C U LT U R E
TEN BL ACK A ND W HITE F I L M S T O WAT C H
Is summer vacation too bright for you? Kick back and watc these shows fo ryour fill on greyscale films. LIST BY RENEE CUISIA
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n this high definition, Technicolor day and age of ours, wherein every visual medium boasts of its realism and pinpoint exactitude of the colors that we see, it’s almost rare to see an artwork, namely a film, donning a simple black and white coloring. Obviously, this is because of more practical reasons. Since the dawn of coloring companies like Technicolor and Kodak Eastman Color, the existence of black and white films has always been threatened until finally by mid-1960s, it had all but vanished. However, even after the ‘60s, many filmmakers decided to create their art in only these two colors simply because, what with its “death”, it now represented something much more than just shades or tones. To this day, black and white films are created, sometimes to invoke a sense of the past or nostalgia, sometimes as a theme of simplicity, or sometimes as homage to either romance, noir or both. So as a tribute to this everlasting art, here is a list of ten black and white films, ranging from classic noir to neurotic romance, that I think are worth watching. Personally, I love BW films and if you do too, well, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship. 1. Frances Ha (2012) Played by Greta Gerwig (who co-wrote the film with director Noah Baumbach), Frances Halladay is an intelligent, free spirited, funny, loving, sometimes happy, sometimes sad woman. She’s a complicated character, minus the existential angst and artsy behavior, and the film, which is a following of Frances and how she lives her life through moving, is a pleasure to watch. If you’re a struggling artist like Frances, you’ll find yourself mentally hugging her while muttering “I feel ya, girl” as she strives to balance her art, her work, her money, and her relationship with her bestfriend Sophie. This movie is for anyone who feels strongly for art despite it’s inevitable difficulties, for anyone with complicated relationships with friends, and for anyone who’s trying to figure out they’re place in the world—and I’m talking to you unhappy twentysomething year-olds.
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