ENG 3309 - Beyond Notting Hill

Introduction

An exploration of the films of the director of ‘Notting Hill’, Roger Michell.

Michell’s very diverse output invites numerous possible approaches, different films deal with social issues, personal dramas, ethical dilemmas, real events, adaptations of novels, etc. - by no means just the rom-com genre of his most famous movie. There are films set in the US as well as the UK, so in a multiplicity of ‘languages’ both period and contemporary.

Students will practise presentation skills, note-taking and summarising, there will be numerous discussions and occasions to develop personal analyses in writing.

After initial sessions learning the language of film - both how films are constructed and the English to talk about it – and discussing scenes together, teams will choose films to present to the group: providing contexts, background, any necessary linguistic help and concentrating on the aspects which interest them.

Written activities will draw on this material but allow each group member to develop their own views or analyses.

Roger was a good friend of mine when I lived in Bristol, but I am only now discovering his films.