WHAT MAKES A FILMMAKER AN AUTEUR?

Auteur theory was first introduced by French director Truffaut in his essay "A certain tendency of the French cinema" (1954). The idea is that a filmmaker exercises an authorship over his work that is identifiable in all of his films and recurring themes. They represent and reflect his personal and creative vision. Auteur theory came to America in the 60s through film critic Andrew Sarris. He suggested that “over a group of films a director must exhibit certain recurrent characteristics of style, which serve as his signature” (1962). 

Wes Anderson, an American director and screenwriter can be considered as an auteur. He is the author of seven films. During his years at the University of Texas at Austin, he became friends with Owen Wilson, a co-writer and actor in many of his films. Together they worked on Wes Anderson’s first film, Bottle Rocket (1996), the acting career starting point of brothers Owen, Andrew and Luke Wilson.  

His films reflect a universe that is deeply-inspired and influenced by his personal vision and life experience. Rushmore (1998) was inspired by his school years (his private school is actually featured in the film) and The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) family issues could be related to his parents’ divorce when he was eight and recalls as being “the most crucial event of my brothers and my growing up” (e.g. Rotten Tomatoes). His films are easily recognizable through the use of recurring themes such as family ties, fatherhood, coming of age, need for approval and Wes Anderson’s personal life experience.

Anderson shows consistency in his choice of actors by sticking to the same ones such as Owen and Luke Wilson, Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray who star in at least three of his films. His characters tend to be eccentrics, creative, precocious and intellectuals. Another aspect of consistency would be the choice of costumes that never change and seems to stick to the characters as a reflection of who they are and represent. This is particularly obvious in The Royal Tenenbaums (e.g. picture below)

His signature lies in well-used slow motion sequences as seen in the scene below in the Royal Tenenbaums (Margot Tenenbaum walking towards Richie) or in The Darjeeling Limited (2007) when Peter Whitman (Adrien Brody) out-runs a man (Bill Murray) to jump on the train.

His second film Rushmore (1998) is the coming of age story of Max Fisher (Jason Schwartzman debut), an eccentric 15-year-old boy who attends the tenth grade at Rushmore Academy. The coming of age theme can also be seen in recent Moonrise Kingdom (2012) where two adolescents fall in love (reference is made to Anderson's memories of childhood literature in Suzie’s attachement to her books). The clip below shows Wes Anderson particular way of introducing the things his characters do or like (here the ridiculous amount of Max’s extracurricular activities).

The royal Tenenbaums (2001) is a comedy portraying the reunion of a dysfunctional family. Parents and children are successful in their specific area, geniuses even but when the abrupt departure of the father leave the family scared. This film shows the fatherhood and family relationships theme (also deeply-rooted in Fantastic Mr Fox). It also displays Wes Anderson’s particular way of elaborating detailed sets as can be seen below for the Belafonte boat in Life Aquatic but also the family house in Moonrise Kingdom.

References

Truffaut, F. (1954) A certain tendancy of the French cinema. http://soma.sbcc.edu/users/DaVega/FILMST_101/FILMST_101_FILM_MOVEMENTS/FrenchNewWave/A_certain_tendency_tr%23540A3.pdf  (Accessed on 28 February 2013).

Sarris, A. (1962) “Notes on the Auteur Theory of 1962.”  Film Theory and Criticism, Fifth Edition.  Ed. Leo Braudy.  New York: Oxford UP, 1999.  pp.515-518. Available at:  http://people.virginia.edu/~jrw3k/enwr//106-7/readings/Sarris_Notes_on_the_Auteur_Theory.pdf (Accessed on 28 February 2013).

Keenan, J. (2013) Auteur theory. Cinema and Society. [online] Available at: http://rgucinemasociety.blogspot.co.uk/  (Accessed on 01 March 2013).  

Rottentomatoes.com (1969) Wes Anderson Biography - Rotten Tomatoes. [online] Available at: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/wes_anderson/biography.php (Accessed on 01 Mar 2013).