Remember The Titans: Film Analysis

Remember The Titans was a movie that was set in a very hostile time in our country. We were in the middle of what I like to call a civil war. Although there were no battles or gunfights our country was torn in half. There was an issue dealing with race in the United States. The movie, Remember the Titans is based on actual events that occurred in the year 1971. Mainly on the integration of a school called TC Williams High School. When the school was integrated the old football coach, Coach Yoast, was let go and a black coach Herman Boone was hired on. The main plot of this movie is regarding the coaching change in the school and the 1971 football season the TC Williams Titans have.

Remember the Titans directed by Boaz Yakin, is an inspirational feature film that retells the true story of a high school football team that overcame racism to win the football championship. Set in Virginia during the forced integration of high school districts in the American south, the film explores the idea of racism, friendship and communication in sports through the use of camera shots and angles, props, body language and juxtaposition. Yakin suggests that racist attitudes are the product of ignorance, but can be overcome by communication and friendship through the representation of Gary’s girlfriend, Emma’s change of attitude toward Julius. Yakin’s representation of Coach Boone

The United States has long been a country that has accepted that change is a necessity for prosperity and growth. However, each change within the nation's history was hard fought against those who resisted such change either through racism, bigotry, and blatant discrimination. African American cinema is enshrouded in history that depicts these themes of racism, struggle, and deprivation. Yet, this same cinema also shows scenes of hope, artistic spirit, intellectual greatness, and joy. Black actresses, actors, directors, producers, and writers have been fighting for recognition and respect since the great Paul Robeson. The civil rights movement of the 1950's and 60's was fueled by black cinema through films like A Raisin in the Sun.

This movie showcased the numerous barriers for people of colour and essentially any race with exception of those who are white. Jackie Robinson was especially targeted due to the fact that he was the first black baseball player to play in the MLB. Despite the various individuals who supported the change in western culture, there were many who made the transition difficult by applying many barriers such as segregation

The purpose of the film was to bring awareness to the world of how African Americans were being treated in the United States. The filmed proceeded to convey the catastrophic events that arise in the country by showing how the colored people were fighting for Civil Rights and how police officers were racist and prejudice toward black people. The film represents a time in the mid 1900’s where African-Americans were fighting for equal rights and opportunity. For equal rights in education, and public facilities the colored people were trying to put an end to segregation. Brown V. Board of education was taking place, Boycotts for the public buses and sit ins at whites only restaurants were going on.

During World War II, ¨[h]undreds of short films, featurettes, and feature films were produced.¨ (ibblio.org.) The OWI produced 267 of these newsreels between 1942 and 1946. These ¨[n]ewsreels averaged 10 minutes in length and consisted of...events from the home front.¨(WWII UN Newsreels) These newsreels were often shown in movie theaters before the feature film, in order to make people pay attention and be completely ´informed´ about the war. A famous example of a newsreel is D-Day, about a decisive battle where the Allies invaded German controlled Europe in their campaign to liberate

The films of the World War II era were much more than just stories about life or love; each unique film showed a different portrayal of the war effort. Although the films showed aspects of the war such as American involvement and cultural aspects, it was not always obvious to see the propaganda behind the façade. Casablanca, directed by Michael Curtiz, is a wartime film that promotes American involvement and contains subtle propaganda.

World War II was a period in which movie's depicted a sense of patriotism from propaganda to training videos. The Germans invaded Poland and the World fell into frenzy. Americans, with the help of France, Russia, Great Britain and later on Italy, crushed the fronts of the Germans and stopped the Nazis from taking control of the world. With the mess of Japanese forces attacking Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 the United States entered World War II. One of the most famous movies to date came out of the Warner Bros. editor's room. Casablanca emerged out of World War II and showed a great sense of what it was like to have been a refugee and a runaway, seeking shelter from the Germans.

The movie that my partner and I chose to watch is entitled The Butler by Lee Daniel, a non- fictional movie that follows the struggles of inequality and injustices against African Americans. The Butler, is centered on an African American man named Cecile Gaines and his struggle to make a living as a black man in America, whilst, fighting for his rights as an American citizen. Cecil Gaines the main character was the son of a cotton farm worker during the 1920’s. His story began on the day when his father was killed in front of him because he asked his master why he raped his mother.

During World War II, Japanese cinema took very political turn, and the Japanese government began implementing a lot of propaganda into their cinema. During the war, the diminishing Japanese movie industry saw a huge increase in propaganda, but not so much once the war was over. Once Japan's political conflicts had resolved conflict, the Japanese film industry

On August 28th, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. gave the most important speech of the civil rights movement. As he delivered the words of I Have A Dream from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C., King argued that people should be treated based on their strengths and accomplishments as opposed to their race. Although there has been a lot of progress in the fight against discrimination, there still remains a great deal of divisiveness. Whether it's appearing in belittling roles or not appearing at all, racial minorities are the victims of discrimination in film. The media often portrays visible minorities in a negative light as seen in the nostalgic Disney movies, Peter Pan and Dumbo as well as in the historical films, 42 and The Help.

World War II was one of the most impactful events in human history, an event that merits study through any lens. Around the world, entire countries and cultures-- and their art with them-- were altered and transformed. Among those arts was cinema. Life after the war could never be the same as it was before, and neither could film. But what, exactly, changed in film?

Though World War II was raging on several years before American soldiers joined the front line, the nation’s entrance into the war was game changing and is, perhaps, what won the war and defeated the Axis Powers. With American entrance into the war came the involvement of Walt Disney Studios and a government deal that would last until the last guns fired in Holland, 1945. Through political propaganda and instructional films, Walt Disney Studios contributed to World War II home front efforts by increasing American morale, encouraging payment of bonds and taxes, and by villainizing Nazi Germany and the Axis Powers.

Clayton R. Koppes asserts that “in the OWI/Hollywood vision, the [Second World] war produced unity”. While many focus on the immense rifts of the Second World War, it is clear that cinema of the period took a different approach due to the pressure for national unity. The film industry played a pivotal role in wartime propaganda, and as a result shaped hearts and minds for citizens both at home and for those fighting overseas. Despite the struggle of the period, wartime unity in cinema was nevertheless forged in the fiery crucible of war.

Now-a-days for some people to learn and completely understand history they can watch movies and documentaries on whichever subject they need help with or on. Over the past few weeks I have watched the following movies: Forrest Gump, The Long Walk Home, The Help, and A League of Their Own. Forrest Gump is about a disabled boy who grows up and goes into the Vietnam War and eventually owns a shrimp company. The Long Walk Home and The Help are movies based off of equality of race by exemplifying for the viewers what life was like for colored people. The Help specifically is about a lady who became interested in sharing the stories of maids. The Long Walk Home is specifically about colored people fighting for their rights and to be treated equally and fairly. A League of their Own is about women across the United States playing baseball while still being treated like a lady. All the movies have similarities and differences. While taking notes I compared and contrasted the movies by focusing on the government and lifestyle during the movies.