Auteur vs. Metteur-en-scene
An auteur is defined as a filmmaker whose individual style and complete control over all elements of production give a film its personal and unique stamp.
I really enjoy watching animated films and I think Hayao Miyazaki is the “auteur of anime.” His movies are usually original stories, based on his imagination or his own interpretation of other obscure works. Out of all his 25+ movies I think my favorites are Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, and My Neighbor Totoro.
Based on Andrew Sarris’ Auteur Theory, a filmmaker should use 3 elements:
- Techniques: Miyazaki often has a young female character as his main protagonist which allows him to stand out in the children’s films. He uses elements of Nature vs. Humans and things related to flying. In Spirited Away, there is a boy who turns into a dragon and in My Neighbor Totoro, Totoro can fly.
- Personal style: He uses computer graphics in his movies but most of his background scenes and characters are drawn by hand. Some of his movies display a quiet, non-hectic feeling to it. When he has villains in his movies, they often show a different side of themselves throughout the movie.
- Interior meaning: Many of his movies show themes of the earth’s fragility, emphasis on environmentalism, solving one’s problem, and redemption.
A metteur-en-scene is defined by Andre Bazin as someone who is a very good, technician, they merely adapt material given to them rather than making it their own.
For example, Peter Jackson, the director of The Lord of the Rings series uses his interpretation of the books to create the movie. Although he has a personal style, I don’t think the movies are remembered by him being the director but rather the plot of the story. The story was already written for him, he just interpreted it and made it visual. He does not have complete control over his works.
