Independent Cinema Task 2

What is independent cinema? + Winter's Bone social and production context.

An independent film is a film produced outside of the mainstream usually about problems in a real  setting with long takes that lack action. Verisimilitude is used to make the film feel realistic, this is also helped by the aesthetics and visuals. Another difference is that compared to mainstream films, independent films have a much smaller budget, for example, Winter's Bone's budget was $2 million, while La La Land's budget was $30 million. On top of this independent films are filmed on location without a long time to shoot - Winter's Bone was shot in 25 days. The film maker Debra Granik has a neo realistic style, which is why the film focuses on the rural poverty of the Ozarks, as well as their lack of opportunities and education.
The majority of the social context comes from kin based patriarchal power and the dependence on strong women, as shown by Ree and Merab's resilience. Through the movie we are shown issues like methamphetamine addiction, violence, domestic abuse, and mental illness. To understand this context audience members have to be active when watching, as most information comes from character interactions, instead of exposition.

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