I - Media Studies - Case Study - Donnie Darko

Case Study Donnie Darko (Richard Kelly, USA, 2001)

Analysis of an arthouse movie

Donnie Darko – Arthouse movie • Shot in 28 days • Richard Kelly’s debut film • Raved about at the Sundance Film Festival • Poor run at the box office, released 11th Sept 2001 • Moved in to the realms of cult status

Donnie Darko – Arthouse movie • Adolescence is a central theme • Interesting to see how cinematography, mise en scene, editing, sound and SFX create film art • Richard Kelly defines a filmmaker as ‘a kind of technician or craftsman’

Donnie Darko – Arthouse movie • Before viewing it is important to establish what happens • Open to interpretation • Interpretations are linked to film language • Very true of arthouse films

Donnie Darko – Arthouse movie • Four ways of looking at the film • • • •

Science-fiction/fantasy Religious Psychological Political

• Not an exhaustive list • Kelly’s own theory: • I considered myself to be just a viewer when I wrote it, not the filmmaker. It was meant to be an argument that people could agree or disagree with. Ultimately, I think those pages caused people to ask more questions about what it all means.

Donnie Darko – Arthouse movie • Interpretation 1 – Science-fiction/fantasy • Interpretation 2 – Religious • Interpretation 3 – Psychological • Interpretation 4 - Political

Donnie Darko – Arthouse movie Focus

•Mise en scene