Come along to our Film A Level Study Day, led by Dr Kirsty Fairclough, Reader in Screen Studies, Research and Knowledge Exchange Lead at the School of Digital Arts, Manchester Metropolitan University.
This study day will explore issues of narrative, genre and identity via a close analysis of the 2021 Japanese animated fantasy film Belle (Dir, Mamoru Hosada), itself inspired by the French fairy tale Beauty and the Beast. It will examine how the film uses the idea of the metaverse to reflect upon issues of empowerment, freedom and hope for the future.
The film will be introduced by Kirsty, providing context and an insight into what is being explored in the study session afterwards. The screening will be followed by a lunch break and then an interactive study session. Bring your students along to HOME for a fun day out where they can experience film studies outside of the classroom and in the cinema!
Screening: Belle
Dir Mamoru Hosada / Japan 2021
146 mins / English Dub
Suzu is a 17-year-old high school student living in a rural village with her father. For years, she has lived as a shadow of herself. One day, she enters ‘U’, a virtual world with five billion members. There she is no longer Suzu but Belle, a world-famous singer. She soon meets with a mysterious creature and together they embark on a journey of adventures, challenges and love.
In this ground-breaking animation Mamoru Hosoda explores romance, action and suspense, as well as deeper themes such as life and death.