Rubber

The film, Rubber, begins with a man describing to the camera how many films actually have "no reasons" for doing what they have done. He goes on to list quite a few examples and then turns to an audience within the film itself. Showing an actual audience in a film goes against the film norm. Further on, as the film progresses the main character is established, this being a tire. This also challenges standard film conventions. As the plot enfolds we see that the tire is trying to understand who he is and what his purpose is. This can be said to be the "normal world" of the tired. Plot point one begins when the tire, Robert, discovers he can telepathically destroy objects. Syd Fields "paradigm" helped me with identifying plot point one. (Field, 2011)

 

What I inferred from this film, through the techniques being used and the rejection of standard film norm, was that this was a type of "avante garde" film. In ordinary Hollywood films there is also an effective use of the mise en scene. Rubber uses very little in its set up. The beginning of the film had several chairs placed along a dirt road, but as the man later explains there are no reasons for many films it is assumed this was just an example of what a film can do, just because it can. The cinematography is very basic yet very skilful, the colour palette consists of 'cool' tones, so there is quite an efficient use of blue. Particular sounds are enhanced, an example of this is when the tire rolls over the plastic bottle. The lack of soundtrack is interesting and provides very little distraction. 

Reference:

Field, S 2011, The Paradigm Worksheet, viewed 26th August 2011, <http://www.sydfield.com/featured_theparadigmworksheet.htm>