We Love Wes Anderson
Wednesday, August, 16, 2023, 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Instructor: Paul McEwan, Ph.D., Department of Media & Communication and Film Studies, Muhlenberg College
Wes Anderson has the most recognizable style of any director working today. Yet the glories of his visuals can sometimes make us overlook the emotional and narrative impact of his films, which are full of lost people trying to make family wherever they can, building new relationships out of love and loyalty.
Those relationships are central here. M. Gustave (Ralph Fiennes) and Zero (Tony Revolori) have to survive assassins, soldiers, and ski ramps, with only each other (and a few sprays of cologne) to get them through. Along the way, they interact with one of the most stacked casts in recent film history, including nearly 20 award-winning actors.
The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) is in some ways the pinnacle of Anderson’s unique cinematography and mise-en-scene. Nearly every frame could be a postcard from the most interesting vacation you ever had, assuming you’re partial to forgotten corners of central Europe. At the same time, the director is deeply embedded in cinema history. Much of the film pays subtle tribute to the camera directness and visual humor of the very best silents.
If you’ve seen this film before, there are no doubt a hundred little jokes or visual joys you missed the first time. If you haven’t, this is one for the big screen. Anderson’s world is a purely cinematic one, and it’s a pleasure to get to immerse ourselves in it for a brief moment.
Are you interested in “just” seeing this movie? Visit the public screening page here.
Cinema Classics Seminars offer an entertaining and engaging way to learn more about some of the true classics of world cinema. All students receive an introductory lecture before the film and a guided discussion after the film. In addition, those in attendance receive a ticket to see it on the big screen, as well as popcorn and a drink. Please note: the screening associated with this seminar will be open to the public, as well.
Please email BMFI Programs and Education Coordinator Jill Malcolm with any questions.
$25 for members, $35 for non-members
Schedule