The following conversation on historical film with our muse Cliopetra is inspired by the recent trend of historical films – “Miss Potter”, “Becoming Jane”, “300″, “Copying Beethoven” among others. Of course, this is not a new trend. Since the beginning of the movie industry, history has been a constant source of inspiration. Many of the classics and blockbusters are historical films – “Ben Hur”, “Gone with the Wind”, “Casablanca”, “JFK, Elizabeth”, “Pearl Harbour” and “Bobby” among many.
Cliopetra: What are historical films?
Jaime: I would say there are two types:
1) Those that are based on real personalities, stories and events (albeit the silver-screen portrayal is often open to debate re accuracy, romanticisation, biasness etc)
2) The second type is a largely fictionalised story set in a historical background, for example during the American Civil War, 19th century China etc.
Both are of course often subjected to criticisms and taken to task on issues such as the accuracy of the portrayal, romanticisation and biasness.
Stephanie: Historical films are films which depict a certain period, event or personality from the real past. The difficult question is that if some aspects of a film are based on reality, and other parts invented, is the film still historical? How much of the film needs to be based in the past to be historical? For example in the romantic comedy Kate and Leopold – Leopold is a figure from the past transported into the present. The film revolves around Leopold copes with modern life. Is this a historical film? Some theorists avoid this question by saying that a historical film is any film which the viewer thinks is historical!
Cliopetra: Do historical films portray reality? Can we learn history from these films?
Jaime: How can we know for sure about the real “reality” of a period which we have not lived in? What is reality? What is history? The philosophical debates aside, films should not be dismissed as a learning tool for any subject. The key is discretion and a critical mind. Movie goers should always be encouraged to not take what they see on screen as THE REAL THING. Filmmakers should not advertise their films as THE REAL THING. School children, for example, should be encouraged to compare what they see on the screen to other sources. Indeed, any interested student of history worth their salt should bear this in mind – there is no History/Reality – there are different narratives, perspectives, viewpoints and interpretations.
Stephanie: I believe that there is a range of historical films, and the best of them do portray some aspects of reality. For some the reconstruction is based on existing texts, sources, or the memories of living personalities. In some cases although some minor aspects may not be totally accurate, generally the film can still convey a spirit of the era or provide some insight into the lives of people who lived in the past.
Yes, we can learn something about the past from films. However, the viewer should be aware that this is just one version of history, among many others, and as an entertainment genre, there will definitely be simplification and exaggeration. The film can make us interested in histories which we would otherwise would not venture into. For example, Dances with Wolves inspired an interest in Native American history.
Cliopetra: Are there good and bad historical films?
Stephanie: It depends on how we define ‘good’ and ‘bad’. For me, a good historical film will be one which can capture something of the spirit of the era and give insight on the people who live in that period, and can connect with the audience. A good film may differ in its interpretation of history from conventional historical texts, but it will provide some evidence for its case and more importantly provoke some thought on the subject. For me, a bad film is one that is (a) dull – a repetition of what we read in books with no additional insights or (b) a film that makes extreme assertions that go against conventional ideas of that period without adequate substantiation.
Jaime: I agree with Stephanie on this one. But I would question by what yardsticks are we measuring these films against – do we judge them by entertainment value or academic value.
Cliopetra: As an extension then, are historical films to be judged as entertainment or should they be judged on their use of history?
Jaime: Depends on the context and uses of the film really. Clearly, films such as 300, the Gladiator etc are meant to entertain. They should therefore be judged by that.
Stephanie: I think both ways, a good historical film should be good entertainment and good history. However when I mean ‘good history’ it does not mean ‘history’ in the same sense as written history. Here ‘good’ will mean evocative, analytical, provocative and with a clear viewpoint.
Cliopetra: Is film a good medium for bringing history to life? Is it the right forum to discuss the meaning of history?
Stephanie: Yes, film is an excellent medium for bringing history to life. It makes reconstruction possible and the audience is able to suspend disbelief and immerse themselves in the experience of the film. As a multi-media, film is able to reconstruct the past in visuals, sounds that appeals to intellect and emotions.
It can be used to discuss the meaning or construction of history, although it is not frequently used as such. The disadvantage of film is that it does not allow explicit interaction like for example, a website, so it cannot be a forum for different beliefs. Also, it is hard for it to flag the arguments of others eg like using footnotes. However, some avant-garde filmmakers use different techniques to make explicit how they create the film, and draw attention to various arguments related to a certain topic.
Jaime: Definitely. History is more than just dates, names, events, wars and statistics. It is a lived experience. There is no doubt that films reach a wider audience than books. This potential, together with what Stef mentioned about visuals and sounds, makes it a good platform to begin the discussion. Films should not be the be all and end all of history (or any subject for that matter); instead it should be regarded as a starting point for further research, reading, discussion and debate. For the history student and scholar, it is interesting to note how movies are regarded by some as the bible of all truths.
