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'The Birthday Party' film screening task

1. Why are two scenes of Lulu omitted from the movie?
The reason for cutting first scene might be that Pinter wanted spectators to feel more sympathy for Stanley. Second omitted scene when Lulu argues with Goldberg, he might have felt that there is no important of that scene. It may distract mind and decrease effect. These are two possible reasons why two scenes are omitted in the film.

2. Is movie successful in giving us the effect of menace? Where you able to feel it while reading the text?
Throughout the film effect of enigma, fear and some kind of conspiracy remains. Although there are comic scenes also, like talk between Petey and Meg about newspaper news, Stanley playing drum which in beginning seems funny but suddenly it becomes frustrating and noisy. So effect of menace can be felt.

3. Do you feel the effect of lurking danger while viewing the movie? Where you able to feel the same while reading the text?
From first scene effect of danger is there. Who is driving the car?, where does it go? Whole thing happens inside house and there is no music, only loud and sometime strange sounds. Two men come and behaves badly with Stanley, and in the end they takes Stanley with them. We don't know who were they and where did they take Stanley? These all things creates effect of danger.

4. What do you read in 'newspaper' in the movie? Petey is reading newspaper to Meg, it torn into pieces by McCain, pieces are hidden by Petey in last scene.
For Petey newspaper is symbol for hiding his self. He knows something but does not tell anyone. He just remains spectator. Meccain tears newspaper into peaces. It shows his mentality. He wants Stanley torn like the pieces of newspaper. And he succeed also.

5. Camera is positioned over the head of McCain when he is playing Blind Man's Buff and is positioned at the top with a view of room like a cage (trap) when Stanley is playing it. What interpretations can you give to these positioning of camera?
When camera is over the head of Meccain, he represents government and master's policy of keeping watch on everyone. For that reason person feels like prison. Even one's own home have become like prison.

6. "Pinter restored theater to its basic elements: an enclosed space and unpredictable dialogue, where people are at the mercy of one another and pretense crumbles. "Does this happen in the movie?
Yes, there are real care for each other in the movie. Expect Goldberg and Meccain, other character have affection for each other. Meg takes care and make food happily for Stanley and Petey, Petey feels mercy for Stanley, Meg and Lulu wanted to celebrate Stanley's birthday. So indeed pretense crumble in the play.

7. How does viewing movie help in better understanding of the play ‘The Birthday Party’ with its typical characteristics?
Specifically the movie really helps to feel the effect of danger. Loud noise of tearing newspaper, strange voices on birthday night, camera angles and focuses all gives real feeling of the play. We can't imagine those noises while reading.

8. With which of the following observations you agree:
“It probably wasn't possible to make a satisfactory film of "The Birthday Party." 
“It's impossible to imagine a better film of Pinter's play than this sensitive, disturbing version
Of course this was very good film version of the play, but we can't really say it is impossible to make better movie than this. Nothing can be considered as best. Everything can be better than earlier.

9. If you were director or screenplay writer, what sort of difference would you make in the making of movie? Who would be your choice of actors to play the role of characters?
After watching the film I didn't feel anything unfitted in the film. Actors also fit in their characters and there is no need of any changes.

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