Character Analysis And Plot Description : Ferris Beuller

Modern conventional wisdom has that the characters in film speak to each other and the viewers of the film are observers.  The observers are generally never addressed in film. In the film, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Ferris speaks directly into the camera many times during the film.  In Film Studies we call this technique:

• Breaking Glass

• Breaking the fourth plane

• Breaking Wind

• Breaking the fifth dimension

Which category in the Classification chart of styles and types of film, would we find the film, Ferris Bueller?

• Documentary

• Fiction

• Avant guard

• Formalism

Film is usually characterized in both general and specific terms. Generally, what type of film is Ferris?

• Comedy

• Drama

• Film noir

• Independent

When we discuss the Character Analysis and arch of Cameron's journey, we see him going through many stages. In the beginning of the film we see Cameron in his "normal" state, also known as the state of equilibrium.  Choose the correct scene which shows Cameron in his "normal" state. 

• Cameron screams after finding out his father's car has additional miles on it.

• Cameron is in a catatonic state in the car while riding home from his eventful day.

• Ferris is singing "Twist and Shout"

• Cameron is in his mothers bed being sick.

The entire movie takes place over the course of one week.

• True

• False

 In the film we viewed Mr. Rooney journeys from a state of equilibrium where he is the principal in charge of the local high school to a state of disequilibrium.  Which scene best describes the state in which Mr. Rooney is in a complete state of disequilibrium.

• He is running down the street after his car is being towed.

• He is at his desk at school speaking to his secretary.

• He is at the bar looking for Ferris.

• He shoe gets stuck in the mud.

Choose the correct year in which the movie was released. 

• 1985

• 1990

• 1965

• 1986

Which best describes the most important theme of the film.:

• Individual vs. Individual

• Rebel vs. Society

• Man vs. Machine

• Individual vs. Self

The protagonist of the film is: 

• Cameron

• Jeannie

• Ferris

• Rooney

The Antagonist of the film is:

• Rooney

• Ferris

• Cameron

• Sharon

The personal journey of Jeanie, Ferris' sister, is seen throughout the film. Jeanie decides to "get" Ferris because Ferris is "ditching" school. During her journey we see her in many states of disequilibrium. Jeanie has a big moment of self transformation where she finally comes to an understanding of her relationship with Ferris. .The scene which best describes Jeannie's transformation is when she is:

• calling the police from her bedroom

• Hiding from Rooney (the intruder)

• Talking to the Charlie Sheen character in the police station

• Vowing to catch Ferris in his web of lies

Cameron has many emotional scenes in the film.  The scene which has the most transformational and self reflective emotional impact for Cameron is: 

• Driving from the parking garage and heading home after his fun day off.

• Waking up in the swimming pool.

• Looking into the painting in the museum.

• Laying in bed before the day begins.

We understand film as belonging to certain categories of style. This style of film emphasizes actual events, people, natural occurrences. The style of film which would be considered the most "real" is:

• Documentary

• Fiction

• Avant garde

• Classicism

The Realists attempts to capture the spontaneity of events and appears to mirror reality. Another aspect of Realism is when the director:

• Stresses content over form

• Uses lots of special effects

• Utilizes technical aspects and filters

Check the aspects of film making that show Formalism in film:

• Intentionally stylizes and distorts reality

• Is concerned with spiritual or psychological ideas

• Contains a high degree of technical manipulation

• Use real spaces and locations

Realism is a particular style, whereas reality is the source of the raw material of film.  Both realistic and formalism have aspects of the other in most films. 

• True

• False

The Realist style of film triesto preserve the illusion that their world is not manipulated. 

• True

• False

Film makers that are more concerned with what's being shown on the screen rather than how it's manipulated are realists.

• True

• False

In the early 1900"s Georges Melies was creating a number of fantasy films such as A Trip to The Moon were among a group of artists known as :

• Formalists

• Realists

• Drama hogs

• Students

The Lumiere brothers were among early film makers who filmed every day life as seen in the film:

• L'Age Door

• The Infidels

• A Train Arriving at A Station

• A Trip to the Movies

The point in a film where the hero (or protagonist) chooses to accept the challenge or go on the adventure is called the : 

• Precipitating incident

• Focal point

• Dramatic conclusion

• Transformation

The dramatic conclusion of Ferris Buller's Day Off has many characters in the same place.  Who is not at Ferris's house during the climax of the action?

• Ferris

• The Secretary

• Jeannie, the sister

• The Father

What is the term used when a film begins and ends with a similar scene?

• Dead ends

• Rear ends

• Book ends

• Road ends

Cameron is perhaps the most emotional and complex of the characters in Ferris Bueller's Day Off.  Describe the following moments in Cameron's journey:  1. Cameron at first refuses the challenge by Ferris. 2. Cameron realizes that he has gone too far and will have to face the consequences. 3. Cameron has accepted responsibility for his actions and has finally "grown up" in a way.