The+Book+of+Eli

The Book of Eli is a post-apocolytic film in which the main character, Eli, travels around what used to be America to deliver the last copy of the bible to save humankind. When looking at this film through a feminist film-thoery lens it is very interesting because at first it seems as if it is oppressing women, by having only two women in a film who are constantly being oppressed by men, however I actually viewed it as empowering. Though the only women in the film are constantly being oppressed and abused by a world full of men, they remain strong and continue to do what is morally right. This shows how women are in fact stronger then men are, by being able to keep their morals even though the whole world has come to an end and there is no foreseeable bright future. This film could also be looked at with a marxist point of view. When looking at the main character Eli, he seems rather powerless by being a lone wanderer compared to Carnegie, who is in control of a whole town. However as the film goes on it is shown that Eli, though being an individual, is able to overpower many attackers, while Carnegie is loosing control of his own town. This goes to show the power of the individual, which is something that is focused on with marxist film-theory. I am not too sure on how the Book of Eli would be seen through a freudian lens, however the visuals of very graphic deaths are repeated throughout the film to give the audience an unsettling feeling. When looking at this film through cognitive film-theory, the end result is a very warm and settling feeling because Eli is able to accomplish this ultimate goal. By having Eli all clean and in white robes in a calm enviroment, it gives off a very holy and right feeling that allows the audience to rest as they were immersed in a chaotic and dirty setting for the entirety of the film. Finally mimetic and cathartic responses to the film would be ones of violence. As there is a large amount of graphic violence throughout this film, there could be large emotional responses to the product of the film depending on which theory you believe in. If this film were to be looked at with a mimetic point of view, it would cause viewers to want imitate what they see and rob and loot stores as to take part in violent acts, whereas if this film was to be looked at with a cathartic point of view it would suppress the emotions of violence and make the audience calmer and less likely to take part in violent acts.