Realism and Formalism

 

Realism and Formalism: Two Faces of Film Analysis

Introduction

Realism and Formalism are two foundational schools of film theory that explore opposite approaches to representing reality.
They debate whether cinema should imitate life (realism) or stylize it through art (formalism).

Realism

• Associated with André Bazin, who argued that film should capture the world truthfully.
• Emphasizes long takes, natural light, non-professional actors, and deep focus.
• Believes in the moral responsibility of cinema to show life as it is.
• Example: Bicycle Thieves (1948), Umberto D (1952), Roma (2018).

Formalism

• Emphasizes the creative manipulation of image and sound.
• Focuses on editing, color, composition, and rhythm.
• Associated with Sergei Eisenstein and Rudolf Arnheim.
• Example: Metropolis (1927), 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014).

Key Points

• Realism = Observation, Formalism = Expression.
• Both seek truth — one through life, the other through artifice.
• Modern cinema often blends both (e.g., Parasite, Nomadland).