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Theme refers to the unifying central concern of
the film, the special focus that unifies the work
Focus can be broken into five different types
Plot
 Emotional effect (mood)
 Character
 Style
 Ideas
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Final outcome is all-important, but only within
the context of the specific story being told
Many summer blockbusters and action films
focus strictly on the plot
These films tend to employ straight forward
and flat characters
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Possible to identify a single mood or emotion
that prevails throughout the film
The individual steps in the film lead to one
single powerful emotional moment
Horror films, suspense thrillers, and some
romance movies fall into this category
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The film focuses on a single unique character
The major appeal of the character are the traits
that set him/her apart from the rest of society
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Films that are set apart because of a unique
look, feel, rhythm, atmosphere, tone or
organization
Such films are usually not commercially
successful because some audience members
will not like or understand the unique
characteristic of the film
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This film tries to clarify some aspect of life or
the human condition
Many times the central idea or theme of the
film can be summed up in a single word or
phrase (usually some human emotion like
jealousy or some human condition like injustice
or prejudice)
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There are seven different categories that this
theme might fall into:
Moral implications
Truth of human nature
Social problems
Struggle for human dignity
Complexity of human relationships
Coming of age
Moral or philosophical riddle
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These films are intended to convince us of the
wisdom or practicality of a moral principle and
thereby persuade us to apply the principle in
our lives
Don’t mistake a moral implication for a moral
statement
The film should take a clear stand on the moral
issue not just address the issue and allow the
viewer to decide
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Films that focus on universal or representative
characters
The characters are representative of humanity
in general, and they serve as cinematic vehicles
to illustrate some widely or universally
accepted truth about human nature
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Films that expose social vices and follies or
criticize social institutions
Usually they concentrate on defining the
problem and emphasizing its importance
instead of suggesting reform for the problem
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Portray a basic conflict or tension between two
opposing sides of human nature
Conflict may be external or internal, and while
victory can occur it is not necessary for the film
The conflict and how the character deals with it
becomes the central focus of the film
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Focus on problems, frustrations, pleasures and
joys of human relationships
These relationships can include family, love,
marriage, etc.
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Major characters are usually young people
going through experiences that force them to
become more mature or to gain some new
awareness of themselves in relation to the
world around them
This concept can be treated comically,
seriously, or even tragically
The central character is dynamic because we
will see them as different at the end of the film
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Film develops around a riddle or some
puzzling quality
This type of film communicates through
symbols or images so analysis is essential for
understanding
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In addition to themes, some films contain
motifs (images, patterns, or ideas that are
repeated throughout the film and are
variations or aspects of the major theme)
Once we have identified the theme of the film
we want to evaluate its effect on the audience
If a theme has universality it is one of lasting
interest, of interest to all people in all places
and times
Some themes are localized to a place or time