Write an analytical essay on a short film that is less than 30 minutes long. You may use a film assigned in class, but you may also find your own film. There are many short films available for free online. The film cannot be a documentary but can be based on real life events. I also recommend the list of Academy nominated shorts announced each year. Note on length: The essay should be a minimum of 3-4 pages (1,000 words); anything longer is acceptable.

SUGGESTIONS: Focus your topic on one literary aspect; treat the film as you would a short story. Since this essay is still relatively short, you don’t want to dilute your analysis by covering too much ground. A summary of the film is appropriate but a full recounting of every scene and character is unnecessary. Instead, focus your attention on a specific idea in the “literature”: POV, plot, theme, symbolism, character, etc.

DISCLAIMER: This essay is NOT a movie review, which focuses more on the aesthetics of the film and the plot summary; that is, a review suggests whether one should watch the film or not. An analytical essay, however, focuses on particular issues presented in the film. Whether you enjoyed the movie or not is irrelevant.

In order to write a solid argument, you need a THESIS. In other words, your controlling idea either a) answers a question raised by your reading of the film or b) solves a problem that you identify or raise.