Si me comprendieras [If You Only Understood], (Cuba, Rolando Díaz, 1998)

Director: Rolando Díaz

Length: 87 min

Sound: Dolby

Country: Cuba/Spain

Director: Rolando Díaz

Language: Spanish

Color: Color

Sound:

Script: Rolando Díaz

Photography: José M. Riera

Editing: Jorge Abello

Questions of analysis:

1.           Is this a film or a documentary? Defend your answer.

2.           Does the movie portray the city as its main character? Expand your answer.

3.           Are the eight female protagonists the representation of the city’s feminine space?

4.           Why does the director tell the story of all these women?

5.           Are they stereotypes?

6.           Does anyone stands out as a main character?

7.           Whose story is it?

8.           Explain the meta-cinematic nature of the film.

9.           What does the title mean? To whom does it refer when it says “If you would only . . .”? Who is supposed to understand whom?

10.         Explain the meaning of the first two scenes.

11.         In any scene, does the sound stand out as more important than the image?

12.         Are there camera movements (long shots, high angles, close-ups, fade-in, fade-out, special effects and so forth) that aid the directors emphasize the film’s main message?

13.         List three sequences that you consider the movie’s most important scenes.

14.         If you had to pick three characteristic sounds, what would they be? Why did the director select them?

15.         Comment on the mise en scène.

16.         Explain the movie social context. What does the audience need to know to better appreciate the film?

17.         What cultural or social-political values does the movie propose, present or emphasize?

18.         How are the gender roles defined?

19.         Is there a coherent message? What is it?

20.         What is the movie's final scene? What impression attempts to leave in the audience?