The Lions heart movie critique using four different lenses

Section A: Formal media analysis Cinematography The cinematography enhances the overall viewing experience. The camera work brings the story to lie by showcasing natural lighting. It also showcases the beauty of the Eastern Nigeria, the landscapes, the culture in a way that is vibrant and appealing to viewers. They employed the use of medium shots which is very effective as it draws the attention of viewers into adaezes emotional world and her environment alongside the people around her. The film style allows viewers feel like we're apart of the scene in the sense that it is realistic and helps build connection with the characters There is realism in the movie and the camera movement is stable and not overly dramatic which suits the storyline. Overall, the cinematography is a key element and helps create a sense of realism by showing us Eastern culture and behaviour which is unique and enhances the overall viewing experience Mise-en-scène The film contains both traditional and modern elements. Their company and the family home portrays a blend of cultural and modern decor such as Igbo proverbs on wooden plaques and modern office setting. Their various costumes also reflects the characters personality like when adaeze wears stylish and corporate work clothes and Uncle Goodswill wears very flashy business suits. The difference in their dressing vividly points out the difference between these characters. Sound design The films sound mostly comes from people talking and background noise and even car sounds which makes the film feel more real . Also during some emotional moments there is slow and gentle music playing which is not overly dramatic and makes people blend in and feel the emotions being poured out by the characters the music is not overbearing and the focus is still on the characters. Editing The editing is nice and perfect as each scene blends into each other seamlessly without any abrupt change. This helps the story flow well The way the scenes are edited also helps to create a contrast and highlight the different aspects of family life. There are times when the film would cut from a tense scene to a warm and cozy dinner scene at home the contrast helps to show the different challenges and emotions the family is facing. The editor also maintains emotional continuity that even though the scenes are different, the emotions are carried along which makes the story seem more engaging. Overall the editor does a great job in bringing the story to life and making it feel real by carefully arranging the scenes. Performance Adaeze who is played by Genevieve gives an excellent performance as she brings strength and life to the character it makes the character very believable. The supporting actors Pete Edochie and Nkem Owoh also performed wonderfully as Pete brings a sense of authority to his character and Nkem brings comedy to lighten the mood especially in tense scenes. All characters performance combined brings depth to the story and is engaging and enjoyable to watch Narrative structure The storyline of the film is very straightforward. Adaeze faces the challenge of her father's illness and a threat to takeover his business, she overcomes obstacles which is dealing with her father's brother and other business rivalry and she at the end of it all fines a solution to save her father's company Section B: Oppositional gaze Using bell hooks idea of oppositional gaze, I think the Lionheart is special because it puts adaeze who is strong and smart at the centre of the story. She's not used as a side character or someone who's just there to look good she's a leader, she's in charge and she's respected. She conquers the general gender stereotype in most nollywood movies by leading with competence. Both the story and the audience respect her as a leader as she is shown as capable and intelligent, someone who knows what she is doing. This is different as in many other films, women are not often used as main characters and are not portrayed as strong and well respected The film also challenges some of the common norms in Nigerian films. Instead of having too much drama or using supernatural elements, Lionheart shares a realistic story of entrepreneurship and family family disputes which is authentic and happens in the real world Also the film is full of Igbo language and cultural references like proverbs and traditional body language. This makes it very rooted in Nigerian culture and represents Nigeria in a positive way Overall, the movie is accurate and gives a respectful representation of Nigerian especially Nigerian women. Section C: Marxist Critique The obiagu family is used in the movie to illustrate internal class conflict. Although the business depends on the employees and staff, the family retains power and has disagreement on how to run it. This is a reflection of many businesses where Labour keeps the business running while the owners maintain control to keep the business afloat. This creates a sense of conflict which is a key part in Marxist perspective The movie highlights the struggle between capital and local Labour when igwe Pascal whom is only interested in making money and is also ready to ruin local community in order to seize power and he's ready to take over the family business even if it means harming people who work for them . This shows how the pursuit of power can harm the ordinary people Gender and economic power Adaeze challenges the traditional Norms by taking charge of the family business. She is not just fighting for her job but she's fighting for ownership and control which portrays women as powerful leaders and challenges the traditional Norms. She works for her role and owns it. Her role in leadership changes the story. She is a key player who opposed gender norms and refused to be just a figure Section D: Male gaze According to Laura mulveys theory of the male gaze, women are normally objectified in movies but in this case, Adaeze who is the main character is not potrayed in a sexual or objectified manner rather she is potrayed as a powerful and confident woman leader. She is dressed in business attire and is seen having meaningful conversations and making decisions. Her body is not the main focus and she is not potrayed in a sexy manner. Rather it focuses on her face and her interaction with people which makes the film more respectful and professional. The camera angles shows Adaeze in the same way as it shows the male characters which means she is an equal with the males and there is no gender discrimination. This is a contrast to other Nigerian films where women are portrayed as less significant than men. By showing Adaeze as an equal, the movie challenges the way women are often portrayed in films. It shows that women can be strong and capable leaders, and that they deserve to be treated with respect.