To Thread - Forum Home

The Mudcat Café TM
https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=137523
14 messages

Folklore: Film Interpretations of Folklore

01 May 11 - 03:27 PM (#3145948)
Subject: Folklore: Film Interpretations of Folklore
From: GUEST,lively

Literature often draws heavily on themes to be found in folklore.
I'm interested in finding films that do the same?


01 May 11 - 03:30 PM (#3145949)
Subject: RE: Folklore: Film Interpretations of Folklore
From: GUEST,lively

A first offering here:

The Secret of Roan Inish

Based around the myth of the Selkie. I have yet to see this film, but it looks worthwhile according to the reviews.


01 May 11 - 04:17 PM (#3145973)
Subject: RE: Folklore: Film Interpretations of Folklore
From: MGM·Lion

Define, or rather specify, "Themes to be found in folklore" ~~

Werewolves & Vampires, say?

Count them...

~Michael~


01 May 11 - 04:22 PM (#3145978)
Subject: RE: Folklore: Film Interpretations of Folklore
From: GUEST,lively

Fair point M, I suppose I'd be particularly interested in films which explore folkloric themes more intimately rather than standard 'genre' based pulp.
In other words, good quality vampire and werewolves films would be welcome. But not so much unending lists of seventies horror..


01 May 11 - 04:28 PM (#3145981)
Subject: RE: Folklore: Film Interpretations of Folklore
From: richd

There's thousands of them! For example the relationship between film and myth is a whole subject in itself. Folk tales of all kinds are a fundamental source of film plots and stories- is there any particular area you are interested in?


01 May 11 - 04:39 PM (#3145989)
Subject: RE: Folklore: Film Interpretations of Folklore
From: GUEST,lively

No particular areas as such, just your favourite examples of folkloric themes being beautifully translated into film.


01 May 11 - 04:44 PM (#3145992)
Subject: RE: Folklore: Film Interpretations of Folklore
From: GUEST,Suibhne Astray

On May 1st - The Wicker Man.


01 May 11 - 04:46 PM (#3145995)
Subject: RE: Folklore: Film Interpretations of Folklore
From: Bert

Ever After


01 May 11 - 04:53 PM (#3146002)
Subject: RE: Folklore: Film Interpretations of Folklore
From: MGM·Lion

"The Company of Wolves"? "The Picture of Dorian Gray"?...

"standard 'genre' based pulp." ~~ Not everyone would agree as to what constitutes such, though, Lively. I would urge the claims of some Hammer; of Lugosi as Dracula; of the original 1920s Nosferatu... but strictly limited claims, and certainly not of all such by any means. I fear I have this natural casuist streak which would love to judge absolutely every case on its merits, if only life were long enough!...

~M~


01 May 11 - 11:23 PM (#3146158)
Subject: RE: Folklore: Film Interpretations of Folklore
From: GUEST,The Falcon - guest

Well, if you think about it - Pretty Woman was a study on the Frog Prince, Awakenings on Rip Van Winkle, but 'Mysterious Ways' starring Adrian Pasdar and Rae Dawn Chong, or 'Poltergeist The Legacy' with Derek deLint and Robbi Chong were good examples of fictional examinations - as was the X-files.
If you're talking about documyth, there are regional programmes which examine the origins and nurturing of various folkloric issues.


02 May 11 - 04:23 AM (#3146248)
Subject: RE: Folklore: Film Interpretations of Folklore
From: GUEST,Suibhne Astray

Seeing no one's bothered to ask it yet - what exactly do you mean by folklore? Indeed, the whole cinematogaphic tradition (narrative or otherwise) could be seen as being Folklore in itself. If it comes down to the usual cosy quaint Mudcat Heritage view of Folkloric Revival then you'd be looking at Morris: A Life With Bells On, The Wicker Man (lovingly based on various layers of Folklore and Folkloric Interpretation) and things like Blood on Satan's Claw, which has the Folklore vibe in spades. Mark Gatis recently called such things Folk Horror, though whether that includes Morris : A Life With Bells On I couldn't possibly say, but if it's anything like the mawkfests of Brassed Off / Full Monty (etc.) then Horror doesn't even cover it.

Othewise, how about The Wonderful World of The Brothers Grimm?


02 May 11 - 05:00 AM (#3146268)
Subject: RE: Folklore: Film Interpretations of Folklore
From: MGM·Lion

Surprised no mention so far of Tunes Of Glory, with its pervasive Highland-piping motif.

~M~


02 May 11 - 05:06 AM (#3146273)
Subject: RE: Folklore: Film Interpretations of Folklore
From: Fred McCormick

Ingmar Bergman's Virgin Spring, which is based on a Swedish ballad, which itself is related the Bonnie Banks of Fordie.

There were plans afoot in the late 1960s/early 1970s to make a film version of Tam Linn. Does anybody know what became of it?


02 May 11 - 06:34 AM (#3146314)
Subject: RE: Folklore: Film Interpretations of Folklore
From: GUEST

Thanks for Bergman's Virgin Spring, that looks most interesting:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053976/plotsummary

"what exactly do you mean by folklore?"

What *I* mean in reference to this thread, is filmic interpretations of folk tales, fairy tales & other traditional stories, including films for grown-ups which feature the kind of folkloric figures commonly to be found therein. I wasn't too explicit in the OP perhaps.

The Company of Wolves is a definite worthy contender I should think M. Another Angela Carter offering with a fairy tale 'vibe' is The Magic Toyshop, which despite being a beautiful little film drenched in magical realism, seems to be impossible to get hold of: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097806/