Initial Propsal 2: Sweedish cinema

1. Which topic area is this proposal for?
World Cinema

2. What is the suggested focus?
The suggested focus is Sweedish cinema

3. Do you have an idea for a question/problematic?
The representation of teenagers in Sweedish film. Although this may at first seem like a very typical cop-out using teenagers as a focus, after seeing clips from sweedish films such as 'the ketchup effect' and knowing that they showed these films as educational tools around schools in Sweeden proves that they have a different outlook concerning teenagers and are possibly culturally more relaxed than in the UK. this could be an interesting study, and could be focussed on the specific representation of this demographic or just the representation of Sweedish culture in their films.

4. Why would you choose this?
In recent years there has been a resurgence of new Sweedish cinema (since 2000). Changes in legislation allowed the industry to recieve more benefits, enabling new directors to exhibit films - see http://www.sfi.se/ (up-to-date info about sweedish film industry), and in 2000 a record number of 35 films were made, 9 by first-time directors. I.e. the sweedish film industry is growing rapidly, and therefore it would be a very current and innovative industry to explore.

5. Do you have any concerns or are there any limitations to this proposal?
So far I haven't managed to find any useful resources both online and in books. When I typed in key words on amazon there was absolutely nothing. This is a relatively new industry and therefore I don't think many film theorists have touched upon it yet.

6. Can you rate it on a sliding scale 1- 5 (5 being great proposal, 0 being lousy proposal)
I think it would be a very interesting study, however the lack of resources would make it tough - 3/5?

Good Sweedish films to analyse for this topic:

http://www.brightlightsfilm.com/27/showmelove.html

Lukas Moodysson, 'Show me love' 2000

http://film.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/Critic_Review/Observer_review/0,,1728861,00.html

Teresa Fabik 'The Ketchup Effect' 2004