forbidden love and the strength  of the romantic love between characters gives the film a melodramatic title. A second melodramatic film is "Now Voyager" due to a the main actress finally breaking away from her mother and being free. However it is mostly the character development of how Charlotte wanted to be with a man and then when that couldn't happen she grew as a person. She gained a lot of confidence and even more independence through the painful experience. Overall themes that make a melodrama film what it is are: ideas of evil, purity, character development, tragigies or damaged relationships. 

I will be posting updates as I dig deeper into my research! 

If you want to get started on some melodramatic films check out these: 

"Talk to Her": https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0287467/

"Notes on a Scandal": https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0465551/
"Frida": https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120679/
Pride and Prejudice: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0414387/
Now Voyager: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0035140/

References:

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/melodrama

https://itpworld.online/2008/10/30/what-is-melodrama/

https://www.filmsite.org/melodramafilms4.html

https://www.standoutbooks.com/melodrama/ 

https://literarydevices.net/melodrama/ 

Welcome !

Hello, my name is Gabriella Sanchez, I am a senior in high school. In my AICE media studies class we are discussing different genres in the film industry. I will be posting my findings as I go deeper into research with my specific genre. The true purpose for this blog is to analyze what makes a melodramatic film, how they impact viewers, and the importance of the genre. Even if you have never heard of this genre or haven't had any prior interest... THIS IS THE PLACE FOR YOU! Or you can be someone who only watches melodramatic films you can learn even more about them here! 

Until my next post check out some incredible melodramatic films if you haven't already: 

On Netflix:"Blue is the Warmest Color", "45 Years" and "Miss Julie."

General: "Interstellar", "Titanic", "Pride and Prejudice" and "Frida"

Earlier Melodramatic films: Wuthering Heights", "Gone with the Wind" and "Breakfast at Tiffany's"