One Week (Buster Keaton, 1920)
What is the film about? How is the story told? Who are the main characters and what happens to them? How is the narrative structured?
This short silent film follows a just married husband and wife who inherit a plot and a flat pack home from his uncle. On the way to their plot 99, the wife nearly gets kidnapped by her ex-boyfriend but is saved by her husband. In retaliation, the ex paints changes the numbers on the boxes for different parts of the house. The couple build the house, but it soon becomes clear that the whole thing is topsy turvy with doors on the second floor and rotating windows. Next they try to build the interior, trying to use the cieling to pull a piano through the door which pulls down the floor like a trampoline and launches a man into the roof. The hold a party, where the husband chases he ex-boyfriend round the house which then starts rotating in the storm and everyone is thrown out of the doors and windows and leave angrily. The pair then find out they’d built on lot 66 not 99, and try to move the disheveled house on the back of a car- accidentally getting it stuck on a railway track. The first train misses it, but as they celebrate a train on the other track smashes through the house. They leave a for sale sign and the directions and leave the wreckage.
Does the film belong to a particular genre? How does it conform to or deviate from genre conventions? Does the film belong to a notable genre cycle?
The film belongs to the American Populism era of silent filmmaking, but because of Keatons own niche comedy style, it uses a mix of realism and visual expressionism to make the comedy more applicable to a wider audience.
Who made the film? Does the film exhibit auteur qualities?
The film was made by Buster Keaton in 1920, and is similar in slapstick comedy and quick editing to his usual filmmaking style. The visual pace and action is all very similar in his films.
What do you think the filmmakers wanted to say? Does the film attempt to convey a message or ideology?
The short film somewhat makes fun of capitalism- commenting on how it complicates family life and enforces gender roles.
Do the filmmakers use any interesting techniques to convey information to the audience? Are the key elements of film form innovative or particularly effective? Does the film have a distinct aesthetic?
The film used exaggerated mise en scene of the house, with the rotating house scene or the swivelling floors being particularly effective in their visual comedy elements.
Does the film hold a significant place in film history? How does the film reflect the social, cultural, historical, and political context in which it was produced and exhibited? How is the film representative of the institutions and technologies that made it?
The film is important as it shows a more comedic take on American Capitalist culture. It was written and directed by Keaton and Edward F Cline, who made many films together. It was distributed by Metro Pictures
How does the film represent particular individuals or groups of people?
The film represents a young married couples difficulties in building their new home- using a relatable theme and making it comedic.
How does Keaton create humour in the film? Think about situations (plot) as well as techniques (including the key elements of film form and aesthetics.)
Keaton uses very extreme visual gags to convey comedy in the film. The plot uses relatability to get out to a wider audience, but the performance and mise en scene create the techniques that make it visually funny and unrealistic.
What was your personal reaction to the film? Do your think your reaction is typical of most spectators? Which sequences were particularly effective or enjoyable?
The film was very enjoyable, I most enjoyed the scene with the train because of the performances from hopeful to giving up. The reactions of the characters in this film were extremely relatable and transcended decades as there’s nothing more relatable than struggling to build something (Ikea I’m thinking of you.)